A New York Times report uncovered that private insurers are draining resources from Medicare and threatening one of our greatest public health insurance programs. 6 of the top 10 private insurers who administer Medicare Advantage plans have been accused of Medicare fraud by the U.S. government and whistleblowers.2 Many experts and advocates are urging people against choosing Advantage plans.2
Congress created Medicare Advantage 20 years ago to create a private alternative to traditional Medicare in order to provide better care at lower costs.1 Instead, costs have gone up and private insurance companies have siphoned billions from Medicare.
The corporate greed is disgusting. The New York Times reports that giant private insurers, “have developed elaborate systems to make their patients appear as sick as possible, often without providing additional treatment” so the insurers could charge those patients more for their Medicare plans.1
The American people clearly want government protection from private insurers’ abuses. So why are private insurers allowed to continue overbilling in Medicare Advantage—costing patients, the government, and taxpayers?
As of next year, more than half of all Medicare recipients may be using Medicare Advantage plans through private insurers.2 Private insurance companies are wasting taxpayer dollars, threatening the integrity of Medicare, and putting patients’ health at risk. We can’t let big corporations continue to suck away money from Medicare.
Sign our petition at https://act.demandprogress.org/sign/bernie-medicare-advantage to protect Medicare and demand an end to private insurers’ interference in Medicare.
Sources:
New York Times, “‘The Cash Monster Was Insatiable’: How Insurers Exploited Medicare for Billions,” October 8, 2022.
Business Insider, “Popular Medicare Advantage plans have ‘clear cases of overpayments and improper billing of US taxpayers,’ advocates and analysts say,” December 5, 2022.
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