Humana, one of the nation’s leading health insurers for Medicare patients, is now under investigation by the federal government for allegedly trying to scare seniors into opposing the health care reform plan. After learning of a company mailer that falsely told older Americans they could lose benefits under the reform proposal, Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)—author of the Democrats’ plan—alerted the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) about Humana’s activity.

“It is wholly unacceptable for insurance companies to mislead seniors regarding any subject—particularly on a subject as important to them, and to the nation, as health care reform,” Baucus told the media on Monday. HHS accused Humana of making their mailing look like official communications, and it ordered the company to halt the mailings and remove related materials from its web site.

Humana is reportedly cooperating with the investigation. The Kentucky-based insurance company serves approximately one quarter of all elderly and disabled enrolled in Medicare Advantage (about 1.4 million people), which provides additional benefits to patients.
                                                                                                                                                     -Noel Brinkerhoff

Gov't Investigates Health Insurance Company Mailer (by Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press)