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Obamacare Surprise Threatens Access to Medicare Advantage Coverage, AMAC Charges

The ability of millions of older Americans on Medicare to purchase supplemental Medicare Advantage insurance is compromised BOHEMIA, NY, Nov 2 Millions of seniors on Medicare could lose access to their cherished Medicare Advantage if President Obama gets a chance to fully implement his ObamaCare program, according to Dan Weber, president of the Association of Mature American Citizens. Weber said that the Affordable Care Act strips Medicare of $713 million in funding in order to cover the enormous cost of ObamaCares all things to all people approach to healthcare. As a result, the ability of millions of older Americans on Medicare to purchase supplemental Medicare Advantage insurance is compromised. The impact will be felt in every state, he said in a report Weber issued today: Our industry sources tell us that these cuts will adversely affect the older population in two ways. First, most people with Medicare Advantage plans will begin to see higher out of pocket payments, premium increases, and a reduction in benefits, costing $46 per month or more on average. This is scheduled to start in 2013. Even more dangerous is the possibility that some Medicare providers will stop treating Medicare patients entirely because of the loss of income from these cuts. According to the 2012 Medicare Trustees report, the payment cuts will cause an estimated 15% of Medicare providers to operate in the red, he said. Weber continued, The real effect of the total $716 billion being cut from Medicare will be felt in places like Ohio, where both the older population and the Hospitals and doctors will bear the brunt of the changes He noted that more than $21 billion dollars will be diverted from Medicare to pay for Obamacare in Ohio alone, from 2013 to 2022. State Auditor Dave Yost called the impact on that state eye popping. Ohio seniors clearly love Medicare Advantage, Yost said. An awful lot of folks are going to lose that choice. It will be the same across the country, Weber added. Beginning next year, unless Obamacare is changed, it appears those on Medicare and Medicare Advantage will be in for tough times. It is extremely unfair to take money away from senior citizens, many of whom are on fixed incomes, in order to pay for the rest of the Affordable Care Act, he concluded. NOTE TO EDITORS: Dan Weber is available for telephone interviews on this issue. Please contact John Grimaldi at jpgrimaldi@verizon.net to set up a chat.

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