Health plans: New safeguards

Seniors will likely pay more for Medicare's private health plans in 2010, but new consumer protections that come with those plans could ensure they remain an attractive alternative to traditional Medicare. The changes come as the Obama administration moves to tighten the screws on private plans offered under Medicare. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently unveiled stricter terms for insurers offering the Medicare Advantage plans, taking effect next year, and will effectively cut payments to them by as much as 5%.