ICYMI: AHIP’s Coalition for Medicare Choices grew by 20 percent last year, exceeds 1.5 million members
Washington, D.C. – America’s Health Insurance Plans’ Coalition for Medicare Choices (CMC) today released a new web video highlighting seniors in the coalition explaining why they are mobilizing to protect Medicare Advantage. The new video is part of the CMC’s “Seniors Are Watching” campaign, a major ad and grassroots initiative to remind Washington that seniors are watching this issue closely and to urge the Medicare agency to protect them by maintaining current payment levels in 2015.
“Each day seniors are taking action to make sure Medicare Advantage is protected. They have strength in numbers,” the new web video says. “We are paying attention. We are involved. There’s strength in numbers,” says Pamela Gugle, a Medicare Advantage beneficiary featured in the video.
Each year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) sets payment rates for Medicare Advantage plans based on many factors. Preliminary 2015 rates are expected to be announced tomorrow, February 21, 2014, with final rates expected on April 7, 2014. A recent report from Oliver Wyman found that another round of payment cuts would mean seniors learning that out-of-pocket costs are higher, benefits have been cut, provider access is restricted, and choice of plans is more limited. A bipartisan group of 40 senators recently signed a letter to CMS expressing concern about the impact of potential new cuts on seniors and urging the Medicare agency to maintain current Medicare Advantage payment levels in 2015.
Last year, more than 250,000 seniors from all across the country joined the Coalition for Medicare Choices to support Medicare Advantage and oppose any new cuts to the program. With the addition of these new members, the coalition now represents more than 1.5 million seniors – a 20 percent increase in CMC membership.
To learn more about the CMC, visit http://www.medicarechoices.org/seniors-are-watching and follow the coalition on Twitter (@ProtectMyMA) and Facebook.