There are plenty of things to be concerned about as a taxpayer. However, perhaps the biggest scam in modern history is happening right under our noses and on our screens every day — Medicare Advantage. Here’s why:
- With our tax dollars, private Medicare Advantage companies have created a new “HealthFare” class of people in America by paying Medicare recipients hundreds of dollars a month to remain enrolled. Like a financial addiction, they entice low-income Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries to hand over their benefits while dramatically restricting their coverage, all for a nice profit. It is a quintessential case of robbing from the poor to give to the rich. And, worst of all, they’re using our tax dollars to pay people to buy their insurance, an act that would be illegal anywhere else.
- By refusing to pay for what a physician orders, Medicare Advantage companies are leaving the poorest among us to fend for themselves while hospitals and nursing homes are seeing decreases in utilization — 700 rural hospitals in the US are currently at risk of closure. When healthcare facilities are not properly paid by insurance companies, the whole healthcare ecosystem is at risk.
- Medicare Advantage plans cost US taxpayers 22% more than traditional Medicare. That’s $83 billion a year!
- Medicare Advantage is using our military veterans — collecting full premium from CMS while veterans get most of their healthcare from the VA system. This double dipping costs taxpayers billions a year.
While some governmental functions lend themselves to privatization, Medicare does not. Too many conflicts exist for an insurance company to be allowed to decide what healthcare you will receive and how much they will pay for it. A better name for Medicare Advantage plans would be Medicare Disadvantage!