Press Release
Castor Works To Protect Seniors
Tampa,
September 2, 2009
Medicare Advantage marketing abuses have affected many seniors, prompting Congresswoman Kathy Castor to take steps to protect the elderly from these deceptive practices through the health care reform effort.
Medicare Advantage marketing abuses have affected many seniors, prompting Congresswoman Kathy Castor to take steps to protect the elderly from these deceptive practices through the health care reform effort.
Today, Castor returned to Acorn Trace Apartments to tell seniors that she was grateful that they brought this issue to her attention and to tell them that she is working to prevent the advertisements and scams that target them and coerce them into signing up for plans that aren’t in their best interest.
“Because of these stories, the salesmen coming on the grounds without permission, I really want to thank everyone here for providing me with the inspiration to do this,” Castor said. “My amendment will enhance the oversight and the penalties and give the power to the states to regulate marketing tactics.”
Castor visited the senior housing complex in 2007, and it was then she learned that Medicare Advantage sales agents used aggressive marketing tactics, unlicensed brokers and misleading sales presentations to enroll seniors in these private plans without them fully understanding the potentially adverse consequences of joining. Often, seniors were unaware they would lose their traditional Medicare and could lose access to certain doctors and providers.
“They tried to lure seniors to sign up for private Medicare Advantage plans,” Castor said. “Oftentimes, they targeted seniors with dementia. Fortunately, we’re going to address these deceptive practices.”
Castor’s amendment protects to the health care reform legislation protects seniors and restores power to the states to oversee marketing tactics. Castor’s amendment returns to the states authority to investigate and regulate deceptive Medicare Advantage marketing practices. It requests that state insurance regulators, through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and in consultation with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, draft marketing guidelines for Medicare Advantage plans. The amendment was approved by the House Energy & Commerce Committee, on which Castor serves, and is now included in this major health care reform bill. She will continue fighting for this provision as the health care reform legislation takes shape. The AARP joined Castor today.
“Whether it’s high-pressure marketing to buy shaky investments or to trade in your trusted Medicare benefits for a private managed-care plan, questionable sales practices that mislead or confuse older Floridians are just wrong,” said Jeff Johnson, Florida manager of AARP’s Health Action Now initiative. “AARP thanks Rep. Castor for working to strengthen Medicare, including stronger consumer protections against misleading marketing practices in Medicare Advantage plans.”
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners and the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation also have expressed their support. “I would like to thank you for sponsoring an amendment to the House health care reform bill that would restore state authority over marketing and sales practices of Medicare Advantage plans,” Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty wrote to Castor. “I am grateful that your amendment would restore marketing oversight authority to the states and ensure that we here in Florida have the tools we need to protect our citizens.”
Following is additional information on this issue: http://aging.senate.gov/hearing_detail.cfm?id=315817&
http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=644&Itemid=1
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