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 for AARP Michigan Steve Gools.  “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%).

Gools added: “The bill recently passed by the House incorporates the reforms that our members care most about.  We’ll continue the fight for these critical elements as the Senate takes up its own legislation in the coming weeks.  Our members, and all older Americans, are counting on lawmakers to reform the health care system this year.”

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%.  

AARP Reminds Americans Medicare Open Enrollment
Begins Next Week

Open enrollment period is the best opportunity to choose Medicare drug and health plans for 2010

With Sunday marking the beginning of Medicare’s open enrollment period, AARP is reminding its members and all older Americans to compare their current Medicare drug and health plans with others that are available and choose the one that best fits their needs.  People in Medicare have until December 31 to add, drop or change prescription drug and health care plans for 2010.  Each year, AARP encourages its members and everyone in Medicare to carefully consider their options for the coming year.

AARP suggests that seniors pay particular attention to changes in the cost of Part D drug coverage.  A new AARP Public Policy Institute (PPI) analysis of 2010 Medicare Part D prescription drug plans finds a majority of the most popular national plans have increased premiums and cost-sharing for next year.

The report finds that more plans will require copayments of close to $100 for some brand name drugs.  Other plans will require enrollees to pay a percentage of their drugs’ prices—instead of fixed copayments—for all medicines except generics.  One popular national plan will charge different amounts depending on which pharmacies its customers use.

“Even those seniors who are happy with their current drug coverage should watch carefully for changes to their plans in 2010,” said AARP Senior Vice President Cheryl Matheis.  “Each year the rising costs of prescription drugs help push premiums and cost-sharing even higher.  Now is the time to talk with your doctor about lower-cost medicines that may be right for you.  Then, take a close look at your coverage options and find a plan that best fits your needs and your budget.”

AARP encourages older Americans shopping for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage to use the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder at www.medicare.gov .  This online tool finds plans based on a person’s location and current medications.  After receiving a list of available plans, AARP recommends considering the “Four C’s”:

• Costs, including the monthly premium, the annual deductible and cost-sharing.
• Coverage for as many of your drugs as possible, which could save a person from paying more out of pocket.
• Convenience of participating pharmacy locations or access to mail-order pharmacies.
• Customer Service.  Check Medicare.gov, which includes quality ratings for plans.  Ask you doctors, pharmacist and friends about their experiences.

The open enrollment period is also an opportunity for people in Medicare to shop for Medicare Advantage plans, which generally combine traditional Medicare benefits with prescription drug coverage and some supplemental benefits.  People in Medicare can compare Medicare Advantage plans head-to-head by using the health plan finder at www.medicare.gov .  Seniors who need help finding a prescription drug or Medicare Advantage plan can also contact Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.

“Whether you’re looking to move up to a more comprehensive plan, or just looking for the best price, now is the time to shop,” Matheis added.  “Making a smart decision now can pay off big next year.”

The December edition of AARP Bulletin looks at trends in Medicare drug plan costs for 2010.  Its web site also provides a step-by-step guide to comparing drug plans and finding the best plan for you.  The guide is available at http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/medicare/articles/quick_route_through_the_medicare_drug_plan_finder_2010.html .

AARP’s fact sheet on 2010 Part D plans is available at http://www.aarp.org/research/ppi/health-care/medicare/articles/fs161-medicare.html .

Matheis and other AARP experts are available for national media interviews regarding the Medicare open enrollment period.  To schedule an interview, please contact AARP Media Relations at media@aarp.org .

The Most Dangerous Piece of Mail You’ll Get All Year is For a Free Lunch

New AARP Survey Shows High Level of Concern About Impact of Financial Scams Among 55+ Population

More than three-quarters of older Americans are concerned that financial scams will damage their retirement nest eggs or those of someone they know, AARP and North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) said today.

In a survey released today by AARP, entitled Protecting Older Investors: 2009 Free Lunch Seminar Report, 78 percent of Americans age 55 and over surveyed indicated that they are very or somewhat concerned about financial scams affecting them or someone they know.  A common setting for fraudsters to engage with their victims is by offering a free lunch or dinner, by which an older individual near retirement age is solicited to attend and learn more about investing in retirement.

For attendees of these free seminars, the potential cost can be quite high.  Of those who attended a seminar, more than three out of four (78 percent) expected that the free financial seminar would center on opportunities to learn more about financial issues. However, once at the seminar, half of seminar attendees said the presenter asked them for personal information, such as their contact information or information about their finances and 46 percent reported that presenter attempted to make a follow-up appointment at their home.   Nearly 40 percent reported that the presenter tried to sell them financial products either during or after the seminar.

“This survey illustrates the lesson that nothing is truly free when it comes to your financial security. Often times, those who attend free lunch seminars have no idea that they are potential targets of financial fraud,” said Jean Setzfand, Director of Financial Security at AARP. “Many people go to these seminars hoping to learn about ways to create a more secure retirement, but instead are pitched financial products that are fraudulent or unsuitable for them.”

Nearly 6 million Americans age 55 and older have attended a free lunch or dinner in the past three years, with mail as the most common method of solicitation (63 percent). Over a quarter of invitees (27 percent) have received ten or more invitations.

In response to such solicitations, AARP launched the Free Lunch Monitor program in collaboration with North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) in October 2008. The purpose of the national program is to raise public awareness about the possible dangers of attending free lunch seminars, empower investors of all ages with the tools to decipher fraudulent educational presentations, and share a tool to report suspicious activity—the Free Lunch Monitor Checklist.

After a year of collecting checklists, volunteers reported that many seminars focused on different types of annuities with 39 percent encouraged to purchase one, and nearly half said that the speaker did not discuss the risks associated with the annuity. Attendees were consistently promised that products were “low risk” or that they would yield “high rates of return.”

“Low risk, high reward is a red flag warning for possible investment fraud,” said NASAA President and Texas Securities Commissioner Denise Voigt Crawford. “Defrauding our senior population is unconscionable and protecting senior investors is a top priority of state securities regulators. I encourage all seniors to investigate before they invest in any offer served at a free lunch seminar. State securities regulators offer extensive employment, disciplinary and registration information about those who sell securities or offer investment advice.”

Setzfand added, “AARP’s creation of the Free Lunch Monitor program with NASAA reflects the commitment we have made to provide our members, their families, and older Americans the best information about how to protect their savings.  AARP encourages more people to get involved with our programs to help root out fraud that threatens your long-term financial security.” 

To learn more about the Free Lunch Monitor program or to become a monitor, visit www.aarp.org/nofreelunch .

Survey Methodology

RDD telephone interviews were conducted from August 19, 2009 through September 3, 2009 by International Communications Research (ICR) of Media, Pennsylvania, as part of an EXCEL Omnibus survey.  The sample was comprised of 1,012 financial decision makers ages 55 and over.  The margin of error for total respondents is +/-3.08% at the 95% confidence level.

For more information about the survey and volunteer findings, please visit www.aarp.org/freelunchreport .

AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond offered the following statement in support of House and Senate passage of legislation to extend unemployment insurance benefits to millions of Americans in light of the highest unemployment rate in recent history.

“AARP strongly supports the extension of unemployment benefits to assist millions of workers who are struggling to find a job in this tough economy.  Today, there are nearly 2 million people age 55 and over who have a particularly difficult time gaining employment. These workers wait an average of 33 weeks or longer before finding another job, higher than most age groups.

“Extending unemployment benefits will assist nearly half a million workers age 65 and over who want to work but cannot get a job, which threatens not only their current financial health, but their long-term retirement security.   

“Many older workers stay on the job as the best way to compensate for low savings, plummeting housing values, and declining retirement portfolios in this economy.  The relief passed by Congress today is an important first step to address the financial security of millions of Americans who are struggling to make ends meet, and we urge the President to sign this relief into law immediately.”

For more information, please visit www.aarp.org .

Since we began our latest battle for comprehensive health care reform more than two years ago, AARP has fought for a health care bill that provides quality, affordable health coverage options for all Americans and protects Medicare for seniors and for future generations.

We have read the House of Representatives’ Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) and the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act (H.R. 3961), and we can say with confidence that they meet our priorities for protecting Medicare and reforming our health care system.

For the more than 45 million Americans in Medicare – 1.5 million in Michigan alone –  the House plan completely closes the dangerous gap in prescription drug coverage known as the doughnut hole, adds cost-free preventive benefits like cancer screenings, cracks down on waste and fraud and protects the traditional Medicare benefits people in the program rely on.

For all Americans—including our younger members who often struggle to find affordable insurance (an estimated 154,842 in Michigan between the ages of 50 to 64 are uninsured) — the House plan makes coverage more affordable by strictly limiting how much more insurance companies charge based on age.  Americans will also no longer be denied coverage based on health history or discriminated against because of gender, and those who still cannot afford insurance on their own will receive help to purchase affordable coverage.

In addition, the House plan begins to repair the country’s outdated system of long-term care with new provisions to help people prepare for their long-term care needs and live in their own homes as they grow older.

While AARP is pleased to see that H.R. 3962/H.R. 3961 include many of the proposals that are most critical to protecting Medicare and ensuring Americans age 50+ have access to stable, affordable health care, we know the fight isn’t over.  That’s why we’re going to keep working with members of the House and Senate to ensure our priorities are included in any final health care reform bill.

And, as the legislative process moves forward, we’ve let Congress and the Administration know that we will fight with the strength of our nearly 40 million members against any proposal that would hurt rather than help Medicare and older Americans’ access to affordable, quality health care.

We will continue to provide the information you need to decide for yourself what the health reform will mean to you.  For information on the latest developments, go to www.aarp.org/getthefacts .

In a new series of videos, older Americans and people from organizations that represent them speak honestly about how health care reform would impact seniors.

In today’s video, “How Can We Keep Medicare Strong for Current and Future Generations?” [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNJWgaP39gc], doctors and people from organizations that have been representing seniors for years talk about how health care reform must eliminate waste in Medicare in order to protect Medicare benefits and ensure future generations have the health care they need when they retire.

We need your help in spreading the word about these videos. Please forward them to family and friends who may be concerned about what health care reform means for them.

For more information about health reform and seniors, including information on sharing your health reform story and contacting legislators, visit the Seniors to Seniors coalition at www.seniorstoseniors.org .

In a new series of videos, older Americans and people from organizations that represent them speak honestly about how health care reform would impact seniors.

In today’s video, “Will Health Care Reform Keep My Doctor in Medicare,” [link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z83tAinbPs ] doctors explain why Medicare, without health care reform, will require physicians to take considerable pay cuts, potentially forcing them to refuse Medicare patients or close their practices.

We need your help in spreading the word about these videos. Please forward them to family and friends who may be concerned about what health care reform means for them.

For more information about health reform and seniors, including information on sharing your health reform story and contacting legislators, visit the Seniors to Seniors coalition at www.seniorstoseniors.org .

Older Drivers: Don’t Get Caught in the Dark

AARP Offers Driving Tips for Night Driving; November Proclaimed Driver

Safety Month

The end of Daylight Savings time on Nov. 1 doesn’t just mean you’re getting an extra hour of sleep.  Setting clocks back one hour also means an extra hour of night driving, which can be problematic for everyone, particularly older drivers.

Even on familiar roads, motorists should use caution and watch for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists who will be less visible, especially during the first week of the time change. AARP urges all drivers to consider the link between night visibility and safe driving.  If you have trouble seeing well at night, get your vision checked and consider taking a driver safety course to learn more about how to compensate in dark conditions and make sure you’re driving when you feel most comfortable.

To focus attention on roadway safety, AARP is proclaiming this November Driver Safety Month.  Since folks will be driving more at night, AARP offers the following tips:

·         See and be seen. Get your headlights checked, and turn them on one hour before sunset and keep them on one hour after sunrise to ensure maximum visibility.

·         Stay alert on the road.   With reduced visibility, it’s important to reduce your speed, be extra alert, and maintain a three-second following distance.    

·         Recognize and prevent drowsiness.  The change in time can throw off our internal clock and may cause drowsiness, so run errands in the morning when you are fresher and more alert.

·         Avoid sun glare.  You may need to adjust to early morning or late afternoon sun glare that can cause reflections off car windows and hoods and decrease your visibility. 

Now celebrating its 30th Anniversary, the AARP Driver Safety Program has provided instruction to more than 12 million participants nationwide seeking to refresh their driving skills. The no-test course updates drivers’ knowledge about relevant laws and offers strategies to compensate for age-related changes that affect driving ability. 

The course also includes a section on assessing driving abilities, and since November is also National Caregiver Month, now may be a good time to have a “family conversation” about driving to help ensure your loved one stays safe on the road. 

Depending on insurance providers and state regulations, graduates of the AARP Driver Safety Program courses – both classroom and online – may be eligible to receive a discount on their auto insurance premiums.  All participants should check with their provider for further details.

Find information on local courses, via telephone 1-888-227-7669 or online. www.aarp.org/drive .  Find more information about AARP’s online course.   www.aarp.org/drive/online .

In a new series of videos, older Americans and people from organizations that represent them speak honestly about how health care reform would impact seniors.

In today’s video, “Will Health Care Reform Improve Long Term Care Choices,” [link to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KykqDoYzJ_0 ] seniors and caregivers talk about the need for better long-term care choices as part of health care reform, as family members bear the brunt of caregiving and one year of long term care can cost as much as four years of college.   

We need your help in spreading the word about these videos. Please forward them to family and friends who may be concerned about what health care reform means for them.

For more information about health reform and seniors, including information on sharing your health reform story and contacting legislators, visit the Seniors to Seniors coalition at www.seniorstoseniors.org .

Short URL: http://bit.ly/1TBNtF

AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond issued this statement following today’s introduction of the Affordable Health Care for America Act in the House of Representatives: