Woefully Inadequate Medicare Bill According to AARP

The broader Medicare improvement package has been subject to debate and there has hardly been a consensus on it. According to David Sloane, AARP Director of Government Relations, “the short term package coming before senate this week is the path of least resistance and is woefully inadequate.

According to David Sloane, by enacting this legislation millions of Medicare beneficiaries recieve no additional protection from paying more each month. The advantages gained by beneficiaries are only temporary and if payment cuts occur, in the long run there could be problems finding a physician.

According to Sloane, Americans are not getting as much as they should. Vulnerable older Americans are likely to get hurt the most in the backdrop of elected officials going home for the holidays.

Another issue is that there are not likely to be any reductions in the excess payments to Medicare Advantage plans amounting to billions of dollars. The private fee-for-service plans have been abused greatly. These plans do not have to coordinate care.

AARP will pursue policies to protect beneficiaries from high premiums and help low income individuals, Sloane said.