Seniors mobilize to fight Medicare Advantage cuts

Commentary July 03, 2008 at 08:00 PM
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Amid the fireworks and picnics, an action group of seniors will be spending the July 4 weekend hoping to get their message across to Congress – and preserve their Medicare Advantage benefits.

The Coalition for Medicare Choices, an organization with more than 400,000 senior members, will be spending the weekend urging seniors to call, write, email or simply visit their representatives during the July 4 recess.

The push coincides with an announcement by America's Health Insurance Plans to launch new national TV ads reminding Congress of the repercussions of the last cuts to Medicare Advantage.

"Congress needs to address the physician payment issue without putting seniors at risk," says Karen Ignagni, president and CEO of AHIP. "Medicare Advantage cuts could mean limited choices, reduced benefits and higher out-of-pocket costs for seniors."

Many doctors are also working with AHIP to contact legislators and voice their opposition to the cuts. A survey released last year showed that 75 percent of doctors feel cuts to Medicare Advantage programs would negatively affect seniors enrolled, especially those with low and fixed incomes.

For more information on the campaign, visit www.ahip.org.

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