KrisRead the Truth About AARP's Positions on Health Care Reform
AARP is in this fight for health care reform to make sure your voices are heard. We have listened to you and you’ve made it very clear you want us not only to fix what’s wrong with health care in this country – but to preserve what’s right – to preserve what already is working well for so many of you.
That’s why we’re working with the president and Congress to create health care reform legislation that will -- above all -- guarantee you a choice of dependable, affordable health insurance – along with a doctor you can count on who will work with you to make the best possible treatment choices for you and your families.
AARP is committed to making sure health care reform will strengthen and improve Medicare by closing the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole,” ensuring patients’ access to the doctors you choose, and eliminating fraud and wasteful spending.
In fact, we are strongly committed to making sure all Americans can choose their doctor, their health insurance plan, and where they receive their care.
We also are strongly committed to ending discrimination by insurance companies by preventing them from denying you coverage because of a pre-existing condition, or forcing Americans 50 to 64 to pay unaffordable premiums just because of their age.
And, we are strongly committed to ensuring that all Americans have the security of knowing that if they lose or change jobs, they will be able to get affordable, quality health insurance.
Now, there are special interest groups out there trying to block progress on health care reform by using myths and scare tactics.
Like the notion that health care reform would ration your care, hurt Medicare, or be a government takeover.
These statements are false – and that’s the most polite term to describe them. Perhaps the most disgraceful is the myth that health care reform will somehow give the government the power to make life or death decisions about us and our family members.
The simple truth is: Every health care reform plan currently being debated in Congress would ensure that you and your doctor will continue as the ones making decisions about your health. Period.
Under any health reform plan AARP will support, the majority of working Americans will continue to receive their health care through their employer. And any health care reform plan AARP will support will strengthen Medicare by eliminating billions of dollars in waste, paying doctors fairly so they’ll keep treating Medicare patients while lowering prescription drug prices.
AARP never has, and never will, support any legislation whatsoever that would threaten Medicare. We are working to ensure that any policies affecting Medicare strengthen the quality of care, improve efficiency of services, and eliminate wasteful spending, and, above all, protect your benefits.
This debate on how to fix what’s broken about our health care system shouldn’t be about politics. It’s not about Democrats and Republicans. It’s about lives.
Throughout this debate, AARP is pledged to help you cut through the noise and find the facts about what health care reform really means for you and your family. When we see special interests using scare tactics, we’ll make sure you’re given the facts so you can make informed decisions in your best interest. It’s just too important for us to do any less.
Because failure to pass health care reform legislation this year is not an option. If Congress fails to develop final legislation AARP can endorse because it’s right for you – and pass it – premiums will only climb higher and higher; benefits will have to be cut; choices will be taken away; and the rolls of the uninsured will grow by millions – with those ages 50 to 64 taking the greatest hits.
If we do nothing, the cost of the average employer-sponsored health insurance plan for a family will reach an estimated $24,000 by 2016. That’s only seven years from now. At that cost, how many businesses do you think will continue coverage for their employees? And, at that cost, if families had to pay for coverage on their own, at least half of all households would need almost half their incomes to buy health insurance. How many families do you think will be able to afford it? Could you?
There’s an old saying, "If something cannot go on forever, it will stop." Failing to address the problems in our health system will, over time, become the largest threat to your doctor and your health plan. In fact, the surest way to get rationed and “assembly line” health care in America that nobody wants is if we don’t pass health care reform and keep on our present course.
That’s not acceptable. And you can bet the farm that AARP will not accept it. AARP is committed to securing for you and all Americans the stability, security, and peace of mind that comes from having health care that you can count on no matter what.
Brenda60 says:
So, Mr. oldermansthoughts, you are For denying the American People the right to live as they wish ? It may not be healthy or good for a person to live in the ways you describe, however, this being America, we have the God Given Right to live anyway we choose. Now, a person who lives in that way will ultimately pay the price with his own health or life, but at least he will have the choice to do so! Americans' will never allow this Government to intrude upon their Civil Liberties! Yes, we need the Health Care System overhalled, but to do it in a way that Americans' become the Victims of the denial of treatment, medication or surgeries due to long waiting times is Unconcionable! We have a marvolious Health Care, what we need to do is get rid of the Corruption, to take out the Pre-existing Clause and find a way to lower the costs. For one thing we should not be providing health care or welfare for Illegal Immigrants. If they wish those services they should become United States Citizens. That would be a beginning, Rein in the Insurance Companies and their Fees for Health Insurance Policies. I certainly don't have all of the answers, however, we Americans' need to be very careful here of what we wish for, it just might come true. We must not allow America to be fundamentally changed into a Socialist Nation. I believe that is possible with this Administration.
Posted: August 21, 2009 7:09PM EDT
Oldermansthoughts says:
You are right about some of these commments, but a lot is left out. For example:
1) There are an estimated 12 million ILLEGAL immigrants in the United States of whom some 6 million have no health insurance, and so overburden our emergency rooms. THIS IS SO VERY WRONG!
2) About 75% of the total cost of health care is spend on people in the last 6 months of their lives. This is where we need to focus our efforts, NOT on granting insurance to the 46 million of so who now have no insurance.
3) We need to make it patriotic to live a healthy lifestyle. Too many of our citizens are overweight to obese, too many still smoke, consume too much alcohol, use drugs and/or do NOT get any regular exercise. People who do these things must pay significantly more for health insurance since they cost the system much more than people who do live a healthy lifestyle.
4) Social Security and Medicare both face long term fiscal problems. With the federal governmenr ALREADY some $11 trillion dollars in debt with a current year deficit of some $1.9 trillion dollars, these problems need to be addressed BEFORE launching the governmenr into a new and expensive general health care program
Posted: August 18, 2009 11:49AM EDT
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