Congress must require that the dizzying array of benefit packages available through Medicare private health plans be standardized, to help Americans with Medicare make informed decisions about choosing a health plan and to protect them from unexpected, high out-of-pocket costs, according to the California Health Advocates and Medicare Rights Center in a new report.

"Medicare private health plan benefits need to be standardized so that older Americans and those with disabilities have the right information to make apple-to-apple comparisons among their many health plan options," said Clare Smith, president and CEO of California Health Advocates, a Medicare advocacy organization. "The consequences of a wrong plan choice can be devastating to consumers' health and their pocketbook, especially since plan choices are often irreversible."

The lack of standardization in private health plan benefit packages make it difficult or impossible for consumers to compare Original Medicare with a Medigap supplement and Medicare private health plans, as well as between the widely varying benefits of private plans, the consumer advocates report in "Informed Choice: The Case for Standardizing and Simplifying Medicare Private Health Plans."

"It's time for Congress to step in to protect Americans with Medicare as Congress did when it regulated the sale of…