Virginia to see approximately $150 million in cuts
WASHINGTON, July 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Hundreds of thousands of
Virginia seniors could lose important benefits and pay more out of pocket
for health care, while thousands more could lose their Medicare Advantage
plan altogether under legislation approved this week by the U.S. Congress.
The legislation (H.R. 6331) would cut nearly $14 billion from the
Medicare Advantage program over a five year period, including cutting an
estimated $150 million in Virginia alone and severely reduce the areas
where Medicare private fee-for-service plans can operate, adversely
impacting more than 60,000 Virginia seniors enrolled in these plans.
"It's unfortunate that Congress chose to cut the Medicare Advantage
program that so many seniors rely on," said Karen Ignagni, President and
CEO of AHIP. "Seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage could face limited
choices, reduced benefits, and higher out-of-pocket costs if these cuts
became law."
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that H.R. 6331 would decrease
enrollment in Medicare Advantage across the country by about 2.3 million
individuals over the next five years. The full report is available here:
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/95xx/doc9550/hr6331GreggLtr.pdf.
Following passage of the legislation, seniors across the country have
been voicing their strong opposition to the proposed reduction in funding
for Medicare Advantage. White House officials have stated that the
president intends to veto the bill and send it back to Congress. Two-thirds
super-majorities are required in both the U.S. Senate and House of
Representatives to overturn a veto.
More than 120,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Virginia currently rely on
Medicare Advantage to meet their health care needs. These plans offer
additional benefits and services that are not available in traditional
Medicare, including reduced out-of-pocket costs; $0-premium comprehensive
drug coverage; vision, hearing, and dental coverage; wellness programs; and
disease management and care coordination programs. Medicare Advantage
enrollees save an average of $90 per month - through improved benefits and
lower out-of-pocket costs - compared to what they would pay in traditional
Medicare.
A recent survey found that most seniors, including those in traditional
Medicare, opposed cutting Medicare Advantage to fund the physician fix and
believe these cuts would have a negative impact on Medicare Advantage
beneficiaries. Click here to learn more about this survey:
http://www.ahip.org/content/pressrelease.aspx?docid=23678.
America's Health Insurance Plans - Providing Health Benefits to More
Than 200 Million Americans
SOURCE America's Health Insurance Plans
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Related links:
http://www.ahip.org
CONTACT:
Robert Zirkelbach of AHIP, +1-202-778-8493
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