During the open enrollment period for health care in the United States, Big Insurance is planning a major marketing campaign to mislead patients in Medicare Advantage plans in an attempt to avoid blame for upcoming price increases and cuts to care. They will blame the Biden administration and other entities to divert attention from their corporate greed. Despite their record profits, these companies are focused on maximizing profit margins rather than patient care, which they will not admit. The reforms implemented by the Biden administration have actually stopped inappropriate denials of care and decreased overpayments to Big Insurance from Medicare Advantage plans.
Claims by Big Insurance that premium increases in Medicare Advantage plans will lead to better care are unfounded, as studies have shown that beneficiaries face more obstacles to care and worse outcomes compared to those in traditional Medicare. For example, mortality rates for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries with certain cancers have been shown to be higher. In addition, millions of prior authorization requests for care prescribed by doctors were denied by Medicare Advantage insurance companies in 2022. Despite these challenges for patients, Big Insurance companies running Medicare Advantage plans have reported significant profits and have engaged in practices such as stock buybacks that prioritize enriching stockholders over providing care.
The misinformation spread by Big Insurance aims to hide the truth that Medicare Advantage is a system built by these companies to boost profits at the expense of taxpayers and patients. Instead of addressing these issues, Big Insurance is ramping up efforts to deceive the public and policymakers. It is important for individuals to see through these tactics and prioritize patient care over corporate profits. Healthcare should center on the needs of patients, and the truth should be communicated, rather than the lies propagated by Big Insurance. Ultimately, it is crucial for individuals to be aware of the deceptive practices of Big Insurance and advocate for transparency and accountability in the healthcare system.
