TV and Digital Ads Urge Congress To Fight Cuts to Seniors’ Health Care

WASHINGTON – The American Action Network (@AAN), a 501c4 issue advocacy organization, today begins a $500,000 issue advocacy campaign calling on Congress to fight the Obama Administration’s latest proposed cuts to Medicare Advantage (MA). The ad campaign launches nationally during coverage of the March 8 presidential primary results and will air throughout the week on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News and Bloomberg. Additionally, over the next few weeks select Members of Congress and the Senate will receive similar ads for fighting the MA cuts.

Medicare Advantage has been a perennial target for cuts, including through the $156 billion in cuts under Obamacare. But last month, under the veneer of generally stable news for the program, the Obama Administration quietly targeted employer- and union-sponsored Medicare Advantage plans with cuts between 2 – 4.5 percent,  according to analysis and studies. These cuts would affect nearly 3.3 million seniors nationwide who rely on Medicare benefits through employer- or union-sponsored plans. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is scheduled to finalize the cuts by April 4.

AAN’s ad campaign urges seniors to take action by calling Congress and sending a message via DontCutOurMedicare.com.  

“Like a recurring nightmare, millions of seniors are once again facing Medicare cuts under President Obama,” said AAN President Mike Shields. “The administration is specifically targeting these plans for cuts and hoping the public won't notice. But Medicare recipients are paying attention – and they are going to hold their elected officials accountable for doing something about it.”

The ad campaign includes $300,000 for national television, and $200,000 for digital and similar TV ads featuring Senator Pat Toomey (PA), Congressman Ryan Costello (PA-06), Congressman Rick Nolan (MN-08), Congressman John Moolenaar (MI-04), Congressman Tim Walberg (MI-07), Congressman Bob Dold (IL-10) and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09).

Script:

ANNCR: This is Medicare Advantage.

Great health benefits that millions of retirees rely upon.

But the Obama Administration is at it again.

Trying to cut Medicare Advantage.

Cuts that will reduce benefits and lead to higher costs for retirees.

What’s worse, Obama’s cuts could be finalized by April 4th.

But Congress can stop them.  With your help.

Call your member of Congress. Tell them to stop Obama’s Medicare Advantage cuts.

The American Action Network is a 501(c)(4) 'action tank' that creates, encourages and promotes center-right policies based on the principles of freedom, limited government, American exceptionalism, and strong national security. The American Action Network's primary goal is to put our center-right ideas into action by engaging the hearts and minds of the American people and spurring them into action to advance our center-right policy agenda.