Oz could oversee a significant expansion of the private alternative to traditional Medicare.
In 2024, more than half of Americans eligible for Medicare are enrolled in one of the plans offered by large insurance companies, including UnitedHealthcare and Humana. Medicare Advantage (MA) plans also account for more than half of Medicare spending.
“Believe it or not, it is possible to get health insurance plans now with a zero-dollar monthly premium,” Oz said in a YouTube video posted in August. “Millions of people already are doing it and so could you.”
During his 2022 Senate campaign, Oz promoted a policy of expanding access to Medicare Advantage to any individual who wants to enroll.
In 2020, he also co-authored an article in Forbes arguing for “Medicare Advantage For All.” The idea was to eliminate Medicare and employer-sponsored insurance so every American not on Medicaid would be enrolled in a private Medicare Advantage plan.
It would be funded by using “an affordable 20 percent payroll tax, which is close to the amount most employers currently spend to buy insured care.”
But Medicare Advantage plans have come under scrutiny for overbilling Medicare, having limited provider networks and routinely denying care for patients. Experts say MA plans cost taxpayers tens of billions of dollars more than they should.
Private insurers and their allies, including conservatives in Congress, have accused the Biden administration of cutting MA plan payments, and plans have scaled back benefits.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) argues that even though base payments will be cut less than 1 percent, the plans will see a net increase once payments are adjusted to account for the health of the insured population.
The Better Medicare Alliance, an insurer-backed advocacy group for Medicare Advantage, said Oz “recognizes the value of Medicare Advantage and the high-quality, affordable, and comprehensive health care it provides to more than 34 million seniors and individuals with disabilities.”
“As the leading research and advocacy group supporting Medicare Advantage, we look forward to working with Dr. Oz to protect and strengthen this vital program for seniors,” Mary Beth Donahue, the group’s president and CEO, said in a statement.
