New Obamacare Rule Makes “Steeper-Than-Expected” Medicare Cuts Hitting Seniors Directly in 2014

WASHINGTON – In a transparent attempt to bury harmful news, on Friday night the Obama Administration announced that it would be significantly cutting current seniors’ Medicare in 2014, with “steeper-than-expected rate cuts” to the popular Medicare Advantage program. The cuts, supported wholeheartedly by House Democrats, are part of the $716 billion cut from Medicare to fund Obamacare, are more severe than expected for current seniors.

“On Friday, the government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced several proposed rules for Medicare programs, including lower payment rates for Medicare Advantage.” (“Proposed 2014 Medicare Advantage rates cut insurer payments”, Reuters, 2/19/2013)

“…the federal government released preliminary data that points to a steeper-than-expected rate cuts for Medicare Advantage plans in 2014.” (“Medicare Advantage stocks slip”, Bloomberg Businessweek, 2/19/13)

27% of seniors currently are enrolled in the popular Medicare Advantage plans, although millions of seniors are expected to be forced off their Medicare Advantage plans because of Obamacare.

“More than 13 million people were enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans last year, or about 27 percent of the Medicare population, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.” (“Medicare Advantage stocks slip”, Bloomberg Businessweek, 2/19/13)

“We are now seeing the real-life consequences of House Democrats and Barack Obama cutting Medicare to pay for Obamacare,” said CLF Communications Director Dan Conston. “House Democrats owe their constituents an explanation why they supported a law that makes life harder for seniors.”

BACKGROUND:

Administration Announced Deep Cuts To Medicare (“Proposed 2014 Medicare Advantage rates cut insurer payments”, Reuters, 2/19/2013)

Medicare Cuts are Deeper Than Expected (“Medicare Advantage stocks slip”, Bloomberg Businessweek, 2/19/13)

Half Of All Medicare Advantage Enrollees Would Be Forced Off Their Current Plans (“Health Care Cost Increase Is Projected for New Law,” New York Times, 4/23/12)