A new, despicable health insurance scam:

Insurance Companies Using Fake Grassroots Effort A group backed by big insurance companies has undertaken a new effort to scare seniors, whose traditional Medicare plans they are undercutting, into helping it protect huge insurance company profits received from expensive MA plans. America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), a major lobbying group for big insurance, has developed a television ad campaign and “Six-Point Medicare Advantage Mobilization Plan” to convince seniors to fight upcoming legislation on MA on the corporations’ behalf. They plan to bring seniors to Washington, D.C. to meet with Members of Congress, and will send automated calls to all participants encouraging them to contact their legislators and oppose cuts to MA. The plan calls for insurance company staff to call their beneficiaries, using “personal relationships” to spur action from seniors. “To use insurance agents and the trust seniors have placed in them in an overtly political manner is deceptive and despicable,” said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance.