AARP Hearing Center
October 1, 2009
The Honorable David G. Reichert
U.S. House of Representatives
1730 Longworth HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515-4708
Dear Representative Reichert:
Thank you for your letter of September 21 regarding AARP’s position on health care reform and the impact of pending proposals on Medicare Advantage enrollees. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to correct a number of misimpressions about AARP’s role in the current debate and about our branded health insurance product offerings.
Let me be clear on the following points:
- AARP’s process of developing policy positions, including our position on health care reform, is conducted independently of any AARP royalty generating activities.
- While AARP is actively engaged in the ongoing legislative debate, we have not endorsed any of the bills now pending in the House and Senate. Among our priorities, we are fighting to protect and improve Medicare benefits for seniors and ensure future generations have the health coverage they need.
- AARP is not an insurance company. We license our brand to certain insurance companies which have designed high-quality insurance options that are offered to our members and, for certain government programs, others who may not be members. Both Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplemental policies carry the AARP name.
- When it comes to Medicare Advantage, AARP has been on record stating that excess subsidies to private Medicare Advantage insurers have been unnecessarily costing taxpayers billions of dollars and driving up the cost of overall Medicare premiums. Despite the promise of cost efficiencies, those insurers now receive and average of 14% more per person than the cost of traditional Medicare benefits.
- AARP believes that by reducing these subsidies, we can save money, lower Medicare costs, and help ensure seniors, their children and grandchildren will have the health benefits they have earned.
- AARP wants to see savings from medicare Advantage used to strengthen medicare by closing the Part D coverage gap or “doughnut hole,” to lower drug costs for millions of seniors; ensuring Medicare pays doctors fairly so seniors can keep the doctor of their choice or more easily find a doctor if they don’t have one; lowering out-of-pocket costs for important preventive services; improving the coordination of care for people with chronic health conditions; and strengthening the long-term financial security of the Medicare program.
- Whether private insurance plans choose to change their current benefit packages upon passage of a health reform bill is a business decision they will have to make. AARP supports provisions in health reform legislation to pay bonuses to Medicare Advantage plans that provide better customer service and higher quality outcomes.
- Finally, AARP supports phasing in proposed payment system changes to minimize impact.
In response to your specific questions, I am pleased to provide the following information:
Answer to Question 1: AARP does not have access to which Medicare-eligible members are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. Information on the AARP-branded plan is confidential and proprietary to United HealthCare Insurance Company (“United”) and AARP does not have permission to disclose it.
