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Secretary Sebelius Meets with AARP and ME Women's Lobby

 

No one knows better about how the health care system is failing than the women—young and old—who met with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius today in South Portland. AARP and the Maine Women’s Lobby brought together the group of women leaders, including AARP National Board Chair Bonnie Cramer and AARP State Director Nancy Kelleher, to discuss why women’s health issues are critical in the national health care reform debate. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree also participated, providing Maine women a chance to tell their stories about how health care issues affect them and their families and why reform must happen this year.

 

“When I ran for Congress, I heard from so many women in the 1^st District about their health care problems,” stated Congresswoman Pingree. “In Maine, there are nearly 50,000 uninsured women between the ages of 18 and 64. Many more can’t afford services even if they do have insurance. This is simply unacceptable. We cannot afford to wait any longer to improve our health care system. Action this year is critical.”

 

AARP State Director Nancy Kelleher remarked, “While most seniors have Medicare, they are still spending about one-third of their income on health care costs. Women spend even more because they tend to live longer, often outliving their savings due to these costs.” The Employee Benefit Research Institute estimates the average woman who lives to age 85 will spend will at least $160,000 of her retirement savings to pay for medical costs not covered by Medicare.

 

Furthermore, a recent study by the Commonwealth Fund found that at least half of women go without or delay getting needed health care services because of cost, compared to 39 percent of men. “The current health care system does not work for women,” added Maine Women’s Lobby Executive Director Sarah Standiford. “Women are more vulnerable to high health care costs and more likely to be underinsured. As a result, many women are simply unable to afford the services they need.”

 

In her closing remarks, AARP Board Chair Bonnie Cramer urged Congress and the Administration to come forward with a health care reform package that provides truly affordable and quality care – for women, for men, and for people of all ages. “AARP will happily put our full support behind that.”

 

Visit HealthActionNow.org to learn about AARP’s work on bringing quality, affordable health care to all Americans.

 

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