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The Palm Beach Post's veteran Washington correspondent, Larry Lipman, tracks policy makers and interest groups who are shaping the future of the federal health insurance program for the elderly.Medicare Web Resources
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Medicare is the federal health care system that covers about 36 million people age 65 and older, plus 7 million disabled. It has four parts:
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Financed by Medicare and beneficiary premiums, which vary among plans.
The plans are private and financed by Medicare and beneficiary premiums, which vary among plans.
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Home > Medicare Monitor > Archives > 2008 > June > 19 > Entry
Poll: beneficiaries oppose cutting Medicare Advantage
A poll paid for by an association of private health plans — including those offering Medicare Advantage plans — found that most seniors oppose cutting the Medicare Advantage program as the way to avoid cutting payments to doctors.
While the industry-sponsored poll found widespread support for the Medicare Advantage program among those enrolled in such private plans, it also found substantial support for it among those enrolled in traditional fee-for-service Medicare.
The poll was conducted by Ayres, McHenry & Associates and the Feldman Group and paid for by America’s Health Insurance Plans.
According to the poll, beneficiaries in traditional Medicare would prefer cutting payments to doctors by a 3-to-1 ratio instead of cutting Medicare Advantage. Those enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans favored that option by a 6-to-1 ratio.
The beneficiaries also indicated they thought cuts to the Medicare Advantage program would have a negative impact on seniors in such health plans.
Only half of the beneficiaries — regardless of whether they were in traditional or Medicare Advantage plans — oppose the scheduled 10.6 percent physician pay cut slated to begin July 1.
But by a 5-to-1 ratio among fee-for-service beneficiaries and 13-to-1 ratio among Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, they would prefer cutting other programs than cutting Medicare Advantage or raising taxes.
Hmmm. Let’s see. Cut doctors’ payment rates or raise taxes …
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