Senator Ron Johnson (WI) this week discussed how to “coax” retirees back into the labor force during a tele town hall on Wednesday night. Earlier, Johnson suggested that earned benefits should be re-approved by Congress on an annual basis, and insisted that Social Security was “set up improperly” and should be turned over to Wall Street during a recent campaign stop.
Social Security is gaining traction as a top issue for voters, and Democrats are calling out those who are going after Social Security and Medicare. President Joe Biden said that “Congressional Republicans want to put them on the chopping block every five years” in a tweet over the weekend, referring to the plan released by National Republican Senate Committee Chair Sen. Rick Scott (FL).
“Alliance members need to make sure all seniors know that their earned benefits are at stake this November,” said Alliance President Robert Roach, Jr. “Seniors should pay close attention to this issue and make sure they turn out to elect candidates who will protect the retirement and health benefits they have earned.”
After Crackdown, Medicare Advantage Marketers Tone Down Sales Tactics
Medicare Advantage plans are being forced to tone down their aggressive advertising this year in response to increased oversight from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The new guidelines were prompted by an increase in consumer complaints, which swelled by 165 percent between 2020 and 2021, with a total of 41,136 filed last year.
An investigation into Medicare Advantage sales tactics also spurred the agency’s decision to tighten regulations, yielding some complaints alleging fraudulent practices. Sales call recordings suggested that callers were often confused about the product and who they were talking to, with some even thinking they were speaking to government representatives.
Medicare Advantage regulations are becoming increasingly relevant, as a new analysis shows that nearly half of those who are eligible for Medicare are enrolled in Advantage plans. Marketing efforts become particularly frenzied during the annual enrollment period for Medicare, which will go from October 15 to December 7 this year.
“Older Americans are deluged with health information, and it seems clear that some Medicare Advantage marketers crossed the line,” said Alliance Executive Director Richard Fiesta. “We encourage all retirees who are considering changing their coverage to get information from a trusted source, such as their union or the State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), not just from television or radio commercials.”
