Congress is continuing to debate possible changes to Medicare Supplement (Medigap) insurance as part of a larger effort to reduce the federal budget deficit. As the Partnership to Protect Medigap (PPM) has communicated before, proposals are being considered that could bring about higher costs and fewer choices for seniors and other Medicare enrollees who rely on Medigap coverage.

As discussions on these proposals move forward, Medigap enrollees need to make their voices heard.

There are several reasons why individuals who depend on Medigap and their families should speak up and make sure their perspective is being considered by our elected officials:

• Misperceptions about Medigap cloud the debate. Take for instance the common myth that only wealthy Medicare beneficiaries use Medigap. Research shows that Medigap is a vital source of coverage and financial protection for low-income and rural beneficiaries. The stories that have been shared with us by PPM members are often about the financial challenges faced by individuals who rely on their Medigap coverage to afford the health care services they need. By communicating with your members of Congress, you are giving them an honest example of someone who relies on Medigap coverage - something far more valuable than a statistic and especially a misunderstanding.
• As someone who could be directly impacted by the proposals that Congress is considering, your opinion deserves to be taken into account. Everyone agrees that Washington should work to reduce the national deficit, but how those cuts occur is widely disputed. Seniors should not have the medical coverage they count on disrupted.
• Elected officials are highly concerned about the views of their constituents. Communicating with your Senators and Representative is the most effective way for concerned citizens to impact what happens in Washington.

Consider these easy ways to contact your members of Congress:

• Call the toll-free PPM Activation line at 866-869-1923 to get directly connected to the office of your Representative or one of your Senators.
• Look up contact information for your members of Congress online simply by entering your zip code at this link: www.protectmedigap.org/contact-congress. From here, you can email or get the mailing address for your members of Congress.

A New Medigap Resource:

A recently released white paper examines the impact of imposing cost-sharing on Medigap enrollees. One key finding of the white paper is that the most vulnerable beneficiaries - those with minimal financial resources and significant health issues - could be affected the most.

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