Now that corporate health insurers are compromising the health and finances of more than half of people on Medicare, the so-called “advantage” program is coming under heavy scrutiny. Congress has a significant role to play in stopping insurers from delaying and denying care—and in thwarting proposals to make corporate health plans the default option for seniors on Medicare. We urge you to reach out to your U.S. House representative and your U.S. senators, request meetings, and urge them to crack down on corporate profiteering in Medicare.
Legislative outreach toolkit
- Talking Points – quick summary highlighting key data, legislative asks, and messaging strategies
- Project 2025 one-pager – outlines the Project 2025 proposal to make corporate health plans the default for new Medicare enrollees
- Harms report one-pager – documents that many ways that corporate insurers harm patients and health care workers alike
In addition to the priority materials above, please check out our comprehensive toolkit below, in order to prepare more thoroughly:
- Preparing for your meeting
- Power Analysis Worksheet – develop a detailed understanding of your representative
- My Congressional District – explore demographic information with this tool from the Census Bureau
- Legislative Training – PowerPoint slides from our Dec. 2023 training
- Materials for participants
- Template Meeting Agenda – start here to build your meeting agenda
- Legislative Visit Guide – from scheduling your meeting through developing an agenda and facilitation
- Developing your personal story
- Webinar on Storytelling – Dr. Farzon Nahvi discusses narrative medicine and the power of storytelling
- Sample Personal Story – Dr. Carol Paris tells her story in a letter to the Chattanooga Times Free Press
- Patient Stories With Impact – a behind-the-scenes look at how the industry develops patient stories
- Dueling letters to Medicare administrators
- Materials to leave behind with legislators
- MA Summary – a printable one-pager outlining the main issues with Medicare Advantage
- Policy Primer – complete with hyperlinked literature for legislators and staff interested in a deeper dive
Once you meet with your legislator, make sure to let us know how it went! Fill out our quick report-back form HERE, and stay tuned for more information on legislative advocacy in 2025.
You can also catch up on our full legislative training sessions by checking out the recordings below.
Engaging with legislators (part one)
Engaging with legislators (part two)
Ready to take action? Sign our petition demanding Congress and President Biden protect Medicare beneficiaries by cracking down on insurance company abuses, and by significantly improving the traditional, public Medicare program. Questions? Email mandy@pnhp.org.