Dr. P. Kelly Hatfield says she was appalled when she learned of the sales and marketing tactics used by some overly aggressive health insurance reps to cajole, intimidate and downright frighten some seniors into enrolling in private Medicare plans. Hatfield, Republican candidate for Congress representing New Jersey’s Seventh District said she supports the administration’s proposed rules banning these activities and that all legislators should as well.

“The techniques used could be called harassment,” she said explaining the plight of a recent retiree and Social Security recipient who complained about the relentless telephone calls, voice mails and a 2 ft. tall pile of “information” he had received by mail from insurance companies months prior to and after turning 65yrs old in late October 2007 when he became eligible for Medicare.

 “To make matters worse this particular person turned 65 on the cusp of the open enrollment period,” referring to the period of time that insurers pay agents higher bonuses or commissions for enrolling beneficiaries in new plans that are comprehensive and not drug-only.

 “It got to the point that he and his family dreaded answering the telephone,” Hatfield said.  His wife was also receiving calls on her business and cell phones encouraging her to check up and make sure that her husband was doing the right thing and protecting her interests. The callers implied that because of failing memories that can accompany aging sometimes seniors inadvertently make catastrophic financial errors and she could be put at risk as well.

 “Sometimes the callers gave incorrect Medicare information regarding the enrollment period, what was covered and the costs involved which could cause beneficiaries to loose access to doctors they trust or loose supplemental coverage”, she stated. Hatfield explained that in this case the potential insured was in excellent health and only took one medication costing $15 a month so it was clear that these plans were not for him at this particular time.

“Even after firmly stating that perhaps next year it would make more sense, the calls to set up appointments relentlessly continued,” she reported. “When agents want to set up meetings at 5:00 PM at the local family eatery it is evident what they are trying to do,” Hatfield remarked.

The new Federal Rules proposed by the administration on 5/8/09 would:

• Prohibit cold-calling and unsolicited marketing in places such as senior centers and restrict face-to-face solicitation to those initiated by the customer.
• Would ban cross-selling of non-health care products such as life or disability insurance to allow it only when cleared by the consumer prior to the meeting.
• Increase the government’s ability to fine insurers who violate the rules.
• Set a limit of $15 on gifts and promotional items for potential customers, and in addition would bar no-cost meals regardless of the price ending the practice of holding sales presentations at restaurants.
• Bar insurers from paying higher bonuses or commissions during the open enrollment period,
• Require providers to clarify that they are providing additional benefits to those beneficiaries who quality for both Medicare and Medicaid, “dual eligibles”, those who have disabling or sever chronic conditions and those living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities.

 “Social Security recipients are already seeing almost $100 a month deducted from their monthly checks to pay for Medicare, for some this is their only source of income,” she said. “Some of these supplemental plans can cost upwards of an additional $300 per month and the use of scare tactics, providing incorrect information or securing false trust by purchasing meals should not be tolerated.  To continue to allow these types of heavy handed sales practices for expensive supplemental coverage which can sometimes compromise one’s health care is unthinkable.”

Our legislators in Washington should not  let partisan politics get in the way again and move quickly to insure that consumers aren’t allowed to be pressured into making these potentially life altering decisions in places like restaurants or parking lots where they will agree to almost anything just to escape, Hatfield commented.

“I believe that everyone should have the freedom to select a health care plan that best meets their needs, however they should be afforded the opportunity to make those informed decisions without undue pressure from outside sources,” she said.

Dr. P. Kelly Hatfield, is a proven leader in the fight to lower government spending and taxes and when elected to Congress will continue her fight to advocate for and allow families to keep more of the money they earn.

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