21,000 Iowans to Lose Medicare Advantage Plans Under Democratic Leaders' Changes

Statement

21,000 Iowans to Lose Medicare Advantage Plans Under Democratic Leaders' Changes

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today made the following comment on news that about 21,000 Iowans will no longer have access to their Medicare Advantage plans next year. Grassley is ranking member of the Committee on Finance, with jurisdiction over Medicare.

"Congressional Democrats cut Medicare Advantage in 2008 and overrode a presidential veto to do it. As a result of that and the recent health care overhaul, 920,000 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries will be forced out of their current plan, and more than 21,000 of these beneficiaries live in Iowa. The Administration's own chief actuary predicts that the $200 billion in cuts from the new health care law and previous reforms will decrease Medicare Advantage's projected enrollment by 50 percent between now and 2017. Adding insult to injury is the Secretary of Health and Human Services' misinforming the public in a speech yesterday that "there will be more Medicare Advantage plans to choose from' in the future. Whether you ask the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the Administration's own chief actuary or read the headlines in your local paper, the facts are indisputable. Seniors face fewer choices, fewer benefits and higher costs because of the partisan health care overhaul and previous changes to the Medicare program under Democratic leadership."

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