Prompted by the death of the United Healthcare CEO and by the close of the open enrollment period for Medicare supplemental and Advantage plans, Kennebunk resident Jean Thompson writes in the Portland Press Herald:
“…Someone finally found a way to strike a blow that has made the health insurance industry and the American public sit up and take notice. I do find it significant that the assassination was carried out as the annual open enrollment period for Medicare beneficiaries like myself drew to a close on Dec. 7.
…Every fall, every Medicare beneficiary has this decision: Give a commercial health insurance mega-corporation all my Medicare dollars or just some of my Medicare dollars. It is impossible to give them no money. Doing without prescription drugs and supplemental coverage is a risk seniors cannot afford to take.
…as the Biden administration sought to cap seniors’ out-of-pocket prescriptions drug costs at $2,000 a year, United Healthcare decided to raise Part D premiums sharply. I could switch to another plan except, guess what? They’re all doing the same thing. (These corporations talk to each other!) I should also mention that during the COVID pandemic, all these corporations made record profits and celebrated by raising everyone’s premiums as though nothing had changed.”
Editor’s note: After reading this letter, please take a few minutes to write to your Members of Congress to urge them to co-sponsor legislation to improve traditional Medicare and expand it to everyone.
• House of Representatives: www.house.gov/representatives
• Senate: www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm