A newspaper in Massachusetts has discovered a health care insurance scam that is exploiting seniors and protecting industry profits. In his article “Elderly used as front in letter-writing campaign,” (http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_103032149.html/resources_printstory) The Eagle Tribune Editorial Page Editor Ken Johnson details how he was sent several suspicious letters to the editor and then received a phone call from someone impersonating a senior’s grandson.
“Across Massachusetts, senior citizens are writing letters to newspapers demanding that their representatives in Congress protect a form of health insurance called Medicare Advantage.
"At least that's what newspaper editors are supposed to think.
"Some of those seniors are unaware that they have sent any such letters to newspapers. Some of them hadn't even heard of Medicare Advantage.
"I did not write a letter to the editor. It's not from me," said Gloria Gosselin, 75, of Lawrence.
"Gosselin's name was on one of three strikingly similar letters touting the Medicare Advantage program that were sent to The Eagle-Tribune.
"Writers of letters to the editor are routinely contacted by newspapers to make sure letters are legitimate. In this case, they weren't.
"All three of the purported authors of the letters said they had no idea their names were being used to advocate for the health insurance program.
"The letters were, in fact, composed and sent by the Boston office of a national political consulting firm attempting to create the appearance of a "grass-roots" movement for Medicare Advantage.”
Johnson pursued his instincts and uncovered a fake grassroots campaign commissioned by America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the insurance lobbyists, and carried out by the primarily Democratic lobbying firm Dewey Square Group.
“A tip-off to the true origin of the letters came when The Eagle-Tribune received a call from a man who turned out to be an intern at the Boston office of the Dewey Square Group, a national political marketing and consulting firm.
"The man, who identified himself as Noah, wanted to know if Gloria Gosselin's letter had been published. Asked what interest he had in the letter, Noah replied that he was Gosselin's grandson.
"Gosselin does not have a grandson named Noah working in Boston. Her only grandson is a student at Central Catholic.”
What did Dewey Square say about all of this? They blamed the seniors, saying they probably just forgot!
“Two spokeswomen for the Dewey Square Group insist the campaign is legitimate, even if the seniors have no recollection of sending or signing such letters.
"Perhaps, suggested Dewey Square's Mary Anne Marsh, the time that elapsed between the meetings when the seniors saw the letters and the letters' arrival at the newspaper may have clouded some memories.”
Currently, large insurance companies receive taxpayer subsidies – $176 billion over the next ten years – to operate privatized Medicare Advantage plans at a cost between 12 and 19 percent higher than if Medicare were to directly serve these same people.
“This egregious example of corporate welfare drains the Medicare Trust Fund and forces every senior to spend an additional $3 in monthly premiums to cover these costs. This money could go toward improving Medicare and making it easier for retirees to afford to see their doctor or fill a prescription.
You can also read a piece the Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/14/astroturf-lobby-charged-w_n_186823.html) wrote to find out more.
