Insurance Companies Taking Advantage of Seniors

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Federal State and health advocacy groups are claiming insurance agents have engaged in unscrupulous hard sell tactics to persuade seniors to enroll in private health care plans, and forgo the Medicare plan offered by the government.

Insurance agents have begun to offer incentives for enrollment in what is commonly referred to as Medicare Advantage plans. These incentives include anything from dinner to trips to Las Vegas. In the wake of these hard sell tactics, enrollment in Medicare Advantage Plans has skyrocketed.

Mississippi state insurance commissioner George R. Dale said, “Abusive Medicare insurance sales practices are spreading rapidly throughout the state.” State Senator Terry C. Burton added, “My office is receiving calls daily from seniors who have been victims of unscrupulous salespeople.”

According to the NY Times, “Proponents of private plans say they are indisputably good for many older Americans because they coordinate care and may offer extra benefits, like discounts on eyeglasses, hearing aids and dental care. But federal officials said that the fastest-growing type of Medicare Advantage plan generally does not coordinate care, does not save money for Medicare and has been at the center of marketing abuses.”

According to statistics one fifth of the 43 million Medicare beneficiaries are currently enrolled in an Advantage Plan. The NY Times article highlighted 2 insurance agents in Georgia who were arrested last month who were accused of conspiring to defraud Medicare beneficiaries.

John W. Oxendine, the Georgia insurance commissioner said, “The agents signed up unwilling consumers and even deceased individuals for private Medicare plans. This appears to be a national problem, based on my conversations with insurance officials around the country.”

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