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The good news is that Congress appears ready to tackle the important problem of health care reform. Retirees have a major stake in what happens in the next few days and months. This is a good time to express your views to our North Dakota Congressional Delegation. Here are some thoughts on the major issues affecting retirees:

·        Congress has the opportunity to stop the overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans. These overpayments average as much as 13-17% above the cost of traditional Medicare and can take nearly $190 billion over ten years out of our health care system. If you are now a Medicare beneficiary, you now pay an extra $3 a month in premiums because of these overpayments. Ask your Congressman to stop the overpayments and use the money to improve Medicare for all beneficiaries.

·        Another issue that will come up involves taxing health benefits. Generally, this is bad because it creates a disincentive for employers to offer health care coverage. You can help out all Americans by telling your Congressman that you oppose taxing health benefits. Instead, health care reform should include tax code provisions that reward employers that provide affordable, comprehensive benefits to their workers.

·        Congress has an excellent opportunity to improve Medicare benefits, especially for low-income seniors. It could be expanded to include services that are not currently covered, services such as dental, vision, podiatry, and preventive care.

There are other issues, but these are a starting point. I urge you to make your views known. Here’s a sample letter, or e-mail, but put things in your own words:

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Dear _______________________:

I am a retiree and I am closely watching the debate on national health care reform.  I do think we need change, but I hope this will be change that makes things better for retirees. To make things better, we need savings that will help pay for the improvements.

A good place to start is to end the overpayments that taxpayers give to the big insurance companies to operate privatized Medicare Advantage plans. This money can be better used to help more people afford quality health care.

On the other hand, I do not favor taxing employer-provided health care benefits as may be proposed to generate revenue from current workers and retirees. Such a tax would discourage employers from offering affordable health coverage.

I hope you make the right choices as you help craft the legislation to improve health care. We North Dakotans are counting on you.

Sincerely,

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Note: These comments and suggestions have been developed from the campaign of the Alliance for Retired Americans.

You can find out more by going to www.retiredamericans.org