AARP Online Community: AARPFL

AARPFL

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Location:
St. Petersburg, Tallahassee, Miramar, Florida
United States

Work:
AARP

My Websites:
www.aarp.org/fl
www.floridaspeople.org/

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The power to make it better

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Game	Score
Mystery Jigsaw	3814

About Me

AARP Florida has 3 million members and 96 Chapters across the state. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to making life better for all people as they age. We provide information and resources; engage in legislative, regulatory, and legal advocacy; assist members in serving their communities; and offer a wide range of unique benefits, special products, and services for our members.

For more info visit AARP Florida or call 1-866-595-7678.

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CFO Alex Sink

State Director Lori Parham and Jan Howell, JD

Jan Howell, JD

Volunteer leader John Myrick

AARP Florida Staff Frank Wyszynksi and volunteer leader Adelia Vachon

Three volunteers smile for the camera!

One of the speakers informs the audience about health care

The audience prepares for the health forum

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My Videos (2)

AARP Port Richey Health-care Reform Forum 9/30/09

Length: 5:06

DWFPE

Length: 0:30

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My Journals (27)

Florida AARP Members Back Critical Health Care Provisions 2 to 1

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —A new poll of Florida AARP members released today finds strong support across party and ideological lines for elements of health care reform included in the Affordable Health Care for America Act, which recently passed the House of Representatives. The bill, which strictly limits how much more insurance companies can charge based on age and closes the Medicare prescription drug doughnut hole, was endorsed by AARP.

Overall, AARP Florida members supported the House health-reform legislation by slightly more than two to one – almost exactly the reverse of the 8 yes and 17 no votes on H.R. 3962 by Florida members of Congress. AARP has nearly 3 million members in Florida and represents roughly half the state’s 50+ electorate.

Among AARP members, strong majorities reported that many of the bill’s key provisions were convincing reasons to support the legislation. These include requiring insurance companies to cover preventive care free of charge (78 percent), preventing insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions (76 percent), closing the gap in Medicare’s prescription drug coverage known as the “doughnut hole” (69 percent) and allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prescription-drug prices with drug manufacturers (76 percent).

“This survey confirms what we’ve been hearing from our members for a long time,” said AARP’s Florida state director, Lori Parham. “The more Florida AARP members understand the health-reform legislation, the more they like it. Despite an inflammatory debate on a very personal and important issue, our members support health reform that protects Medicare, lowers the price of prescription drugs, increases their access to coverage and protects their choice of doctors.”

While a partisan divide was evident when respondents were asked about the current plan in Congress, Florida AARP members supported the legislation 66 percent strongly or somewhat to 30 percent who opposed strongly or somewhat.

Reform elements with high levels of support among AARP members included provisions ensuring Americans can see the doctor of their choice (76 percent), requiring insurers to provide preventive care at no cost to patients (78 percent), allowing Medicare to negotiate prices for prescription drugs (76 percent), and stopping insurers from charging much higher premiums based on age (68 percent).

Democrats heavily supported the House health-reform bill, 91 percent strongly or somewhat in favor to 6 percent strongly or somewhat opposed. Some 65 percent of self-described independents said they supported the plan strongly or somewhat. While 60 percent of self-identified Republican AARP members in Florida opposed the plan strongly or somewhat, majorities of Republicans supported many reform elements including stopping discrimination because of pre-existing conditions (66 percent), covering routine preventive care (60 percent) and allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices (62 percent).

“This survey shows that the House health-reform bill incorporates the elements of health reform that AARP members care most about. AARP will keep fighting for health reform that our members want as the Senate takes up the legislation in coming weeks,” Parham said. “AARP members, and all older Americans, are counting on lawmakers to reform the health care system this year.”

AARP Florida surveyed its members on key health care reform provisions supported by AARP, as well as other contentious issues being discussed in the debate. AARP surveyed its members from Oct. 30 to Nov. 8 about the current health care reform plan in the House of Representatives. This survey of 421 is representative of AARP members in the state of Florida and has a margin of error of +/- 4.8 percent. (http://www.aarp.org/research/surveys/care/health/hcreform/articles/hrhcr.html)

Added: November 16, 2009
Views: 55 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0

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Comments (9)

EBRANDT1230 says:

I have tried to reach AARP & AARP of Florida. I want to vote against the House Bill on Health care. It Stink's I voted for these people but never again. I do not like people on AARP'S Board saying that the people of AARP approve of this bill. only the member's of the board back this bill. Not the MEMBERS that pay DUE'S. You can only vote in favor of the bill not appose it on AARP"S web site's. I say take a vote of members on the internet & see how many say NO NO The Board should resign it dose not follow what the member's want. No to House Bill. I am a Democrat

Posted: November 5, 2009 2:21PM EST