Thread by @SSWorks

THREAD: For years, Republicans have put their thumb on the scale in favor of for-profit Medicare Advantage plans.

Under the Trump Administration, that thumb has turned into an entire hand.

Medicare Advantage is a scam. Here are 10 reasons why.

commondreams.org/views/2018/10/…

1. Medicare Advantage plans limit the doctors and hospitals enrollees can use. It's no surprise that the sicker people get, the more likely they are to switch back to traditional Medicare.

2. Medicare Advantage plans do not offer people information that would allow them to understand what they will pay out of pocket when they need costly care and which doctors and hospitals they will be able to use.

3. Medicare Advantage plans shift costs to people most needing care. High deductibles, copays and an out-of-pocket cap of nearly $7,000 each year undermine access and ration people’s care based on their ability to pay.

4. Medicare Advantage plans cannot offer reliable coverage or continuity of care as they are constantly changing the products and services they offer, the providers in their network, and their enrollees’ cost-sharing obligations.

5. Medicare Advantage plans cannot rein in costs or slow down the rate of growth in health care spending.

6. Medicare Advantage plans drive up administrative costs through the time, money and personnel they require for billing and other insurance-related administrative activities.

7. Most Medicare Advantage plans are obligated to put shareholders first, with incentives them to maximize profits by denying care.

A recent report by the Office of the Inspector General revealed that these plans frequently deny coverage for medically necessary care.

8. Medicare Advantage plans have no incentive to innovate for the public good or disclose information about medical protocols, devices and other treatments that would benefit the public at large.

9. Medicare Advantage plans treat much of their operations as proprietary, preventing needed oversight and public understanding of areas where they are failing consumers.

10. Medicare Advantage plans have little accountability to prevent them from engaging in fraudulent and illegal behavior.

The federal government cannot always oversee them effectively and hold them accountable for inappropriate behavior, let alone illegal activities.

Today's Trump executive order is yet another giveaway to the for-profit corporations that run Medicare Advantage plans.

The massive flaws of MA epitomize the need to get for-profit greed out of health care by improving Medicare and expanding it to cover everyone. #MedicareForAll