Georgia to see approximately $140 million in cuts
WASHINGTON, July 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Hundreds of thousands of
Georgia 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 estimated $140
million in Georgia alone and severely cut back the areas where Medicare
private fee-for-service plans can operate, adversely impacting more than
40,000 Georgia 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.
Nearly 140,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Georgia 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
Robert Zirkelbach of AHIP, +1-202-778-8493
