A new poll of AARP members 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%).

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%.

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 – 2.8 million in Texas 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 778,000 in Texas 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.

As we continue to press Congress for bipartisan solutions to ensuring affordable, accessible health care for Americans, AARP Texas is currently recruiting and training volunteers within Congressional Districts 7, 8 and 9 to help move our federal and state agendas forward. Work will include a range of federal and state advocacy activities.

“AARP’s program work in these districts will strengthen its presence in the areas, build capacity to influence decisions at the various levels of government, and essentially create the environment which over the next few years will enable AARP to solidify a real presence in the area,” said Cliff Willis, associate state director of community outreach, AARP Texas.

Interested in helping out? Email Cliff at clwillis@aarp.org. Be sure to indicate your interest in representing AARP and listing any experience in working directly with your elected officials.

This month’s Bulletin features an article about Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC) in Texas. ADRC’s help ease the burden on caregivers by streamlining access to long-term care services.  Click here to learn more.

Kudos to the Office of Public Insurance Counsel that filed a Petition for Rulemaking last week at the Texas Department of Insurance to ban the use of discretionary clauses in insurance contracts. Discretionary clauses prevent consumers from getting help from state regulators or the courts when insurance companies deny health and disability claims.

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.

 Mary Scott has been selected by AARP, the nonprofit membership organization for people 50 and over, to receive Texas’s 2009 AARP Andrus Award for Community Service, the Association’s most prestigious and visible volunteer award for community service. This award symbolizes that individuals have the power and ability to make a difference in the lives of others.
 

AARP Texas selected Mary Scott for her remarkable service and for the impact she’s had on the lives of others and on her community. Mary’s energy and desire to help others has strengthened AARP in the state of Texas as well as on a national level. Her contributions to AARP as a member of the National Board of Directors, a member of the National Policy Council and the current Texas State President are hard to measure.  Ms. Scott has been instrumental in being the voice of AARP for her chapter and for her state. 

The AARP Andrus Award for Community Service recognizes members and volunteers who, through volunteer service, are significantly enhancing the lives of individuals age 50 and over. The award was presented to Ms. Scott at a luncheon ceremony on October 27^th at the Brookside Center in Hurst.

“This award acts as a symbol to members and the public that we can all work together for positive social change,” says Bob Jackson, AARP State Director. “AARP has long valued the spirit of volunteerism and the important contributions AARP volunteers make to their communities, neighbors, and the programs they serve.”
 

Recipients across the nation were chosen for their ability to enhance the lives of AARP members and prospective members, improve the community in or for which the work was performed, and inspire others to volunteer.

Please join us as we pay special tribute to ALL veterans!  While honoring our veterans, we also wish to highlight a growing issue among our communities.  An estimated 10,000 recent veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts now depend on their parents for their care. Working unheralded, these parents have quit jobs, shelved retirement plans, and relocated so they can be with their injured sons and daughters.  We hope you will be able to attend on this special day.

Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Time: Noon-1:30 p.m.

Place: YWCA, 4601 Corona Drive                                   
                  
RSVP: Call Bunny at AARP, 361-850-9300

AARP & YWCA Information, Giveaways and a Door Prize presented

FREE! Box Lunch will be served in “Gymnasium”

WASHINGTON—This morning, AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond announced the Association’s support of a House provision to close the Medicare prescription drug “doughnut hole”—a dangerous gap in coverage for older Americans. A statement from LeaMond follows:
 

“Closing the prescription drug coverage gap for Medicare beneficiaries has long been one of AARP members’ top priorities, and we are delighted to support provisions announced today to fully close the doughnut hole.
 

“AARP is fighting to guarantee that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health coverage. For our members with Medicare drug coverage, the doughnut hole stands out as a major affordability concern and real barrier to access.

“More than 3 million people fall into the doughnut hole each year, and millions more live in fear of reaching this dangerous gap in coverage. Research shows that people who have trouble paying for their prescription drugs are more likely to skip doses or stop taking their medications altogether, which can lead to more serious health problems and higher long-term costs both for them and for our health care system as a whole.

“AARP thanks the House for helping to make sure that Medicare beneficiaries will not have to put their health at risk because they can’t afford needed medications. We look forward to working with both chambers to continue to improve health care reform legislation so that every American has access to affordable coverage.”

For more information on AARP’s health care reform effort, please visit http://www.aarp.org/health/articles/health_reform_get_the_facts.html.

Seven legislators honored for legislative achievements

GALVESTON, TX -- AARP Texas today recognized the work of Representative Craig Eiland of Galveston on behalf of purchasers of annuities by presenting him with a 2009 Legislative Achievement Award.  Seven Texas lawmakers are being honored for their work on behalf of the 50-plus population.  

“While narrowing it down to seven was a very difficult task, these members assumed important leadership roles in passing key legislation to protect older Texans for years to come,” said AARP Texas State Director Bob Jackson.

Representative Eiland was recognized for his work in protecting the financial assets of older Texans by co-authoring several bills that strengthened consumer protections for older Texans purchasing annuities. 

"It is truly an honor to be recognized for trying to help protect our senior citizens assets, especially in these trying times,” said Representative Eiland.

Other legislators recognized by AARP are:

• Senator Rodney Ellis for co-authoring several annuity consumer protection bills, along with Representative Eiland.
   
• Senator Kip Averitt/ Representative John Smithee for their leadership in improving the affordability of health insurance for older Texans (co-authored a bill creating a discount program for the high risk pool).
   
• Senator Leticia Van De Putt /Representative Elliot Naishtat for their leadership in ensuring Texas is prepared to meet the needs of a growing aging population (co-authored bill that created the Texas Legislative Committee on Aging).
   
• Senator Wendy Davis was named “Freshmen of the Year” for her efforts to improve the financial security of older Texans.

 The awards will be presented to each legislator at individual ceremonies in their respective hometowns.  Plans call for AARP to present similar awards every two years following the conclusion of the regular legislative session.