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Friday Alert May 9, 2008
Alliance for Retired Americans
888 16th Street, N.W. - Washington DC, 20006 - (202)
974-8222 - www.retiredamericans.or
State Regulators Seek Greater
Authority to Oversee Medicare Advantage
Plans
The New York Times reported on
Monday that state officials will soon ask Congress for more
power to regulate the marketing of private Medicare insurance
plans to seniors. The changes are being requested because
state officials are still receiving complaints of high-pressure
sales tactics that have led some beneficiaries to sign up for
unsuitable policies. In the draft of a report prepared by
the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, state
officials say they have received large numbers of complaints
but, often cannot provide direct assistance to beneficiaries or
hold insurers accountable because they have not been given the
authority. States can regulate the activities of insurance
agents and brokers who sell Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, but
they generally cannot regulate the insurance companies that
offer such plans. The officials propose setting common
standards for marketing the private plans, which could then be
enforced by states that adopt them. State insurance
regulators and consumer groups feel very strongly that offering
sales agents bonuses and commissions has resulted in significant
misconduct, ranging from inappropriate sales to outright
fraud. Recommendations made in the draft report include
that insurers should avoid the use of confusing product names
like “gold,” “silver” and
“value,” which have no standard definition, and that
when beneficiaries ask for information on a drug plan, they
should not be pressed to buy a comprehensive MA plan.
“Medicare Advantage plans already cost 13% more than
traditional Medicare, and that’s legal,” said
Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the
Alliance. “When you add fraud, the money being
wasted is astounding.”
Older Voters Turning Out in
Twice the Numbers as Those Under 30
While
organizers and the media have made much of record turnout among
young voters in recent months, the San Francisco
Chronicle reports that older Americans remain the most
reliable and consistent group of voters. According to exit
polls, at least one-third of all voters in most of the 2008
Presidential primaries have been over age 60, with the number
rising to over 40% in states like Massachusetts, Ohio and
California. Senior voters have generally turned out in
twice the numbers as people under 30. Candidates recognize
the importance of the “grey vote” and are expected
to campaign hard for this demographic in part because young
people have not yet established voting as a habit. Those
under 30 are also more likely to face problems with residency
requirements when they do go to fill out a ballot – they
move much more frequently than seniors and may not have properly
updated registration information, and college students must
frequently vote by mail when they attend universities out of
state. “These exit polls show just how important our
votes will be come November,” said Edward
Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance.
Alliance Member Josephine
Powe Speaks at U.S. Capitol to Fight High Gas
Prices
Josephine Powe, 87,
an Alliance member from Suitland, Maryland, spoke of her
struggle with the high cost of fuel, along with the sacrifices
she has had to make to offset rising prices at the pump, at a
press conference on Thursday at the U.S. Capitol. Ms.
Powe, joining Senators Carl Levin (D-MI),
Jack Reed (D-RI), and Amy
Klobuchar (D-MN), thanked Senate leaders for
introducing the Consumer-First Energy Act of 2008 to address the
root causes of high energy prices. The bill would
lower prices by placing a 25% windfall profit tax on any energy
company that does not invest in new energy sources, and ending
$17 billion in tax breaks for corporations. In addition,
it would prevent the Department of Energy from adding to the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve until the price of crude oil
averaged under $75 for 90 days, and allow the U.S. Attorney
General to bring enforcement action against any country or
company colluding to set oil prices. “I am extremely
proud of Josephine for sharing her experience with our leaders
in Congress and with the world,” said George J.
Kourpias, President of the Alliance for Retired
Americans. “Unfortunately, Jo represents millions of
seniors around the country who are on a tight budget, and who
have been straining even more than usual lately to make ends
meet due to the high cost of energy.”
Voter Identification Law
Prevents Nuns from Voting in
Indiana
According to The Detroit
News, about 12 Indiana nuns were turned away on Tuesday
from a polling place by a fellow sister because they did not
have state or federal identification bearing a photograph.
Sister Julie McGuire said she was forced to
turn away her fellow members of Saint Mary's Convent in South
Bend, across the street from the University of Notre Dame,
because they had been told earlier that they would need such an
ID to vote. The nuns, all in their 80s or 90s, did not get
one but came to the precinct anyway. One was 98.
Some showed up with outdated passports, and they do not drive,
so they did not have drivers’ licenses. They were
not given provisional ballots because it would be impossible to
get them to a motor vehicle branch and back within the 10 days
allotted by the law. The convent plans to make a "very
concerted effort" to get proper identification for the nuns in
time for the general election. Many elections experts had
voiced their fears that the U.S. Supreme Court's recent refusal
to strike down Indiana's controversial photo ID law would keep
legal voters from exercising their right to cast a ballot.
Maine Event Educates Voters
Before June 10 Congressional Primary
The
Maine Council of Senior Citizens/Alliance for Retired Americans
invited all eight candidates vying to represent Maine’s
1st Congressional District in Congress to a forum in Augusta
this past Tuesday. All attended, and the six Democratic
and two Republican candidates spoke to around 30 people about
such topics as retiree issues, health care, and the economy.
Southern Regional Meeting is
Next Month
The Alliance will hold its fourth
and final regional meeting, the Southern Regional Meeting, on
June 4-5, 2008 in Orlando, Florida. The conference will
provide a forum for activists to work together and prepare for
November’s Presidential election. Attendees will
learn how to get seniors and other retirees registered and
voting, increase grassroots advocacy, and educate federal, state
and local legislators on issues such as Medicare, Social
Security, prescription drugs, and retirement security. For
copies of the official registration form, call 1-888-373-6497,
email Joni Jones at jjones@retiredamericans.org,
or visit our website at www.retiredamericans.org.
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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