Obamacare Costing Seniors

 New Study Reveals That Millions Of Seniors Face Skyrocketing Costs And Shrinking Benefits

Seniors ‘Could Pay As Much As $900 More’ Next Year Medicare Advantage “...beneficiaries could pay as much as $900 more in 2015 if the cuts take effect.” (“Insurers: Medicare Advantage Cuts Cost Seniors $900 Per Year,” The Hill, 2/27/14)

Study: “The report estimates that [Medicare Advantage] plans will see a 5.9% reduction in payment in 2015... These reductions can be expected to disrupt a substantial proportion of the 15 million Medicare beneficiaries who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage.” (“2015 Advance Notice: Changes To Medicare Advantage Payment Methodology...,” Oliver Wyman, P.2, 2/27/14)

• Study: “Cumulative impact of 2014 & 2015 cuts... $65-$145 [per member per month].” (“2015 Advance Notice: Changes To Medicare Advantage Payment Methodology...,” Oliver Wyman, P.2, 2/27/14)
• Study: “The potential for higher premiums and reduced benefits could result in a significant amount of upheaval in the MA market... This includes the potential for plan exits, reductions in service areas, reduced benefits, provider network changes, and reduced MA enrollment...” (“2015 Advance Notice: Changes To Medicare Advantage Payment Methodology...,” Oliver Wyman, P.8, 2/27/14)

Senior: ‘I Couldn't Believe It’ KY Teachers: “Kentucky Teachers’ Retirement System (KTRS) has 28,000 Medicare eligible retirees on a Medicare Advantage plan. ... KTRS is writing to raise serious concerns about the potential for millions of Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollees, including our 28,000, to be negatively impacted by the 2015 rate notice... further cuts could do irreparable harm by damaging the viability of Medicare Advantage program offerings...” (Teachers’ Retirement System Of Kentucky, Letter To CMS Director Tavenner, 2/11/14)

OH Union: “We are writing to raise serious concerns about the potential for millions of Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollees to be negatively impacted by the 2015 rate notice currently being developed by CMS. ...cuts of this magnitude inevitably lead to the continued erosion of plan benefits, increases beneficiary out-of-pocket costs, and reduced access to providers and plan choices.  This outcome would be highly unfair to MA enrollees, particularly those with low incomes who rely on their MA plan as a health care safety net.” (Ohio Operating Engineers, Letter To CMS Director Tavenner, 2/11/14)

TX: “...one of the nation's largest insurers, has dropped some 1,100 Houston-area physicians from its Medicare Advantage program - about 20 percent of its doctors - in a move that could disrupt care for thousands of elderly patients, according to the Harris County Medical Society.” (“UnitedHealthcare Cuts Many Medicare Advantage Physicians,” Houston Chronicle, 1/30/14)

CT: “...the nation's largest Medicare Advantage insurer, notified 2,200 Connecticut physicians that they would be dropped from the company's plans as of Feb. 1. The company said it was limiting the number of providers it worked with to ‘encourage better health outcomes and ultimately lower costs’ in response to the ‘severe government funding cuts’ to the program.” (“Members Of An Anti-Obamacare Coalition Are Starting To Turn On Each Other,” National Journal, 1/28/14)

• “...about 58,000 Medicare Advantage customers in Connecticut. It is not known how many of them will be affected by the changes.” (“Insurer's Plan To Drop Doctors From Medicare Advantage Scrutinized At Federal Hearing,” The Hartford Courant, 1/22/14)

FL: ‘More than 50,000 Tampa Bay residents’ face ‘major changes’ “The AARP managed care network [George Smith] had relied on for years will drop all eight of his and his wife's doctors as of Jan. 1. ‘I couldn't believe it. I have my house and car and everything insured through AARP,’ said Smith, 73. ‘I thought, “They are not going to drop me. I've been a member for years.”’ Smith and thousands of Tampa Bay residents are caught up in major changes… More than 50,000 Tampa Bay residents currently belong to AARP Medicare Advantage plans.” (“Patients Scramble After AARP Medicare Advantage Plans Drop Providers,” Tampa Bay Times, 10/21/13)

NJ: 50,000 Medical Advantage plans were cancelled due to Obamacare “There are changes coming to some Medicare Advantage plans as well, which are due, in part, to the new law. Horizon sent notices to 50,000 of its New Jersey members explaining to seniors that their current plans will not be available next year. ‘Due to increasing health care costs and continued federal government cuts to Medicare Advantage, Horizon BCBSNJ had to discontinue certain MA plans, create new plans, and increase premiums, in order to continue to be the only carrier offering MA plans in all 21 counties of New Jersey,’ Vincz said.” (“Obamacare Causes Insurance Companies To Scrap Some Plans, Create New Ones,” The Star Ledger, 10/6/13)

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