Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan Members Show Support For Their Plan

ByDeb Hoyt,Public Affairs

Posted November 01, 2007

Aetna Medicare Advantage beneficiaries from Maryland and Delaware attended the National Coalition for Medicare Choices Rally in Washington , D.C. , on Oct. 24 to tell Congress they were happy with their health plan and not to cut funding to the program.

With the goal of urging Congress to protect the health care choices and benefits they enjoy through their health plans, 56 Aetna Medicare Advantage beneficiaries from Delaware and Maryland joined hundreds of other seniors from across the country in a "Medicare Advantage Summit" in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 24.

The group of more than 350 seniors communicated their enthusiastic support for the Medicare Advantage program at a Capitol Hill rally and in a total of more than 75 private meetings with members of Congress and congressional staffers.

According to Jonathan Topodas, Aetna Federal Government Relations, "Their message is one that we have been delivering personally to members of Congress for many months -- Medicare Advantage offers choices, savings, better benefits and better care. The impact of the message coming directly from the beneficiaries is significant, and Congress is beginning to listen."

"This event is an important component of our overall strategy for highlighting the value of private sector choices in Medicare and defeating congressional proposals to cut Medicare Advantage funding," said Frank McCauley, senior vice president of Aetna Retiree Markets.

The day's activities included a Capitol Hill rally where the seniors were joined by several physicians and two members of Congress-- Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN)-- who highlighted their commitment to private sector choices in the Medicare program. The comments of the congressional speakers were reinforced by compelling personal stories of a half dozen seniors who spoke at the rally about their experiences with their Medicare Advantage plans.

Kelly Koch and Alvenia Singleton, Aetna Medicare Advantage sales representatives, escorted Aetna 's 56 seniors by charter bus to the event.

"Our members are very passionate and knowledgeable about their health plan," said Koch. "They were more than willing to make the trip to ensure that their voices were heard," she added.

The activity was organized by AHIP and the Coalition for Medicare Choices, a national organization whose membership includes 400,000 Medicare beneficiaries and health plans that are working together to improve choices and benefits in the Medicare program.

Visit www.medicarechoices.orgto learn more about the Coalition for Medicare Choices.