BU Nebraska News From the AARP Bulletin

By: David Runkel | Source: AARP Bulletin Today | November 9, 2006

January/February 2008

Make a difference – AARP Nebraska is recruiting volunteers who are passionate about issues that affect people as they age. The new recruits will receive training to help advocate for issues before the legislature this year. A key priority for AARP is legislation that would allow Nebraska to join a multi-state drug-purchasing pool, which could save the state nearly $5 million a year in discounts by bulk-purchasing prescription drugs. That money could be better spent on providing more long-term care alternatives for people on Medicaid, says Mark Intermill, AARP associate state director for advocacy.Volunteers are especially needed in the Grand Island-Kearney-Hastings area. To learn more about volunteer opportunities statewide, contact Intermill at mintermill@aarp.org or Robin Szwanek at rszwanek@aarp.org, or call 1-866-389-5651 toll free.

November 2007

At the movies – A health fair offering flu shots, booths with information on health and wellness, and presentations on the wise use of medicines and upcoming changes in Medicare is scheduled for Nov. 8 in Omaha. The event, called “Medicare at the Movies,” will take place at the Cinema Center Theatre from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration is not required. For details, call 1-866-389-5651 toll free. Meanwhile, the Nebraska Medicare Prescription Drug Coalition is holding enrollment events across the state this fall, with individual counseling available to help Nebraskans choose a drug plan or decide whether to switch plans. Go to http://www.answers4families.org to find an event near you. Or call the Nebraska Senior Health Insurance Information Program at 1-800-234-7119 for help with enrollment.

September 2007

Lower fees, please – Under the state's new security freeze law, Nebraskans can now bar credit-reporting agencies from releasing their credit reports to merchants, thereby preventing identity thieves from opening accounts in their name.To place a freeze, an individual must send a letter by certified mail and a $15 fee to each of the three major credit bureaus. Identity theft victims and minors are exempt from fees, and there is no charge to lift a freeze when the consumer wants to apply for credit.
AARP Nebraska supports the law but plans to encourage lawmakers to make it easier and cheaper for consumers to freeze their credit reports. For more information, call the Nebraska Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-727-6432.