Democratic senators are demanding answers from Dr. Mehmet Oz regarding his past support for Medicare privatization, particularly his 2020 call to replace traditional Medicare with Medicare Advantage for all seniors. The senators, led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), sent a letter to Oz on Tuesday following his nomination by President-elect Donald Trump to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The letter expresses concerns about Oz’s previous advocacy to eliminate Traditional Medicare and his significant financial ties to private insurers, including UnitedHealth, the largest player in Medicare Advantage. The senators highlighted a 2020 opinion piece in which Oz co-wrote the push for a Medicare Advantage-only system, which they argue could increase costs for seniors due to private insurers’ inflated charges.
The lawmakers also raised questions about potential conflicts of interest, citing Oz’s reported $550,000 investment in UnitedHealth during his 2022 Senate campaign. They pointed to the company’s ongoing antitrust investigation and allegations of Medicare fraud, warning that under Oz’s proposed plan, UnitedHealth’s revenue from Medicare Advantage could double.
As Oz’s confirmation hearing approaches, the letter sets the stage for the scrutiny he will face from Senate Democrats, who are concerned about his past positions on Medicare and his financial ties to the health insurance industry.
