October Newsletter 2009

59% of Seniors Opposed to Health Care Reform

Medicare provides significant health care savings for more than 40 million seniors. With all of the proposed cuts to Medicare it is no surprise that 59% of seniors are opposed to recent health care reform legislation with only 33% of seniors in favor, according to a Rasmussen Report posted on September 28.

The big question on people’s minds is: why are seniors so strongly opposed to the current health care reform legislation? Seniors have many concerns about politician’s suggestions to fund the new legislation and some of the biggest issues are the following:

• Many seniors are concerned they will lose their current coverage. Several private insurers have decided not to renew certain plans in 2010, for example, some of the private fee-for-service options. This will cause more than 600,000 seniors to choose new plans, according to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
• Some legislators propose as much as $500 billion should be cut from Medicare over the next decade. Medicare Advantage plans appear to be the biggest target for reductions.
• Seniors are concerned that if reductions in Medicare service are approved, there may be fewer doctors willing to treat Medicare patients.
• CMS recently announced that the premiums for Medicare Advantage plans will increase by approximately $7 (rising to an average of $39 a month) and premiums for standalone prescription drug plans will rise by approximately$2 per month (rising to an average of $30 a month). Many seniors are concerned increasing costs will escalate further.

It is understandable why there is so much dissent among seniors. However, you should not panic. CMS assures that beneficiaries will continue to have numerous Medicare options in 2010 and nearly 90 percent of Medicare beneficiaries will have access to a zero premium Medicare Advantage plan.

Given all the proposed changes for 2010, be sure to investigate all of your options. Talk to our experts to find your optimal plan by calling 1-800-819-6906 or go to PlanPrescriber.com. Annual Enrollment begins on November 15, and now is the time to evaluate whether your current plan is the best one for you in 2010.

Read the other October 2009 articles:

• Health Care Reform Threatens Medicare: Senate & House Proposals Compared
• Popularity Contest: The Benefits of Medicare Advantage, Medigap, & PDPs