Like sharks, private insurers have been circling Medicare for decades in hopes of privatizing the funds. Bush made this possible by allowing insurers to siphon off billions into their private Medicare Advantage plans (using the name “Medicare” to confuse seniors). AARP not only participated but tirelessly lobbied for it. Insurers lure seniors away from real Medicare by promising them attractive premiums and benefits such as free health club membership, dental, eyeglasses and, in some places, even a rebate of the $93.50 monthly Part B premium. 

Seniors enroll because it seems like such a good deal and because they don’t realize that leaving Medicare in the lurch weakens it for other seniors. Today one in three seniors have bought into the MA plans. Marilyn Moon, former trustee of the Medicare system, says that not only do the MA plans charge 14 percent more for the same treatments then Medicare, members are paying an additional $3 per month to subsidize these plans. Private insurers will siphon off over $157 billion within 10 years, placing Medicare in danger of bankruptcy.

Yet, Michele Kimball, state director of AARP in Minnesota, wrote in her column Oct. 8 that “AARP believes that we need to stop Medicare from paying billions in subsidies to private insurance companies.” Since AARP, along with it’s affiliate, United HealthCare Group, has been receiving these subsidies (easily verified on the Internet), what’s going on? It seems there are actually two separate AARPs — one the beneficent, nonprofit, advocate of some 38 million individuals 50 and over, many who depend on Medicare called AARP Foundation, the other, AARP Services Inc., which is wholly managed for profit. It is AARP Foundation receiver of a huge tax exemption that is used most often to put on the “good guy” persona.  

AARP spends billions on lobbying for causes both beneficial and detrimental to its members. When chief executive Bill Novelli alienated many seniors with AARP’s support for the MA plans as well as the prescription drug Part D, AARP named a new chief and is now on an all-out plan of nationwide promotion. Many fail to see beyond the promo-hoopla because it is so cleverly concealed behind such worthwhile causes. Yet, we must see if Medicare — the only workable health plan that cares for the oldest, sickest, most expensive group in America — is to survive.

If fundamental health care reform does not pass and attempts to rein in privatized plans are not successful, then I fear that in addition to losing the most viable health plan we have, we will become even more entrenched in the predatory insurance industry.

Mary Milliron

Hollandale