Rep. Klein Continues Fight to Protect Health Care for Seniors

Introduces amendment to grandfather in current Medicare Advantage beneficiaries

11/04/09 -- Washington, DC – Congressman Ron Klein (FL-22) today introduced an amendment to the health care reform bill currently pending in the U.S. House, the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962). Klein’s amendment grandfathers in current enrollees in private Medicare Advantage plans to ensure that any future changes to the program do not impact the care they receive. This amendment marks another step in Klein’s fight to strengthen and protect Medicare for our seniors.

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“This amendment is about keeping the promise that if you like your health insurance plan, you can keep it,” Klein said. “Seniors who are currently enrolled in private Medicare Advantage health plans should not have to lose sleep about what will happen to their benefits. We must honor the commitment we made to seniors who signed up for this program while we work to strengthen and protect Medicare for future generations.”

Klein’s amendment has two parts. The first will put off any scheduled changes to Medicare Advantage for one year, providing extra time to smooth the transition to the new, more efficient program. The second part of the amendment will grandfather in 100 percent of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties, allowing them to keep their current plans as long as they choose to do so. Klein’s amendment freezes Medicare Advantage rates at a maximum of 106 percent of Medicare fee-for-service rates and adds a hold harmless provision which works to grandfather in South Florida beneficiaries.

“My top priority is to ensure that Medicare is strong and solvent for generations to come,” Klein said. “Our seniors depend on these benefits for their physical, emotional and financial health. This amendment will further ensure that those who signed up for private Medicare Advantage plans do not see their coverage disrupted as we move to make the system more efficient for every Medicare recipient and American taxpayer.”

Since his first day in Congress, Klein has been fighting to protect our seniors. Earlier this year, he successfully worked with House leaders to pass an urgent fix to prevent cuts in Social Security benefits. In addition, Klein took the lead in a national fight to ensure that the new health care reform bill begins to close the Medicare Part D donut hole immediately. Beginning in January of 2010, seniors will see real relief with an immediate 50 percent discount on brand name medication to bridge the gap until the donut hole is eliminated completely. Klein’s leadership on this key issue has been noted by senior members of the U.S. House as well as Nancy LeaMond, Executive Vice President of AARP, who said on October 23, “We appreciate so much the leadership of Congressman Ron Klein, who represents 130,000 AARP members.”

Source: Congressman Ron Klein