Make it illegal for taxpayer-funded Medicare Advantage plans to spend money on advertising or sales commissions. A website and/or phone call to Medicare can inform people of their options, including which Medicare Advantage plans are available in their community and whether their doctor is included. With budgets so tight, taxpayer funds intended for Health Care should not be diverted to advertising and sales.
Why is this important?
Taxpayers pay extra to subsidize Medicare Advantage Plans compared to the cost of regular Medicare. Every fall, these plans fill our TVs and mailboxes with ads, and pay sales agents commissions to sign people up for their Advantage plan. The agents ask health questions to "guide people to the plan that is right for them" (my impression: guide sicker people to traditional Medicare.)
