CT Representatives Respond To Decision Stopping UnitedHealthcare From Dropping Medicare Advantage Doctors

Press Release

Four members of Connecticut's congressional delegation--Rosa DeLauro, Joe Courtney, Jim Himes and Elizabeth Esty--released the following statement today on Judge Stefan Underhill's decision to temporarily stop UnitedHealthcare from dropping 2,200 doctors from its Medicare Advantage network.

"Judge Underhill's decision is good news for the approximately 32,000 Connecticut Medicare participants who may have been impacted by UnitedHealthcare's misguided decision. With the deadline for seniors to enroll in Medicare Advantage just about 24 hours away it was not a minute too soon. They have repeatedly claimed that they were forced to cut doctors because of the Affordable Care Act. Given UnitedHealthcare is the only insurer engaged in a full-blown dismantling of their Medicare Advantage provider network, we find that hard to believe. They need to put the needs of their patients first."

On October 24 Connecticut's congressional delegation sent a letterto United Healthcare Group CEO of Medicare and Retirement Jack Larsen on his company's decision to drop thousands of providers from its Medicare Advantage Plan. On November 14 members of the delegation held a call with Larsen to further express their concern about the decision. Last weekthe Connecticut delegation asked the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to be more flexible with enrollment periods for UnitedHealthcare enrollees. The Medicare Advantage enrollment period ends December 7.

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