President Obama got it right when he recently proposed to eliminate $176 billion in taxpayer subsidies over the next 10 years to private insurance companies that operate Medicare Advantage plans.

You and I are paying these corporations nearly 20 percent more than it used to cost Medicare to provide these same benefits. To me, this nothing but corporate welfare and it takes money away from Medicare at a time when it could be better used helping retirees see their doctor or fill a prescription.

I encourage the North Carolina congressional delegation to support President Obama on this important issue. It is about time we make Medicare look after our nation’s seniors, not big drug and insurance companies.

Jack Marion

Pinnacle

Editor’s note: Jack Marion is with Alliance for Retired Americans