At a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing prior to the Congressional recess, HHS Sec. Xavier Becerra battled with Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) over Medicare.
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NewsTranscript
00:00 Why is Medicare Advantage so popular?
00:07 Why is Medicare Advantage so popular?
00:09 You'll have to help me with what you mean by that.
00:11 You don't know what Medicare Advantage is?
00:13 Absolutely not.
00:14 Medicare Advantage is popular.
00:17 Is there some survey that you're talking about?
00:19 I deal in numbers.
00:23 About half of our seniors who qualify for Medicare choose Medicare Advantage, don't
00:29 they?
00:30 Actually, more than half.
00:32 Okay.
00:33 And why is that?
00:34 That makes it popular, right?
00:38 Medicare Advantage today, this is the first year that we've seen more individuals select
00:43 plans in the Medicare Advantage managed care program.
00:45 Why is it so popular?
00:47 Again, when you say popular, I've heard many Medicare beneficiaries who are complaining
00:52 about being stuck in a Medicare Advantage plan.
00:55 Is it because the average person, average senior on Medicare Advantage pays $2,400 less
01:04 in premiums on Medicare Advantage as opposed to traditional Medicare, plus gets more services
01:11 like dental and vision in many respects?
01:14 Could that have something to do with it, you think?
01:17 I'm assuming that you've seen some polling or surveys that give you some of those answers.
01:22 I've heard many, many things, good or bad about Medicare Advantage.
01:25 No, I've seen the facts.
01:27 Are you telling me that people on Medicare Advantage don't save money in premiums and
01:32 co-pays over traditional Medicare?
01:35 I have no doubt that some do, but I wouldn't have no doubt that some pay more.
01:40 I'm talking about the average.
01:42 Again, I don't know what numbers you're referring to, but I'm more than willing to discuss those
01:47 with you.
01:48 I'm looking at the numbers that your department puts out.
01:49 Okay, then what are those numbers, Senator?
01:51 The numbers say that the average person on Medicare Advantage pays $2,400 less in premiums
01:59 and co-pays and gets extra benefits.
02:02 Is that right?
02:04 My understanding is they're also restricted in the doctors they have access to, the hospitals
02:08 they have access to.
02:09 You're trying to destroy Medicare Advantage, aren't you?
02:13 We've actually provided an increase in funding for Medicare Advantage.
02:16 No, you haven't.
02:17 Sure we have.
02:18 We cut funding in 2023 by 1.1%.
02:27 That's absolutely incorrect.
02:29 Next year you're proposing a .16% cut.
02:34 In fact, the Medicare- That's absolutely incorrect.
02:37 That's not incorrect.
02:38 That's absolutely incorrect.
02:39 In fact, the Medicare trustees- Senator, saying it doesn't make it true.
02:43 The Medicare trustees said that you've lost your mind.
02:46 My words, not theirs.
02:48 Senator, saying something doesn't make it true.
02:51 The dollar amount that we're giving to health insurance companies under Medicare Advantage
02:55 has increased.
02:56 Are you telling me today that you have not cut payments to insurers in Medicare Advantage
03:00 last year by 1.1%?
03:03 We are giving Medicare Advantage- Are you denying that?
03:06 Health insurance companies under Medicare Advantage are receiving more money this year
03:11 than they got last year from Medicare.
03:12 You cut them by 1.1%.
03:14 That's not a cut, Senator.
03:15 And you're proposing another .1% cut.
03:19 In fact, I mean, you and President Biden say you will not touch a hair on the head of Medicare,
03:25 but you're trying to destroy Medicare Advantage.
03:28 Actually, the president's budget extends the life of Medicare beyond your and my lifetime.
03:33 Look at the numbers.
03:36 In 2023, under your watch, Medicare Advantage patients saw on average a 12% increase in
03:47 deductible and a 5%- The insurance companies did that, not us, Senator.
03:54 And Florida and Utah and Wyoming saw their premiums go up 50%.
03:58 Okay, Senator, blame the insurance companies, not us.
04:01 Because you cut the payments- Senator, we did not cut-
04:05 To the insurance companies to drive them to traditional Medicare where you can control
04:10 one better.
04:11 Isn't that the case?
04:12 The fiction you're propounding doesn't resolve the issue that we have every year so far under
04:20 this administration increased the funding for health insurance companies who offer these
04:25 managed care Medicare Advantage plans.
04:27 Thank you, Senator Kennedy.
04:29 Now I'll recognize Senator Heintz.