Medicare Insurers

Re “Citing Losses, Cigna to Drop Medicare HMO,” June 3: After years of accusing the Medicare HMOs of cherry-picking healthy patients, the Health Care Financing Administration now accuses the plans of spending too much on unnecessary perks such as low-cost plans and rich benefits. Many seniors do not view dental, vision and pharmacy benefits as perks; they see them as necessities to make ends meet. Not every senior can afford the deductibles and 20% coinsurance of standard Medicare.

Carolyn Boyer, a senior member with an aggressive form of breast cancer who was quoted, does not sound like a cherry-picked healthy senior. She more likely represents one of the millions of Medicare members for whom the senior HMO means the difference between affordable health care or doing without some needed medical services.

MARVIN J. GORDON MD

Laguna Beach