Now that corporate health insurers are “managing benefits” for 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 on a whim—and in resisting lobbyist pressure to reward these corporations for their bad behavior. 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
- 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
- Talking Points – a lightning-fast refresher on Medicare Advantage with a few focused points
- Template Meeting Agenda – start here to build your meeting agenda
- Legislative Visit Guide – from scheduling your meeting through developing an agenda and facilitation
- Recent press – a collection of relevant recent press related to Medicare Advantage
- Developing your personal story
- Webinar on Storytelling – Dr. Farzon Nahvi discusses narrative medicine and the power of storytelling
- 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
- Urging Support for Reforms – response to a Medicare-friendly letter circulating in Congress
- Debunking Industry Talking Points – response to an industry-friendly letter circulating in Congress
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 as we approach open enrollment in the fall. Plus, stay tuned for a proposed bill in 2025 that will crack down on the worst corporate abuses in Medicare Advantage—and that will significantly improve the Traditional Medicare program.
Looking to catch up on our full legislative training sessions? Check 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.