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Friday Alert July 13, 2007
Alliance for Retired Americans
888 16th Street, N.W. - Washington DC, 20006 - (202)
974-8222 - www.retiredamericans.or
Medicare Advantage Takes Center Stage
Save the date! Monday, July 23 will be
a national call-in day to Capitol Hill, as Alliance members are
urged to demand an end to federal subsidies for insurance
companies offering “Medicare Advantage” plans.
The phone number will be available next week and will be
published in the July 20 Friday Alert. The subsidies, seen
by many senior advocates as a back-door attempt to privatize
Medicare, end up costing the government 12 to 19 percent more
than traditional Medicare would cost. However, the
problems do not end there. Nationally, complaints of
aggressive marketing tactics from agents of Medicare Advantage
plans have been reported by 39 of 41 state insurance
commissioners responding to a recent survey. Medicare
beneficiaries reported significant interruptions in their health
care after being switched to plans not accepted by their
doctors, and substantial, unexpected medical bills when the new
plans had higher cost-sharing. In addition, the insured
may not be able to get emergency care coverage when they need
it. If someone is traveling and needs emergency care
outside a plan’s network, that person may be denied any
claims for that care.
Earlier this week, Alliance members in Washington State and
Wisconsin drew public attention to the issue with press events
touting studies that show just how much taxpayers are losing
through Medicare Advantage. An analysis by
Washington’s Community Action Now (CAN) reveals that it
costs $1,503 more per year for every Washingtonian enrolled in a
Medicare Advantage plan than it would cost to provide care for
that person in traditional Medicare. “When President
Bush tried to privatize Social Security in 2005, the American
people overwhelmingly rejected a policy that would put the
financial interest of Wall Street over the people’s
interest on Main Street,” said Will
Parry, President of the Puget Sound Alliance for
Retired Americans, at an event on Tuesday in Seattle.
“Now Medicare is headed down a similar path, and Congress
needs to again take a stand to ensure that our public health
care dollars go toward people’s health care, not into
health industry CEOs’ wallets.” On Thursday,
Wisconsin Alliance members joined US Action at events in Eau
Claire and La Crosse. A new US Action Education Fund study
reveals that Medicare Advantage costs each Wisconsinite enrolled
an extra $1,533 per year, 23.2% more than care costs in
traditional Medicare. Even those who choose traditional
Medicare are forced to back the overpayments. Participants
pay an additional $24 in Part B premiums every year to finance
the private plans. “This report clearly shows the
huge subsidies that the federal government is paying big
insurance,” said Wisconsin Alliance Executive Vice
President Leslie Davis.
Reactions to Sicko Highlight
Problems with U.S. Health Care
Michael
Moore’s new documentary on the American health care
system, Sicko, has elicited a number of different
reactions, many of which appeared in a recent San Francisco
Chronicle article. The film compares health coverage
in the U.S. to that in countries such as France, Canada, Britain
and Cuba, and reinforces that Americans often obtain drugs or
treatments from foreign nations at more affordable rates.
But the documentary has also been accused of glorifying the
positive aspects of health care in these nations while
minimizing the negative elements. Critics have noted that
the only solution offered by the film is a nationalized health
care system, and that there is no mention that private coverage
often supplements these government-funded programs. While
reactions have varied, there has been much general agreement
that there is a problem with America’s health care system
that needs to be fixed. Although the U.S. is renowned for
cutting-edge medical technology, many are unable to receive such
advanced specialized or even primary care, due to such problems
as the prohibitive costs of many medications and
procedures. Yet, the U.S. spends $6,102 in private and
public dollars per person for each year, compared to $3,159 per
capita in France. “For seniors not to be able to
afford the health care they need is unacceptable,” said
Ruben Burks,
Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance.
Ten Great Retirement Spot Bargains:
Kennebunk, Maine, Anyone?
U.S. News &
World Report has selected its annual list of best-valued
retirement spots, locales offering exceptional amenities and
surroundings as well as an affordable cost. This
year’s locations are: Boone, NC; Dahlonega, GA;
Fredericksburg, TX; Kennebunk, ME; Melbourne Beach, FL;
Natchitoches, LA; Salida, CO; Sandpoint, ID; Yucca Valley, CA;
and Yuma, AZ. Since only 7 percent of Americans age 50 or over
moved in 2004, and most of them did not cross state lines, the
magazine also offers tips for retiring to a more local,
lower-cost destination. Moving to a place with a reduced cost-of
living and even a lower tax rate can mean buying a bigger house
for less money, but other factors are also taken into
consideration. Many of the best locations are within a
short distance of major metro areas, with easy access to
museums, libraries, outdoor activities, Internet access,
shopping, and a major airport. Some retirees who choose to
move away from big cities enjoy college towns for their unique
educational and cultural prospects. University classes are often
available for audit at a reduced rate or even free of
charge.
Alliance Legislative Conference
Reminder: Sign Up This Week to Save!
In less
than two months - September 4-7, 2007 - the Alliance will be
holding its National Legislative Meeting in Washington,
D.C. The theme this year is “Building for
America’s Future.” Send your registration by July
20, 2007, to take advantage of the early bird rate. The
registration fee is $80; after July 20th the registration fee is
$95. To obtain copies of the official registration form,
either call 1-888-373-6497, email Joni Jones at
jjones@retiredamericans.org
or visit our website at www.retiredamericans.org.
The conference will be held at the Hilton Washington and
Towers. Hotel reservations must be made by calling the
Hilton and Towers directly at 1-888-324-4586. Be sure to
ask for the Alliance for Retired Americans National Legislative
Meeting attendee rate. The discounted room rates are $146
a night (plus tax) and are guaranteed until July 20, 2007.
Did You Know
...
According to Fidelity Investments’
Fidelity Research Institute, the typical American household is
on track to retire with only 58% of its pre-retirement income
(Wall Street Journal).
Become part of a progressive grassroots movement!
Join the Alliance
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Alliance for Retired Americans 815 16th
St, NW Washington, DC 20006 www.retiredamericans.org
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