Center for Health & Democracy

The Keep Medicare Costs Down Act (HR 6112) would require Big Insurance to charge the government as much — or less — for each beneficiary as we spend on Traditional Medicare. Passing this bill would reduce corporate handouts + invest in guaranteeing quality health care for everyone on Medicare!

Medicare Part B premiums will be more than $200 / month for the first time ever in 2026 — largely because Big Insurance is gaming the system with their Medicare Advantage plans. The more profit they extract from the Medicare trust fund, the more we have to charge seniors for Part B premiums.

When Big Insurance refuses to pay for the care that they previously approved, hospitals get bogged down with administration and patients suffer.

Hospital dropping Humana Medicare Advantage; offers patient resources Montrose Regional Health (MRH) will end its contract with Humana Medicare Advantage plans effective Jan. 1, 2026. The change will make MRH an out-of-network provider for patients covered by Humana

Yet another major hospital system is expected to go out of network with one of the largest Medicare Advantage insurers in the country.

www.montrosepress.com/free_access/...

Unlike Traditional Medicare, insurance corporations offering Medicare Advantage often delay and deny care that patients need. The Disclose Your Denials Act (HR 6111) would require these companies to include their denial rates in advertising, ensuring that enrollees know what they’re signing up for.

@ilhanmn.bsky.social @debbiedingell.house.gov and @repcasar.bsky.social for supporting this bill!

Thank you @pocan.house.gov @carson.house.gov @repcohen.bsky.social @delauro.house.gov @doggett.house.gov @jayapal.house.gov @khanna.house.gov @eleanornorton.bsky.social @ocasio-cortez.house.gov @schakowsky.house.gov @repmarktakano.bsky.social @thanedar.house.gov...

When a person enrolls in a Medicare Advantage plan, it’s nearly impossible to know if their doctor will be in-network. The Find My Doctor Act (HR 6115) requires CMS to fix that problem by creating a nationwide online directory, making it easier for seniors to keep their doctor.

Medicare’s new AI experiment sparks alarm among doctors, lawmakers • Stateline A Medicare pilot program will allow private companies to use artificial intelligence to review older Americans’ requests for certain medical care — and will reward the companies when they deny it.

As 2026 draws nearer, patients and providers brace for a big — and bad — change to Traditional Medicare. Prior authorization results in unnecessary delays and denials of care, and has no place in our cherished Medicare program.

stateline.org/2025/12/04/m...

@repmarktakano.bsky.social @thanedar.house.gov @repjuliejohnson.bsky.social @mcbride.house.gov @ilhanmn.bsky.social @debbiedingell.house.gov @repcasar.bsky.social

Thank you to the initial list of cosponsors for joining @pocan.house.gov on this bill! @carson.house.gov @repcohen.bsky.social @delauro.house.gov @doggett.house.gov @jayapal.house.gov @khanna.house.gov @eleanornorton.bsky.social @ocasio-cortez.house.gov @schakowsky.house.gov...

The Denials Don’t Pay Act would require HHS to cancel Medicare Advantage contracts with any insurance corporation that has over 25% of its prior authorization appeals reversed. This bill would make major changes in how for-profit insurers game the system at the expense of patients and consumers!

“We all pay a price when we restrict access to care for those who need it. When I talk about costs, I am not only referring to the dollars lost, but the impact on families, communities and society – those who become disabled or die prematurely because they couldn’t get routine care.”

Senate HELP Committee Holds Hearing on Making Health Care Affordable Again The Senate HELP Committee holds a hearing on making health care affordable again.

Earlier this month, Dr. Claudia Fegan, National Coordinate with our allies @pnhp.bsky.social, testified before the Senate HELP Committee to highlight the impact of growing health care costs on working families.

www.ntd.com/live-now-sen...

"As prescription drug prices in the United States continue to spiral out of control, forcing families to choose between the medication they need and putting food on the table, Big Insurance’s pharmacy benefit manager subsidiaries are profiting handsomely.”

Cong Auchincloss Offers Health Cost Measure | Franklin Observer Would limit annual prescription drug cost-sharing for patients in health insurance plans through the ACA Marketplaces

@repauchincloss.bsky.social's ACA Copay Cost and Affordability for Patients Act "will provide life-saving financial relief to millions of families,” per @wendellpotter.bsky.social

franklinobserver.town.news/g/franklin-t...

Medicare For All (Part 1) — The Broken System with Wendell Potter | #12 Podcast Episode · The Power You Have with Pramila Jayapal · 12/05/2025 · 48m

@wendellpotter.bsky.social joined @jayapal.house.gov's Podcast ‘The Power You Have’ to talk about the ways Big Insurance is working to jack up costs and cut health care benefits, and how we can fight back!

Listen now on Apple Podcasts:

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Listen now to Part 2 of Dr. Madley's conversation about the lack of transparency in health care on Planet Seniors! Big Insurance must be held accountable for extracting profit at the expense of patients.

radiokingston.org/en/broadcast...

Harm to Medicare Advantage Enrollees From Directory Errors and Inadequate Networks - Medicare Rights Center Two important developments reveal continuing issues with provider directories and Medicare Advantage (MA) networks. Some Directory Information Now on Plan Finder Last month, we noted important changes...

Real Medicare allows patients to go to virtually any doctor or hospital in the country. Medicare “Advantage” plans limit what doctors you can see — and unfortunately, figuring out which doctors are in-network is no simple task.

www.medicarerights.org/medicare-wat...

Fewer Medicare Advantage Plans Offer In-Home Supports Despite increasing Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment growth, the plans offering in-home support services decreased between 2024 and 2025. That was one

As Big Insurance works to squeeze as much profit as possible out of Medicare Advantage, fewer plans offer in-home services that are essential for recovering at home rather than in a skilled nursing facility. #CareCantWait!

homehealthcarenews.com/2025/10/fewe...

YouTube video by More Perfect Union Your health insurance premiums are going up. Here’s who’s profiting.

"Insurance companies benefit from medical inflation. They just jack up their premiums enough to cover the additional cost and guarantee them a tidy profit." ~@wendellpotter.bsky.social w/ @moreperfectunion.bsky.social

www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9ri...

Huge news in the fight against Big Insurance — @pocan.house.gov just introduced 8 bills to hold greedy corporations accountable for delays, denials and overpayments in Medicare Advantage! Stay tuned for more updates in the fight to #ReclaimMedicare.

YouTube video by Health Care Voices Why Are Insurance Plans Delaying Your Care?

The increasing use of pre authorization in private health insurance plans, including Medicare Advantage, is a growing concern for patients. 

Learn more from Rachel Madley at the Center for Health & Democracy: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCdx...

YouTube video by IndivisibleUlster - NY18 & 19 Planet Seniors: Patients Over Profit

Tune in 🔊 CHD’s Dr. Rachel Madley discusses the #PatientsOverProfits Act on Radio Kingston's Planet Seniors! This bill would break up big vertically integrated health care corporations and protect patients from corporate greed!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUhe...

Federal Government Shutdown Exposes Crisis in Long Failing U.S. Healthcare System Wendell Potter, a former health insurance industry executive turned whistleblower, who links the current federal government shutdown to America’s long failing healthcare system.

“Federal Government Shutdown Exposes Crisis in Long Failing U.S. Healthcare System” w/ @wendellpotter.bsky.social

“The people are going to be getting notices from their insurance companies if they get coverage in the ACA marketplaces. Big, big, big increases”

btlonline.org/federal-gove...

NEW POLL: Crushing Health Care Costs Top Priority for Voters - Families USA WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Families USA is releasing a new poll conducted by Hart Research Associates showing that lowering health care costs is the top priority for American voters across party lines,

A new poll from @familiesusa.bsky.social shows that health care affordability is the # 1 issue on voters' minds heading into 2026. Big Insurance is making a huge profit while working people struggle to get by.

familiesusa.org/press-releas...

‘A Big Positive’: How One Company Plans to Profit From Medicaid Cuts

Not only will work requirements result in millions of people losing their coverage due to faulty eligibility checks — it also creates a new opportunity for big corporations to profit from our health care system in new and unnecessary ways.

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/h...

Medicare Advantage enrollment expected to fall in 2026 as insurers cut back on unprofitable plans CMS sees Medicare Advantage enrollment falling in 2026, as insurers facing lower profits cut back on unprofitable plans

For the first time in many years, Medicare Advantage enrollment is expected to decrease.

While consumers may be increasingly aware of the drawbacks of these so-called Advantage plans, rising costs and worse benefits are also likely contributing to lower enrollment.

www.cnbc.com/2025/09/29/c...

Check out CHD Director of Policy & Advocacy Dr. Rachel Madley on @codewack.bsky.social! If you’ve ever worried about losing coverage, struggled with medical costs, or want to understand how we can build a fairer system — this episode is for you. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...

It might sound wonky, but when corporate insurers game the Medical Loss Ratio, the result is higher costs for consumers and bigger profits for CEOs and shareholders.

By paying a subsidiary that the insurance company owns, they are able to hide their profits as money spent on providing care.