US Senate Report Finds Nine States Saw Spike in Medicare Advantage Advertising Complaints

The Medicare Advantage program allows patients to purchase a private insurance plan with their Medicare benefits. A report released by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) found that 9 of 10 states examined had an increase in complaints over private insurers engaging in unethical marketing practices targeting seniors in the program.

According to Robert King, “Wyden’s staff also found that a frequent source of complaints was the plan would offer a bump to seniors’ Social Security checks. If a plan buys down Medicare Part B premiums, that could result in a higher payment for seniors that choose those plans. However, brokers and agents are apparently employing the additional benefit to lure beneficiaries into plans even if they don’t lower the Part B premium. ‘Ultimately, this marketing strategy harms beneficiaries more than it helps them,’ the report said.”

To read more, click here.

(Source: Fierce Healthcare, November 4^th, 2022)