November 15 marked 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.

Check out AARP Bulletin’s Ask Ms. Medicare column for tips on finding the coverage that’s right for you:

The following is AARP's response to an editorial that ran in the Albuquerque Oct. 25th:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 10, 2009

Contact

Jim Dau or Jordan McNerney

202-434-2560

 WASHINGTON—This week, AARP will launch the next phase of its Health Action Now campaign with a multimillion-dollar national advertising and grassroots push to ensure every American has a choice of doctor and dependable, affordable health insurance.  The Association’s paid advertising—available online now—will run nationally on television, locally on radio, in print publications and online.  AARP activists will also be in action in every state to ensure every member of Congress knows the 50-plus community wants action to fix what’s wrong with health care and preserve what’s right. 

AARP’s advertising campaign will bust the myths some are spreading to frighten Americans, including false assertions that fixing the health care system will lead to rationed health care, a government takeover or even euthanasia. 

“We won’t stand idle when opponents of health care reform attempt to scare or mislead the American people—and older Americans in particular—about what fixing the system really means,” said AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond.  “The truth is we need to fix health care, whether it’s ensuring affordable coverage for Americans age 50 to 64 or improving benefits for people in Medicare.  It’s time for the public to get the real facts.”

 AARP will combine this effort with grassroots action by millions of volunteers and activists.  AARP members will visit their representatives and senators in their district offices and attend events in support of health care reform.  The Association will also host more than 80 events across the country, including dozens of town hall meetings with legislators and community leaders.

 LeaMond added: “The opponents of reform will stop at nothing to derail the process and protect their own vested interests—even if it means misleading older Americans.  We’re here to make sure everyone knows the facts and not the myths.” 

One of AARP’s new print ads reads: “Special interest groups are trying to block progress on health care reform using myths and scare tactics.  Like the myth that health care reform will give the government the power to make life-and-death decisions for everyone.  That’s simply false.  The fact is, no one, including the government or your insurance company, will be given power to make life-and-death decisions for anyone regardless of their age.  Those decisions will be made by you, your doctor and your family.” 

This round of advertising is scheduled to run through mid-September in national outlets and in select local markets.  Television advertisements will appear on networks including CBS, Fox News Channel, Lifetime and MSNBC, while online ads will appear on web sites including CNN.com and ABCNews.com, as well as social networking sites. 

To view the ads or to get more information about AARP’s Health Action Now campaign, please visit www.healthactionnow.org. 

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.  AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates.  We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world’s largest-circulation magazine with over 35.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP’s 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; 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.

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AARP National Board President Jennie Chin Hansen sat down with Win Quigley of the Albuquerque Journal. Visit the link below to see what she had to say on the myths of health care reform:

http://www.abqjournal.com/news/metro/072215478527newsmetro08-07-09.htm

Throughout the debate on how to fix what’s broken about our health care system, AARP pledges to help you cut through the noise and find the facts about what health care reform 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 about health care reform. Check out AARP’s blog this week, which is highlighting some of the most common myths being spread about health care reform and the facts that prove them wrong.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 16, 2009 

Contact

Jim Dau

202-434-2560

AARP Thanks Vice President Biden, Administration, for Working to Improve

Health Care for Older Americans

CEO Rand: “Together, we can make sure that every American has access to affordable, quality health care for generations to come” 

WASHINGTON—This afternoon, AARP CEO A. Barry Rand delivered the following remarks at the White House Middle Class Task Force Town Hall in Alexandria, Va., during a discussion with Vice President Biden, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and White House Office of Health Reform Director Nancy-Ann DeParle, on how health care reform will lower costs, cut waste, and improve quality for seniors from across the country.   

Rand’s remarks as prepared for delivery follow: 

“Good afternoon everyone and welcome. I’m happy to be here with so many of our AARP family.  Mr. Vice President, I want to thank you for hosting this Middle Class Task Force Town Hall and focusing in on ‘How Health Care Reform Will Help Seniors.’  Because as we all know, older Americans, like everyone else, need health care reform. 

“So many of you have shared your stories with AARP and asked that we send them to Congress and to the White House to make sure Washington understands how important health care reform is—to you, to all Americans.    

“Today, you have the chance to make your voice heard—the chance to talk about the challenges you are facing, whether it’s falling into the doughnut hole or being denied coverage because you have a pre-existing condition. Your stories are why AARP has made health care reform a top priority.   

“Thankfully, Congress is moving forward with legislation that will address many of the concerns of older Americans. On Tuesday, the House of Representatives introduced a health care reform bill, and the Senate is working hard to get a bill out before the August recess. 

“Congress is moving forward because they know what we know:  our current health care system is not sustainable—not just for individuals, but also for employers and government.   

“At AARP, we believe all Americans should have affordable health care choices.  But our current system costs too much, wastes too much, makes too many mistakes and gives us back too little value for our money.   

“This has to change.  For too many people, lack of affordable, quality health care is closing the door on your American Dream—forcing us, forcing you, forcing them to choose between their health and other necessities.  We hear this from our members every day, and you will hear some of those personal stories from people here today. 

“Affordable health care is critical for financial and retirement security. One of the main reasons people go bankrupt is because they can’t pay their medical bills.  

“For families and workers, the loss of jobs has been compounded by pay cuts and reduced insurance coverage.  Among the most vulnerable are people 50-64 who lack employer-sponsored insurance. For too many of them, the individual insurance market is often unavailable at any price due to their exclusions for pre-existing conditions.  

“As many of you know first hand, people on Medicare face extremely heavy burdens. They spend, on average, six times more of their income on health care than those with coverage through employers. We need health care reform in order to hold down costs and to keep Medicare strong now and strong for future generations. 

“I joined President Obama and Congressional leaders when we announced an agreement to cut Medicare’s Part D coverage gap—the doughnut hole—in half.  This is an important start.  But we must do more to improve Medicare, such as: 

* Further close the Part D “doughnut hole” coverage gap and reduce the costs of prescription drugs;

* Protect patients’ access to their doctors;

* Crack down on waste, fraud and abuse that’s driving up the cost of health care and causing medical errors and poor care

* Prevent dangerous, costly and avoidable re-hospitalizations; and

* Improve quality through better care management that coordinates chronic, acute, and long-term care services, and ensures that patients have access to the full range of support they need. 

“For people not yet eligible for Medicare, there are a number of steps we must take to make health care more affordable, we must: 

* Prevent insurance companies from pricing policies based on pre-existing conditions or age; 

* Limit people’s premiums and out-of-pocket costs;

* Provide people with stable coverage that can not be taken away if they lose a job or experience life’s other ups and downs; and finally,

* Lower drug prices. 

“These steps will improve health care for everyone. AARP is working hard—with the Administration—including Secretary Sebelius and Nancy-Ann DeParle.  And we’re working with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle—to achieve meaningful health care reform that improves quality, improves the way care is delivered, and makes it more affordable.   

“We all have a stake in health care reform.  And right now, Congress is making important decisions.   

“I urge you to be informed…I urge you to be involved, and…I urge you to be engaged in this issue.  You can make a difference.  Together, we can make sure that every American has access to affordable, quality health care for generations to come.”

 For details on AARP’s health reform priorities, visit http://www.aarp.org/governmentwatch.  

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. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 35.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; 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. 

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WASHINGTON—AARP CEO Barry Rand released this statement following the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee’s passage of the Affordable Health Choices Act: 

“Today’s vote brings us one big step closer to comprehensive health care reform that ensures every American has a choice of quality, affordable coverage.  We are proud of the committee’s leadership on this issue and their commitment to passing legislation this year, but we remain concerned with some of the bill’s specifics. 

“The bill passed today includes several smart provisions that will help Americans get affordable health care.  By strictly limiting insurers’ discriminatory practices, the bill ensures Americans can purchase affordable health coverage, regardless of age or health status.  It also helps struggling middle-class families by limiting premiums and out-of-pocket expenses, providing true relief from rising health costs. 

“The bill’s long-term care provisions will put more people on track to get the health and long-term care services and supports they need throughout their lives and take some of the burden off of struggling Medicaid programs.  The bill also takes needed steps to strengthen the health care workforce and prepare it to meet the needs of an aging population, particularly in the critical fields of primary care and nursing. 

“However, we remain concerned about the bill’s unreasonable exclusivity period for brand name biologic drugs, which will keep less costly generic versions from the people who need them and result in billions of dollars of profit for the brand name drug industry. 

“AARP thanks Chairman Kennedy, Senator Dodd and their colleagues for their strong commitment to health care reform.  With their help, America is closer to finally achieving the goal of quality, affordable health care for all.”

The federal government hired 130,000 workers last year, and is expected to surpass that total this year. To help prospective federal employees, AARP – with the Partnership for Public Service – is presenting a free federal jobs webinar next Tuesday, July 14, from 2-3 p.m. (eastern).  Lily Whiteman, author of “How to Land A Top-Paying Federal Job”, will be the presenter.  Participants will learn how to find federal job vacancies and tips on preparing a resume.    Anyone interested in signing up should go to http://www.aarp.org/money/personal/real_relief_aarp/.