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Location:
Anchorage, Alaska
United States
Anchorage, Alaska
United States
Work:
AARP Alaska Office Staff
AARP Alaska Office Staff
Hometown(s):
State Office - 3601 C Street #1420 Anchorage AK 99503
State Office - 3601 C Street #1420 Anchorage AK 99503
Why Health Care Reform is Important in Alaska
Most people don’t have to be told that we’re stuck with a broken health care system that costs too much and wastes too much. Now, we have an opportunity to do something about it. As a national organization, we have been listening very carefully to what our members have been telling us about their health care experiences and needs. In response, we’ve developed six specific priorities for health reform – fair and common-sense solutions that will lower costs, improve quality and give all Americans affordable health care choices.
- Close the Medicare Part D coverage gap or “doughnut hole.”
Nearly one out of every five Medicare Part D beneficiaries has either delayed, or has not filled a prescription because of its high cost – the biggest percentage for any insurance group. That’s why we must lower out-of-pocket costs by closing the Part D coverage gap -- what we have come to know as that wretched “doughnut hole.”
In 2007, of the Medicare beneficiaries in Alaska age 65 and older, 28% lived close enough to the poverty line to make them eligible for the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy. Of those not eligible for the subsidy, 26% fell into the “doughnut hole,” and had to pay the full cost of their prescriptions. The number of Alaskans who are falling into the “doughnut hole” is increasing.
- Guarantee access to affordable health care coverage for Americans age 50 to 64.
Nearly half of AARP’s members fall between the ages of 50 to 64 and therefore are not eligible for Medicare. People 50 to 64 are more likely to be uninsured -- even if they’re working -- either because they work for employers that don’t offer insurance, work part time, or are self-employed. More than 7 million people in this age group were uninsured in 2007, a 36 percent increase over 2000.
Too young for Medicare, but old enough to face higher insurance premiums, many 50 to 64 years olds have difficulty accessing affordable health care coverage. In 2007, there were 22,723 or 17% of 50 to 64 year olds in Alaska who were uninsured and many with insurance were under-insured due to the high cost of coverage for this age group.
AARP believes health reform must ensure that Americans ages 50 to 64 who aren’t covered through an employer have a real choice of affordable health care plans. That’s why AARP will fight to make sure insurers can no longer deny coverage and charge higher rates based on age or health status.
- Prevent costly hospital readmission by creating a Medicare follow up care benefit to help people transition home after a hospital stay.
One in five people on Medicare who are discharged from the hospital have to go back within 30 days because of poor follow-up care.
In 2005, Medicare spent $12 billion for unnecessary or potentially preventable hospital readmissions. In 2004, 16% of Alaska Medicare beneficiaries discharged from hospitals were readmitted within 30 days. Providing a follow up benefit for Medicare beneficiaries could save billions and improve outcomes for patients.
By providing a “transitional benefit” to Medicare which will help patients during their hospital stays and after they leave so they won’t have to come back, taxpayers will save billions.
Not only would this keep people healthier, it would eliminate extra $1,000 hospitalization co-pays for patients, reduce overall health care costs, and help people recover at home -- where they’d rather be.
- Create a pathway for the approval of generic versions of biologic drugs to reduce the price of these costly treatments that fight serious diseases.
We must try to make drugs affordable for all generations. Today, half of all Americans say someone in their family has skipped pills, or has postponed or cut back on needed medical care because it cost too much. That’s a choice nobody should have to make.
We can start by ending the drug companies’ monopoly on brand name drugs, especially those used to treat serious diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis that can cost up to $10,000 per month.
In 2007, Americans filled an average of 10 prescriptions at an average cost of $53 per prescription. While Alaskans filled fewer prescriptions – just six prescriptions per year, the cost per prescription was higher, at an average cost of $67 per prescription.
In 2005, the majority (54%) of Medicaid prescriptions in Alaska were filled with name brand drugs instead of generics. If generic equivalents of biologic treatments were also available, Alaska residents could save millions of dollars each year.
- Improve programs that help low income Americans in Medicare afford the health care and prescription drugs they need.
AARP believes we must improve Medicare. In today’s economy, when millions of Medicare beneficiaries have seen their retirement savings shrink, they are spending, on average, 30 percent of their income on out-of-pocket health costs – including premiums for supplemental coverage. Their costs are six times more than for people who have employer coverage.
We will fight to protect patients’ access to their doctors, and to crack down on the wasteful spending, medical errors, and poor care that are driving up health care costs for everybody.
In 2008, there were 59,435 Medicare beneficiaries in Alaska. In 2004, 81% of Alaska Medicare beneficiaries were age 65 and older and 19% were eligible due to disabilities.
- Increase federal funding and eligibility for home and community based services through Medicaid so older Americans can remain in their homes and avoid more costly institutions as they age.
Let’s talk about independence and choice as we age. Eighty-nine percent older Americans want to remain in their own homes and receive care right there if they need it. They should not be forced to get more costly care in a nursing home.
AARP believes health reform should make it possible for individuals to choose to receive care at home if they wish. In order to do this, we need to change federal law to make it easier for states to provide older Americans and people with disabilities with access to home and community based services. We must also give states financial incentives to allow more people to receive care at home.
Alaska spends about half of the state’s Medicaid funds on institutional care. Many older people and those with multiple chronic conditions and long-term care needs rely on Medicaid. Even though people prefer to remain at home, the state still spends 49% of its Medicaid long-term care dollars for older people and adults with physical disabilities on nursing home care.
Please join AARP in this opportunity to make a difference. We need the support of AARP Alaska’s 97,000 members to call on the Alaska Congressional delegation.
Please call Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Sen. Mark Begich and Rep. Don Young and encourage them to work together in a bipartisan basis to pass health care reform legislation this year.
Sign up today at www.healthactionnow.org
assets.aarp.org/www.aarp.org_/cs/misc/alaska_health_care_brief_2009.pdf
responsibility says:
It appears as if AARP is only interested in the revenue it collects from the insurance companies-Aetna, United Healthcare, and Genworth Life from its medicare supplement policies. Note that AARP collected $350,000,000 (2004) from "selling" (marketing) its name to insurance companies. In effect, AARP is a marketing arm for many insurance companies. Note that AARP also gat $83,000,000 from the Federal govt in 2004-actually from the U.S. taxpayer. AARP stands to gain millions from Obamacare that is why it is semi-endorsing HR 3200! Folks, always follow the money and it will lead you to the truth
Posted: August 28, 2009 2:59PM EDT
jluby says:
On the comments by lagunaray on Social Security: Actually Social Security has an extremely low administrative cost. Most businesses would give their eye teeth to be so low. It's low because of the volume. We are all involved and per person costs are minimal. It's also important to remember that Social Security is not just a retirement plan. You might have been able to invest on your own and have reasonable savings but you also have disability protection under Social Security as well as survivor benefits. About one-third of the Social Security checks in Alaska go to people under age 65. 8% of the SS checks in Alaska go to children whose parents have died; another 4% go to children whose parents are disabled and no longer able to work. Another 8% go to surviving spouses where the "breadwinner" has died. Over 14% of the Social Security checks in Alaska go to workers who have become disabled and can no longer earn a living. Social Security is a family protection plan, not just a retirement plan
Posted: August 24, 2009 2:52PM EDT
jkt4752 says:
I too am concerned about the debt we are leaving our children, grandchildren ... What happened to personal responsibility? Yes, there are things that need fixing but lets take baby steps and address the problems and fix them, not change the whole thing. Readers Digest had an article on 50 things we could fix in health care now a couple of months ago. I'd like to see some of those little fixes. Most aren't even in the BIG bill
Posted: August 21, 2009 12:21AM EDT
poloshaq says:
Yes Medicare needs to be fixed but I do NOT want socialized medicine and this is what we will have if Obama gets his way. I only hope Americans will realize what will happen if this is passed WITHOUT approval from us ordinary people. Less government not more interference.
A very concerned American over 65!
Posted: August 20, 2009 6:35PM EDT
wshuman says:
I agree with the comments of "lagunaray"! Does it need fixed? Certainly, but not by adding more government and taking away our choices.
Posted: August 20, 2009 5:30PM EDT
lagunaray says:
Social security was created when people were lucky to live to age 65. Now the average lifespan in America approaches 80. The social security system is becoming more bloated as our population ages and will be bankrupt one day soon if we do not take steps to fix it. On the other hand if I could have invested the money I have paid into social security I would be a millionaire today. Instead I will be lucky to collect $1,200 per month. Massive amounts of money is wasted administering this money pit. Social security is a ticking time bomb and instead of fixing existing programs Obama wants to create more. If the government cannot fix existing programs why allow them to create more?
Okay, I get it now, let's create another social welfare program because Obama is smart and he really cares about us. This is a fairy tale that only Obama can deliver. He is a liberal democrat who believes the government can make better decisions than the individual. Obama believes in the redistribution of wealth and only the government can do this. I am a conservative and a libertarian who was raised a democrat. I want less government not more.
When the people fear the government you have TYRANNY, when government fears the people we have LIBERTY. Obama is beginning to reveal himself and the people are scared. The people want LIBERTY. Make no mistake- if a public option is offered this will be the first step towards socialized medicine. I believe we can reform healthcare and we can do it without government interference
Posted: August 17, 2009 12:55AM EDT
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