loopcoalition

A partnership dedicated to making health care affordable for patients and workers.

[loopcoalition @loopcoalition]

Millions of Americans can’t use their health insurance because they can’t afford their out-of-pocket costs. It is critical that we lower out-of-pocket costs now.

The Lower Out-of-Pockets Now Coalition is fighting to make certain people have coverage that works.

[Wendell Potter @wendellpotter]

(1/4) AMERICAN DISGRACE: Mary Lou Retton, America’s first Olympic gymnastic gold medalist, is the new face of an American disgrace – millions of Americans are now buried under medical debt and must turn to crowdfunding campaigns to stave off collectors and get the care they need.

[Wendell Potter @wendellpotter]

(4/4) Until the White House and Congress take action, no one in this country is safe from the plight of our health care system – insured or not – not even Olympic gold medalists like Mary Lou Retton.

For more on Retton's story read my full analysis below:
https://t.co/MTR2dCDVF1

[Social Security Works ❌👑 @SSWorks]

Bad actors in Medicare Advantage are:

- Overcharging the government by billions
- Using the money to lure seniors & people with disabilities with deceptive advertising
- Refusing to cover the care patients need

WATCH @SenWarren explain the con:

[Wendell Potter @wendellpotter]

(5/7) If your OOP maximum is $5K and you receive a manufacturer copay coupon for $1K, the $1K will not count toward your OOP max.

Many insurers are refusing to use the coupons to lower your copays but they still collect the extra $1K from your OOP max.

[Wendell Potter @wendellpotter]

(1/7) In 2003, Bob Finkelstein's life changed forever when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. His treatment journey began with frequent injections, but eventually, he settled on Copaxone, a medication he's relied on for 15 years.

Full story here: https://t.co/LNanBE9t67

[Wendell Potter @wendellpotter]

(7/7) For patients like Bob Finkelstein, a response from lawmakers to the health insurance industry’s copay accumulator schemes can't come soon enough.

For more on insurance industry practices and for Finkelstein's full story, click below:
https://t.co/LNanBE9t67

[Wendell Potter @wendellpotter]

(1/6) ICYMI: Brookings Institution & The Wall Street Journal shined a light on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) in health care. Researchers warned that while bipartisan legislation seeks to reform PBMs, insurers will likely find new ways to protect profits.

Let me explain:

[Wendell Potter @wendellpotter]

(6/6) With more than 100 million Americans saddled with medical debt, it's high time for transparency and ethics in this space.

For more on how PBMs have become cash cows for for-profit insurers, read my latest below:
https://t.co/oSdAXKY3o7

[Wendell Potter @wendellpotter]

(6/6) As Warren Buffet noted, "GM is a health and benefits company with an auto company attached."

Read my latest on how the automaker strikes and wage issues directly connect to the lack of health care access by American workers, here: https://t.co/3T7XKP4GbW

[Wendell Potter @wendellpotter]

(5/6) These wage issues heavily impact worker health care costs. As insurers jack up premiums and push workers into high-deductible health plans, employees pay more out of pocket every year.

It's a vicious cycle, and CEOs profit while workers struggle.

[Wendell Potter @wendellpotter]

(1/6) General Motors CEO Mary Barra's justification for her $29 million salary echoes talking points from my days in the health insurance industry.

Barra claims 90% of her pay is "performance-based." That is a classic example of corporate spin. And I've heard it before, folks…

[Wendell Potter @wendellpotter]

(1/6) The medical debt crisis in the US is a silent struggle that is pushing families to the brink. Eva Stahl, Director of Public Policy at RIP Medical Debt, sheds light on this crisis.

Read Eva’s latest in HEALTH CARE un-covered here: https://t.co/KnOUL1scAF

[Wendell Potter @wendellpotter]

(1/5) According to the OIG, which looked at Medicaid data from 2019, Elevance (previously known as Anthem) had one of the highest denial rates of all surveyed MCOs.

For more on this growing issue, read this thread and my latest Substack post below: https://t.co/vFEUBh0Bp4

[Undue Medical Debt @unduemeddebt]

The Ochs are Miami's heroes! Jane & Daniel paid off $264M in medical debt for 125K underserved Miami residents. Their donation was used to buy unpaid medical bills in bulk & erase them.
Now that's giving back! This relief is life-changing. 🙌
https://t.co/KSfXUM0n0u

[Wendell Potter @wendellpotter]

(1/7) This is a big week for Christopher Nolan, Hollywood director of Oppenheimer, and Medicare, one of America’s most important institutions.

Bare with me, but Oppenheimer and Medicare have more things in common than you may think.

Let me connect some dots (w/o any spoilers)!

[Wendell Potter @wendellpotter]

(6/6) We’ve already received several positive responses from members of Congress on both sides of the political divide after we sent the letter to Capitol Hill.

Thank you to the @loopcoalition members!

For more on LOOP NOW's letter, read my latest here: https://t.co/Lcn8PPxgvX

[Wendell Potter @wendellpotter]

(3/6) Because of this, LOOP NOW (comprised of ~70 members) has become the leading voice pushing policymakers to address the growing number of Americans WITH insurance who are dying prematurely or being forced into bankruptcy because of sky-high out-of-pocket requirements.

[Wendell Potter @wendellpotter]

(2/6) Over the decade, big for-profit U.S. insurers have systematically moved many Americans into high-deductible health plans.

These plans impose unaffordable out-of-pocket costs on Americans and has led to 100 million Americans carrying medical debt.
https://t.co/Sqhf0rlqwK

[Wendell Potter @wendellpotter]

(1/6) LATEST: The Lower Out-of-Pockets NOW Coalition (@LOOPcoalition) sent a letter to Congress asking them to introduce bipartisan legislation to begin reducing Americans’ exposure to absurdly high out-of-pocket requirements.

See the letter and why Congress must act, below:

[loopcoalition @loopcoalition]

The Lower Out-of-Pockets NOW Coalition sent a letter to Congress calling on them to introduce bipartisan legislation to begin reducing Americans’ exposure to absurdly high out-of-pocket requirements.

A huge thank you to all the LOOP NOW Coalition members!

See the letter below: