John,

I just wanted to send a quick note with this. Since we wrote yesterday, thousands of comments have gone in to help traditional Medicare compete with for-profit plans from private insurers. Alex’s email below has almost everything you need to know to take action―but a lot of people asked what to put for "Comment category."

Here’s updated instructions:

1. Go to the comment page on Regulations.gov
   https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/CMS-2024-0006-0001

2. Copy this sample comment, and either submit it as is or personalize it.

   At tremendous cost to taxpayers and people with Medicare, the government has overpaid Medicare Advantage plans tens of billions of dollars for more than a decade and is projected to overpay them by more than $1 trillion in the next decade.
   Just as the government recoups overpayments to individuals it should be recouping Medicare Advantage overpayments, not rewarding them with greater revenues. In addition to driving up costs for everyone with Medicare, it is eroding the Medicare Trust Fund.
   We urge you to reduce MA rates to a level commensurate with Traditional Medicare and recoup all overpayments.

3. Under "What is your comment about?" select "individual."

4. Enter your contact information and Press Submit!

Thanks,

Michael Phelan
Social Security Works

-- ALEX'S EMAIL --

John,

Corporate health insurers have been conducting a stealth privatization of our Medicare system, under the guise of for-profit plans marketed as “Medicare Advantage.”

Medicare Advantage is a program that gives private insurance corporations the ability to cover people who choose their health plans―but in the 25 years that it has existed, it’s clear that Medicare Advantage is riddled with the same problems as the rest of private insurance: Opaque bureaucracy and extraordinary fees.

These private plans spend 15-25% less than traditional Medicare on their enrollees' medical services and are paid 23% more. This is a classic case of greedy corporations stealing from taxpayers and people with Medicare.

Now, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that it plans to increase payments to Medicare Advantage plans by 3.7% in 2025!

Fortunately, we have a chance to make our voices heard before this rate increase goes into effect. CMS is holding an official comment period, ending March 1.

Here’s the truth: The government has overpaid Medicare Advantage plans over the past decade, and it's projected to overpay as much as an additional $1.56 trillion between now and 2033.¹ They should be paying us back, not the other way around.

The government recoups overpayments to individuals who can’t fight back, but when greedy corporations take our money, should the government just shrug? We say NO!

Here’s what you can do:

1. Go to the comment page on Regulations.gov
   https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/CMS-2024-0006-0001

2. Copy this sample comment, and either submit it as is or personalize it.

   At tremendous cost to taxpayers and people with Medicare, the government has overpaid Medicare Advantage plans tens of billions of dollars for more than a decade and is projected to overpay them by more than $1 trillion in the next decade.
   Just as the government recoups overpayments to individuals it should be recouping Medicare Advantage overpayments, not rewarding them with greater revenues. In addition to driving up costs for everyone with Medicare, it is eroding the Medicare Trust Fund.
   We urge you to reduce MA rates to a level commensurate with Traditional Medicare and recoup all overpayments.

3. Enter your contact information and Press Submit!

This isn’t as simple as some of the other actions we ask you to take―but it’s very important. These messages go directly to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services!

Thank you,

Alex Lawson
Social Security Works

¹ https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/medicare-advantage-overpayments-cost-taxpayers-billions-researcher-says/