A new poll of 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.

Among AARP members, strong majorities reported that many of the bill’s key provisions were convincing reasons to support the legislation.  These include strictly limiting insurers from charging much higher premiums because of age (68%), closing the gap in Medicare’s prescription drug coverage known as the doughnut hole (69%) and improving coverage for critical preventive services like cancer screenings (77%).

“This survey demonstrates what we’ve been hearing from our members for a long time,” said State Director Barbara Kim Stanton.  “Despite an inflammatory debate on a very personal and important issue, our members—across party and ideological lines—support health care 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, AARP members supported the legislation by more than a 2-1 (63%-30%) margin.  More than half of self-described independents indicated support for the plan.

Other reform elements with high levels of support among AARP members included ensuring Americans can see the doctor of their choice (76%), stopping insurance companies from denying coverage because of a person’s health history (75%) and ensuring Americans can keep their current coverage (78%).  Majorities of self-identified Republicans supported most of the reform elements presented, including stopping discrimination because of pre-existing conditions (66%), covering routine preventive care (64%) and allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices (64%).

Starting on Tuesday, November 17th, AARP will launch a new national television ad on a mix of news, lifestyle, cable and sports channels.  The ad, entitled “HELP,” demonstrates that people from all walks of life are feeling stranded by the current health care system.  It calls attention to the need for the kind of health care reform AARP has been fighting for: reform that will put patients first, protect Medicare, bring down drug costs and ensure that no one can be denied affordable health care because of their age or health history. 

AARP surveyed its members on key health care reform provisions supported by AARP, as well as other contentious issues being discussed in the debate.  The telephone survey, fielded October 30 to November 8, 2009, was conducted with randomly selected members of AARP.  The nationally representative sample of 803 AARP members has a margin of error of +/- 3.5%.

Critical legislation would strengthen Medicare, improve coverage for all Americans

Saturday, the United States House of Representatives passed critical health care reform legislation that would strengthen Medicare for seniors and end discrimination by insurance companies that prices millions of Americans out of affordable health coverage.

The Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) makes prescription drugs more affordable for seniors by closing the dangerous gap in Medicare drug coverage and allowing the program to negotiate lower drug prices.  It adds cost-free preventive services like cancer screenings and cracks down on waste and fraud to protect and strengthen traditional Medicare benefits.  In addition, the legislation provides benefits to help seniors and people with disabilities live in their own homes and communities by establishing the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program.

For all Americans—especially those age 50 to 64 who often struggle to find affordable insurance—this plan strictly limits how much more insurance companies can charge based on age, and stops insurers from denying coverage based on a person’s health history or gender.  For those who still cannot find affordable coverage on their own, this bill offers help so they can purchase insurance.

 “We applaud those members of the House who supported this crucial legislation,” said Barbara Kim Stanton, AARP Hawaii State Director.   “This bill will help millions of older Americans get the health coverage they need, while strengthening Medicare for today’s seniors and future generations.  We look forward to working with these lawmakers to pass the Affordable Health Care for America Act this year.”


AARP notified the 111th Congress that it was tracking roll call votes on key legislation important to its nearly 40 million members and reporting the outcomes of these votes back to its members. “When Americans understand the issues and where their lawmakers stand, they can make smart decisions.  AARP will be there to give our members, as well as all Americans, the most accurate information we can,” Stanton concluded.

AARP members can see how their representatives voted on health care reform by going to www.aarp.org/governmentwatch.  AARP’s Government Watch is a one-stop online portal that will be tracking and publicizing every designated key vote on issues facing Americans age 50-plus.   A “Key Vote Summary” highlighting votes on these issues will be published at the end of each congressional session. 

Today the U.S. Senate blocked critical legislation to protect access to doctors for the 44 million Americans who rely on Medicare.  The Medicare Physician Fairness Act (S. 1776) would have replaced today’s broken doctor payment system, which calls for a 21.5 percent cut in physician pay in January.  The bill failed to pass a key procedural vote in the Senate today.

 
(How a legislator votes on issues is only one factor in evaluating his or her legislative performance, which should also include such things as constituency services and committee work.)

“While we are disappointed by today’s outcome, we applaud Sen. Akaka and Sen. Inouye for voting to preserve access to doctors in Medicare and bring this bill to the floor for an up-or-down vote,” said AARP Hawaii State Director Barbara Kim Stanton.  “This critical legislation would have helped the millions of older Americans in Medicare have access to the doctor of their choice by replacing the flawed doctor payment system.  We look forward to continuing to work with members of Congress to pass health care reform that protects Medicare and ensures older Americans can afford quality health care.”

AARP strongly supports the Medicare Physician Fairness Act, introduced by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).  This legislation permanently repeals Medicare’s flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) physician payment formula, which has required repeated Congressional action to prevent unwarranted cuts that could harm access to doctors for people in Medicare.  Repealing the SGR will stop an unprecedented 21.5 percent pay cut that otherwise will occur in January 2010, and additional cuts in future years.

AARP notified the 111th Congress that it was tracking roll call votes on key legislation important to its 40 million members and reporting the outcomes of these votes back to its members. “We believe people make the right choices when they understand the issues and position taken by their elected officials.  AARP intends to ensure that its members get that information,” Stanton said.

Top Volunteer Committed to Driving Safety and Diving Safety

Eighty-seven-year-old Kona resident Roy Damron has been selected by AARP Hawaii to receive the 2009 Andrus Award for Community Service – the Association’s most prestigious volunteer award. Damron has a long and distinguished record as a champion of public safety – both on land and on sea. As coordinator of AARP’s Driver Safety Program on the island of Hawaii he leads a team of eight driving instructors and has personally taught the popular course to nearly 1,500 members. A former scuba instructor with the state Department of Education, Damron has taught diving safety in his spare time and served as an ambassador of the National Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA) since 2001. His volunteer work with NELHA includes conducting tours at the aquaculture and alternative energy facility, sharing the wonders of Hawaii’s natural environment with residents and visitors alike.

"AARP is honored to present Roy with the Andrus Award in recognition of his dedicated service," said AARP Hawaii Associate State Director for Outreach, Jackie Boland. Roy’s tireless work with the Driver Safety Program has made a tremendous difference in ensuring safety for fellow residents in Kona and throughout the island of Hawaii."

The Andrus Award is named after AARP’s founder Ethel Percy Andrus, who advocated for health insurance and pension rights for retired teachers. Until Medicare was created in 1965, there was no national program of health care for people over age 65. Andrus founded the National Retired Teachers Association in 1947 to give teachers a national voice, and went on to establish AARP in 1958.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

AARP Tax-Aide, the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax preparation and assistance service, is seeking volunteers across the state to help Hawaii’s taxpayers who are seeking assistance preparing and filing their 2010 tax returns.

Last year, more than 228 AARP Tax-Aide volunteers helped over 14,759 taxpayers across the state. They join the more than 34,000 AARP Tax-Aide volunteers across the country, helping millions of taxpayers each year.

AARP, AMA Urge Congress to Strengthen Medicare and Preserve Access to Choice of Physician

Last Week, AARP and the American Medical Association (AMA) sent a letter to the Senate, urging Senators to pass S. 1776, the Medicare Physician Fairness Act, which lays the foundation for a new payment system to help ensure seniors' access to and choice of physicians. If left unchecked, physicians face an unprecedented 21.5 percent cut in Medicare payment rates in 2010, with additional cuts in future years. These cuts will hurt older Americans who rely on Medicare and baby boomers who soon will.

Uncertainty about whether Congress will prevent the cuts has contributed to the decision of some physicians to stop taking Medicare patients, making finding a doctor increasingly difficult for millions of seniors in Medicare.

The letter points to joint polling conducted by the AMA and AARP, which found that “two-thirds of people over 50 years old are either very or somewhat concerned that the current health care system limits their ability to see the doctor of their choice.” It continues, saying “The continuing threat of steep Medicare payment cuts jeopardizes seniors’ access to care and physicians’ confidence in the government’s commitment to funding a strong and reliable Medicare program.” With the first wave of baby boomers reaching Medicare age in just two years, the time to act is now.

The letter also notes that Congress has passed legislation to override the flawed formula seven times in the last seven years, saying that “the past practice of ‘temporary band-aids’ … has only served to increase both the size of future cuts and the cost of subsequent interventions.” The Medicare Physician Fairness Act would permanently replace the current flawed formula with a payment system that ensures doctors are paid fairly so they’ll not only continue to treat existing Medicare patients, but also accept new patients.

In closing, the letter urges the Senate, on behalf of older Americans and the physicians who care for them, to pass this important legislation.

To receive a complete copy of the letter, contact AARP Media Relations at 202-434-2560

Legislation passed today is yet another milestone in the long journey to health care reform

WASHINGTON—AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond released this statement following the Senate Finance Committee’s passage of the Affordable Health Choices Act:

“We applaud the Senate Finance Committee for taking another important step toward fixing what’s wrong with our health care system.  Under the leadership of Chairman Baucus, the legislation reported today moves us even closer to providing much-needed relief to millions of older Americans who still face challenges accessing affordable, quality health care services. 

“The Senate Finance Committee bill makes important improvements to the Medicare program by increasing preventive benefits, making sure Medicare’s doctors do not face a pay cut this year, and most notably for AARP members—by reducing  drug costs for seniors who fall into the dreaded Medicare doughnut hole, a costly gap in prescription drug coverage.   Too often, those who fall into this coverage gap stop taking their prescription drugs because they simply can’t afford to.  While we applaud this assistance with drug costs in the doughnut hole, we urge the Senate to go further to meet the President’s pledge to completely close the doughnut hole.  With the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs, we believe this bill should be improved so that it can help millions of older Americans afford their needed medications and avoid more intensive and costly care later in life.

“The bill also makes some improvements on age-rating, a discriminatory practice that allows insurers to charge exorbitant, age-based premiums to older Americans.  Unfortunately, the bill will still allow insurance companies to charge older Americans premiums that are four times more than premiums for younger Americans, making it difficult for older Americans to afford health coverage.   We hope the final Senate bill will be improved in this area.  

“Finally, we strongly support provisions in the Senate Finance bill to expand home and community-based services (HCBS).  The vast majority of Americans age 50 and over want to live in their homes and communities as long as they can.  HCBS provisions are not only cost-effective, but can also help slow the growth in health care spending and keep millions of Americans out of nursing homes and in their own homes.

“The legislation passed today is yet another milestone in the long journey to health care reform.  We look forward to continuing our work with Chairman Baucus and his colleagues on both sides of the aisle to further strengthen the bill, and we will continue to fight for reform that protects benefits for people in Medicare, improves health care affordability, and improves the health of every American.”

AARP: New Report Proves Ending Age Discrimination Saves Money, Covers More Americans

WASHINGTON—AARP Executive Vice President John Rother issued this statement following the release of today’s Urban Institute report on health insurance age-rating: (from http://www.urban.org/publications/411970.html )

“Age-rating is just a wonky way to describe how insurance companies use age as an excuse to charge older Americans excessive premiums. Today’s report by the Urban Institute shows that denying older Americans affordable coverage is not only unfair, it could also increase the cost of health reform if it is not strictly limited.

“We should be working toward a fair system where all Americans can afford coverage to get and stay healthy. AARP has been fighting for years to abolish age-rating entirely. This year we have an opportunity to make great progress towards that goal with health care reform that tightly limits age-rating, which today can force older Americans to pay much higher rates just because of their age.

“Today’s report shows that tighter age-rating limits actually reduce the cost of reform by billions of dollars while providing affordable coverage options to millions who would remain uninsured under wider limits.

“AARP will continue our fight to make quality health care affordable to every American, regardless of age.”

For more information about AARP’s fight to limit health insurance age-rating, please visit http://www.aarp.org/getthefacts.

AARP Urges Congress to Pass Legislation to Address Lack of Social Security COLA