Medicare Advantage

Letter to Paul Krugman - OP-ED Columnist - New York Times

Published May 1, 2007

NY Times Op-Ed Columnist: The Plot Against Medicare (April 20, 2007)

We take offense at Paul Krugman’s April 20 column, “The Plot Against Medicare.” Not only was the column insulting, but it also ignored our goals to ensure adequate, affordable health care for the communities we represent.

Many African-American and Latino seniors prefer Medicare Advantage plans to traditional Medicare. Of those low-income seniors who make just enough to be ineligible for Medicaid but who lack access to employer-sponsored supplemental coverage, 54 percent of Latinos and 38 percent of African-Americans choose Medicare Advantage.

We are strong supporters of Medicare and have consistently fought for full financing. We reject the notion that additional benefits and options provided by Medicare Advantage should be scrapped so that the funds can be used elsewhere.

This is an immoral dichotomy; not only do we advocate for continued funding of Medicare, Medicare Savings Programs and Medicare Advantage, but we also advocate passionately for universal quality health care.

We will continue to support all programs that benefit our communities.

Hilary O. Shelton
Brent Wilkes
Washington, April 26, 2007
The writers are, respectively, director of the N.A.A.C.P. Washington bureau; and national executive director for the League of the United Latin American Citizens.