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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCelebrity Medicare Sales Pitches Are Toned Down After Scrutiny
https://www.wsj.com/articles/celebrity-medicare-sales-pitches-are-toned-down-after-scrutiny-11661940999?st=2q0c9no5cgthayb&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalinkIf its football season, you can count on seeing Joe Namath on television, along with William Shatner and Jimmie J J Walker. They are the most prominent pitchmen for what has become an annual fall selling frenzy for Medicare Advantage policies.
After a surge in consumer complaints, and stiffer government rules, the sales pitches will likely be tamer this year. If there is confusion, well change things so it satisfies everybody and eliminates the confusion, said Mr. Shatner, best known for his role as Captain Kirk in the Star Trek franchise
The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services toughened its oversight after consumer marketing complaints surged 165% last year to 41,136 compared with 2020. Brokerages, agents and other marketing businesses tried to convince Medicare recipients to switch plans, with promises of perks in their new plans such as home-delivered meals, rides to doctors appointments and cash.
In some cases, beneficiaries would effectively pay for the perks with more-limited provider networks, forcing them to find new doctors, regulators say. The celebrity pitchmen havent been accused of violating any rules.
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rsdsharp
(9,038 posts)reliving their childhoods through reruns from the 1950-70s. Those PI Medicare Advantage ads are year round. I wish it was just during fall, but its not.
rampartc
(5,264 posts)did you catch svengoolie? "it came from outer space" was great.
rsdsharp
(9,038 posts)Grandma and Mary Ellen are always. . . how shall I put this? Cranky!
rampartc
(5,264 posts)the westerns that are too old for even me are on "grit" in the afternoon. wyatt earp, wells fargo, the deputy. good stuff.
rsdsharp
(9,038 posts)in the courtroom would get you suspended, if not disbarred.
Deuxcents
(15,777 posts)No way Medicare could pay for all that advertising. Its possibly confusing to those who dont understand Medicare. Thom Hartmann Reports is a great place to learn about the Advantage grift . Hes even posted here before n I understand hes a DUer..which makes me happy
czarjak
(11,191 posts)Liberal In Texas
(13,453 posts)Advantage shouldn't even be allowed to use the word Medicare.
alwaysinasnit
(5,037 posts)spanone
(135,635 posts)SCantiGOP
(13,856 posts)He gave it to the GOP to get his budget priorities, and as I recall the Dems thought it was a good win at the time.
We need to scale it back if we have control after 2022.
GreatCaesarsGhost
(8,584 posts)rampartc
(5,264 posts)between 1953 and 1987? many families as well.
i'm in that number, but instead of enriching a lawyer what i really want is for the va to consider my cancer to be "service connected."
keithbvadu2
(36,366 posts)Samrob
(4,298 posts)You just can't reason with people who will not listen to facts.
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,039 posts)Bayard
(21,805 posts)I hate being forced to throw things at the TV.
rampartc
(5,264 posts)i just want to blow up my tube with "dy no mite."
MiniMe
(21,676 posts)The commercials never stopped. You used to just get Medicare commercials Oct - Dec, and then the commercials would stop. Now they go on and on with no stop. If they are spending that much money on celebrity spokespeople, how do they have any money left to pay your bills?
KentuckyWoman
(6,666 posts)Oh brother.