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LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.

Article Excerpt
Byline: The Register-Guard

Cut back Medicare Advantage

The Senate is expected to vote soon on providing health insurance for presently uninsured children through the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

Some in Congress want to take the money for this insurance from the privatized plans called Medicare Advantage. That would be a great start on dismantling those plans, as the private plans are undermining original Medicare.

You can get full details from the nonprofit Medicare Rights Center at www.medicarerights.org. MRC reports that privatized plans cost taxpayers $1,000 more a year per person than original Medicare, and take out 20 percent for administrative costs, marketing and profits, while original Medicare spends only 3 percent on administrative costs.

If Congress doesn't stop these overpayments, the private plans will wind up running Medicare. Right now original Medicare is an efficient program that guarantees its members a core set of reliable benefits. The private plans will make it a voucher program, challenging its members to find a private plan they can afford that will also provide the benefits they need when they need them most.

Rep. Peter DeFazio appears to be on to this scam and is doing what he can to repair the damage. Readers, please ask Sens. Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith not only to vote the SCHIP money for uninsured children but to work to restore original Medicare by shrinking and eventually...

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