CMA Health Policy Blog

Medicare Is Withering on the Vine

November 28, 2016 at 4:48 pm Judith Stein Leave a comment

In 1995 Newt Gingrich predicted that privatization efforts would lead Medicare to wither on the vine. He said it was unwise to get rid of Medicare right away, but envisioned a time when it would no longer exist because beneficiaries would move to private insurance plans.

Well … that’s what’s happening.  Not just by happenstance, but rather according to a determined, strategic plan. The plan has included the following:

1. Government subsidies to private plans, renamed “Medicare Advantage,” ranging from 14% –  2% above traditional Medicare per-beneficiary costs;
2. Additional benefits added to private Medicare Advantage, benefits that weren’t added, and aren’t allowed, in  traditional Medicare;
3. Part D prescription drug coverage wrapped into Medicare Advantage, but not into traditional Medicare;
4. Increases in traditional Medicare Part B premiums, especially for the middle class;
5. Limits on access to Medigap insurance to supplement traditional Medicare and on benefits for those who can obtain a Medigap policy.

It didn’t take a crystal ball.  It took a vision, planning and persistence.

The Center for Medicare Advocacy also has vision, planning and persistence. We do all we can to keep Medicare focused on the needs of older and disabled people, not the insurance industry. We speak out with expertise and with  the stories of real people.

With your support, we’ll keep insisting that Medicare is fully present for the families that rely on it – now and in the future. We’re ready to keep Medicare from withering on the vine.

Will you help?

Entry filed under: Deficit Reduction, Fiscal Responsibility, Health Care Reform, Judith Stein, Medicare, Medicare Advantage (MA), Medicare Reform, Myths, Premium Support, Privatization, Public Option, Public vs. Private Health Coverage, Reform, Ryan Plan, Trump, Uncategorized, Vouchers. Tags: Fact and Fiction, Medicare, Middle Class, Privatization, Ryan.