Please share your personal experience to help the media and policymakers understand the importance of your coordinated healthcare services.
It is imperative that you ensure that these programs remain available
“It is imperative that you ensure that these programs remain available to seniors. Coordinated care is the only way we will be able to provide healthcare to seniors and others in the long run.
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Please do not proceed with drastic changes
“I am a cancer survivor. Unfortunately the chemo left me with peripheral neuropathy to such a degree that I have to take 600mg of morphine to control the pain. I've tried to take the non-narcotic pain control medications and I am allergic to all of them. Lyrica was a great pain remedy but after two weeks on the drug I had complete kidney failure. So I have to stay on the morphine. I was also diagnosed with Diabetes 5 years ago. That alone is too costly for me to afford all the co-pays for the prescribed medications. I rely completely on my Senior plan to help me maintain my health. As it is now I have to forgo some of the medications I need to control my diabetes because of the cost of co-pays and the number of medications I need to stay healthy. Without the medications I now take my Doctor has warned me of the side effects of not controlling my Diabetes. Including loss of vision, loss of a limb, limited mobility, weigh gain and even death. Please don't reduce my benefits even further.
I am 70 years old and a widow who depends on the sense of financial and medical security that my health care needs will be met because of the Medicare Advantage plan. Please do not proceed with drastic changes that will increase my costs for health care and change my coverage.
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There should not be any question as to why we need Medicare Advantage Plans
“Our Desert Oasis plan saved us from having to sell our home when I had a heart attack, heart surgery with complications and a pacemaker. The insurance has allowed me to lead a full life in the same home. There should not be any question as to why we need Medicare Advantage Plans. I think the government needs to use common sense and start taking care of all of our people with what is really important in life, not using their power to keep their friends and family employed and living high on the hog. Where has the value on human life gone? For those of you who do care, thank you and God Bless the work you're doing in our behalf.”
Please help
“Due to multiple chronic/acute health problems ranging from advanced glaucoma (blind in left eye, limited vision in right) to severe peripheral neuropathy in both feet with the remains of multiple abdominal surgeries in the middle -- and more, I have been on Social Security Disability and Medicare since 2002. Having so many permanent health problems requires a coordinated effort among physicians, pharmacists, physical therapists, and other healthcare professionals. I have enough trouble just remembering which pill(s) to take and when without having to coordinate everything else in addition. Please help!”
Please keep health care affordable
“As a retired senior with a very small pension (about $245 per month) and also my social security, it has been very important to me to have my Seniority Advantage Health Plan. They have a wonderful diabetes program that helps keep my diabetes in control, as well as physical wellness exams and important tests and lab work that I have been able to afford so far. If this changes I don't know what will happen to my health, as I will not be able to afford any increases in health care or medications. It would be devastating. All other expenses have been going up - food, utilities and other living expenses. We have already cut back all unnecessary expenses such as receiving a newspaper, etc. This economic downturn has hurt us tremendously - Please - keep health care affordable and do not change the Medicare Advantage coverage that we now have.”
Please protect our coordinated care services
“I am a senior, living on a limited income and I don't know how I would manage without my Medicare Advantage program which saves me a significant amount of money every month.
There are so many of us seniors that are very worried that Congress is considering changing our health care benefit system, and not for the better. Please protect our coordinated care services.”
My parents mean the world to me
“My parents mean the world to me. They have always been hardworking, taxpaying, and law-abiding citizens who are now retired (ages 72 and 71). They are not and never have been a burden to our system. They do however rely on Medicare for their health care. They would not be able to get the healthcare they need without Medicare. I must say that they are very healthy. Neither parent has any major issue. As their daughter, I am concerned about the possible change to their existing Medicare coverage because it is currently keeping them healthy, happy, and stress free. This in turn helps them to enjoy a quality life. I'm afraid that any change to their Medicare will definitely impact their health and quality of life. They are stressing as I write this now. I feel that our American citizens (especially our senior American citizens) should come first overall to be protected and provided services.”
Please don't alter the Medicare Advantage program
“I am a 75 year old male with a heart condition and annual income of less than $12,000. Please don't alter the Medicare Advantage program. On the Medicare only program I would not be able to afford life-sustaining health care.”
Our health care will be directly impacted
“My wife and I are among the millions of Medicare Advantage Patients. Our health care will be directly impacted by changes to Medicare Advantage. I rely heavily on the plan I have and can not afford to pay more. If Medicare Advantages benefits are reduced I will be forced to cut back on my health services and drugs. Please do not allow drastic changes to Medicare Advantage.
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Something needs to be done
“I work with seniors every day and hear the hardships they are going through on a daily basis. The cost of healthcare and especially prescriptions, hospital care, etc. has risen so much that most people have a difficulty keeping up with the costs. Many people don't get proper care or treatment because they just can't afford the cost. Something needs to be done to benefit the majority of the population but especially the seniors who are on a very fixed income.
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Seniors need affordable healthcare
“In this economy, it is imperative that seniors have affordable healthcare. My mother is 95 years old and receives a minimal amount of social security. Without a Medicare Advantage plan, she could not afford Medicare and a supplement. She is healthy for her age and would not be so were it not for her physician and her medical group.”
Seniors would not get affordable and comprehensive healthcare
“Without these programs many of our senior population would not get the affordable and comprehensive healthcare that is needed to take care of their health issues. These plans offer these patients low co-payments or no co-payments and give them many avenues to manage their healthcare.”
Seniors rely on this service
“It's vital that our seniors receive the added "safety net" of coordinated care. They rely on this service to extend care beyond their doctor’s offices. In the long run seniors are better able to care for themselves or their caregivers have a better understanding on providing care to maintain a better quality of life no matter what the ailment may be. The fiscal responsibility to seniors would be too much for them and their families to bear without coordinated care or reduced services of this managed care benefit.”
Please do not take this away!
“My husband has MS and receives Medicare. This is a life saving program for us.
My 84 year old mother also relies on this for her medical needs.
Please do not take this away!”
I truly hope this healthcare model continues
“I am a nurse Case Manager and have been providing care for Medicare Advantage seniors for the past 6 years. It has been a privilege to provide education and nursing services within the managed care model. I truly hope this healthcare model continues as I have been a front row witness to the caring and positive impact it has on patients and their loved ones.”
Loosing access to the providers who they trust with their very lives
“My Mother, Father, Grandmothers and Grandfathers who live here in California have become very familiar with the Medicare Advantage processes. To force yet another change in the provisioning of their health care, requiring them to go through the learning process all over again, possibly loosing access to the providers whom they trust with their very lives would be nothing short of mean and cold hearted.
Please use your significant influence to prevent the pending change to the health and welfare of my loved ones.”
Let's try to simplify things for our Seniors
“Medicare advantage plans are very effective and offer wonderful quality care for our seniors. It is important that we do not make anymore cuts in this area.
Medi-Medi's are an area in which you could save millions of dollars by just making them sign up for one of the Medicare Advantage plans that are offered.
Seniors worked hard all their lives and the least we can do for them is give them good quality care.
I have been in the Medicare industry for the last 17 years and lately the changes that have been made do not make sense.
We are making it very difficult for our seniors to determine what is best for them. I do agree that the health plans should go back to providing 1 Medicare Advantage plan for all Seniors to eliminate confusion. Let’s try to simplify things for our seniors!!!!!”
It has been a Godsend!
“I am a cancer survivor and had 33 radiation treatments and 3 chemos and the cost to me was a couple of co-pays, less than $100! I also had a hip replacement and my cost was $400.
It has been a Godsend!”
Surviving the healthcare war
“This country was founded on the freedom of choice and that is why so many Americans have worked hard for this country. We Americans will not have the Social Security we have earned and given to and now the government (Congress) is trying to put a hold on our health care choices that we have worked for as well.
It is time the politicians realize we seniors do not make the big 6 figure salaries annually and with Medicare Advantage we can live with Social Security and still survive the healthcare war.
PLEASE do not take this away from us. We the people are who sent you to Washington to work and vote for us. Thank you for listening.”
My Family relies on Medicare Advantage
“My Family relies on the Medicare Advantage plan to care for a schizophrenic member of our family. Finding good healthcare/pharmacy management is imperative to the well being of his neighbors and community.”
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Coordinated Care Facts
In 2007, Medicare Advantage saved seniors nearly $90 per month or $1000 per year in out of pocket costs. An estimated savings of approximately $7 billion annually. Additionally, compared to traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans can reduce out-of-pocket costs by up to $4,000 annually for patients with the highest healthcare needs.
- Comprehensive Care: Patients receive integrated treatment plans, and expert case management and disease prevention strategies for the chronically ill.
- Cost-Effective Care: Integrated medical groups are able to support investments in advanced healthcare information technology, tracking patient follow-through on treatment plans and patient outcomes, and helping to uncover health problems before they become catastrophic.
- Accessible Care: Efficiencies within the coordinated care delivery model mean better healthcare for more seniors, including:
• lower out-of-pocket costs
• increased health services such as dental care, vision care and preventive care
• reduced hospitalizations
• increased prescription coverage
• higher overall satisfaction rates
• greater value for the premium dollar than any other healthcare delivery system
What’s At Risk
If Medicare reforms dismantle incentives for coordinated care, seniors will experience significant increases in out of pocket costs - at a time when many seniors have seen their retirement account’s decline by over 40 percent in value — and decreased quality of healthcare.
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