Both consumers and doctors fear the effects of cuts in federal support for the Medicare Advantage program, according to the largest trade group for U.S. health insurers.
America's Health Insurance Plans, Washington, today ramped up its defense of program funding against the scissors of congressional budget cutters by unveiling the results of 2 surveys conducted by outside research firms.
The research firms asked doctors whether proposed cuts in the Medicare Advantage program concerned them, and they asked patients whether the patients would go without treatment if cutbacks greatly increased Medicare Advantage plan members' out-of-pocket expenses.
About 74% of the doctors who participated said cutting Medicare Advantage would hurt seniors, and only 16% said the cuts would have no effect, AHIP said.
About 35% of all Medicare Advantage plan members surveyed – and 62% of Medicare Advantage plan members with annual incomes of less than $20,000 — said they would skip treatments rather than pay the increased costs out-of-pocket.
