[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 109 (Tuesday, June 30, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H4325]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   MEDICARE GUARANTEE IS UNDER THREAT

  (Mr. Doggett of Texas was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, approaching the 61st anniversary of 
Medicare, a true lifeline for retirees and individuals with 
disabilities, I am filing the Saving MEDICARE Act to ensure a solvent, 
better Medicare that reaches more Americans.
  Medicare represents a valued Federal guarantee that workers will age 
with dignity and have access to quality, affordable healthcare. That 
guarantee is now under threat from giant, private insurance companies 
that profiteer off Medicare.
  This landmark proposal comprehensively addresses the many ways that 
Medicare Advantage insurers are overpaid. My goal is to level the 
playing field so that traditional Medicare is no longer at a 
disadvantage to these private insurers.
  Twenty-three years ago, in this very room, Republicans arm-twisted 
their own members and others all night long into the wee hours of the 
morning to ensure approval of a terrible bill that has hurt Americans 
and cost them hundreds of billions of dollars.
  Its landmark provision was one to limit Medicare from negotiating 
prescription drug prices, ensuring that we continue to pay the most 
outrageous pharmaceutical prices anywhere on Earth. At the same time, 
they also included this new program with the great misnomer Medicare 
Advantage, a private insurance alternative to Medicare.
  Though the supporters claimed that they would save us so much money, 
it would cost less than traditional Medicare, MA private insurers have 
never saved us a dime. Indeed, MA actually costs taxpayers tens of 
billions of dollars more every year.
  This year, the nonpartisan, independent Medicare Payment Advisory 
Commission, or MedPAC, estimates that MA costs taxpayers $2,660 more 
for each person who goes into their plans rather than traditional 
Medicare.
  Insurers claim that this great bonus that they are receiving provides 
so many extra benefits to consumers, from pest control, to rent, to a 
trip to get groceries, all these various things from one advertised 
insurer, except a Joe Namath autographed football.
  Hidden in the fine print are caveats, and consumers often find they 
aren't eligible for any of those advertised benefits, and skimpy 
coverage and high cost-sharing when they need help the most. Difficulty 
in accessing the doctor of their choice and getting treatment approved 
create long delays, often outright denials, and many MA enrollees are 
struggling to receive quality healthcare.
  In short, the only advantage in Medicare Advantage is to the monopoly 
and oligopoly private insurers.
  The Saving MEDICARE Act will stop this waste, fraud, and abuse. It is 
about delivering to Americans the care that they deserve at a 
reasonable price. These funds will extend Medicare solvency and improve 
Medicare with dental, vision, and hearing benefits--another piece of 
legislation I have offered. We can achieve an out-of-pocket cap, lower 
premiums, and more.
  We can achieve this by simply saying to MA that you should not cost 
more than traditional Medicare.
  My bill reins in upcoding, a practice insurers use to make it appear 
that patients are sicker than they really are. It will also stop plans 
from profiteering when the Veterans Administration is providing most of 
the healthcare, but they have recruited veterans to join their plans 
for whom they provide little or no care.
  It addresses insurance practices of steering sicker patients into 
traditional Medicare and trying to get healthier consumers who cost 
less into their plans. It phases out the failed county quartile system 
and the Quality Bonus Program which have only delivered more money to 
private insurers.
  Finally, it enhances Federal oversight and involves State partners in 
this also. Medicare Advantage is putting Medicare on long-term life 
support. The Saving MEDICARE Act is a roadmap for accountable, and 
reasonable spending and improving the healthcare for many Americans.
  In this totally ineffective and unsubstantial Congress, chances of 
getting Republicans to stand up to any special interest are pretty 
slim, but this bill is designed to encourage colleagues in the future 
with specific guidelines on how to deal with Medicare and make it 
better for more Americans, and to urge more of our colleagues to have 
the courage to stand up to these insurance giants by preventing them 
from using Medicare as a piggy bank.

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