'As our congressional delegation prepares to vote, they will hear from older Ohioans'
Today AARP announced its endorsement of the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) and the accompanying Medicare physician payment reform bill (H.R. 3961). The Association’s support follows nearly two years of work with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to craft a health care reform plan that meets the needs of AARP’s nearly 40 million members and all older Americans. Among those needs are reforms that strictly curb insurance companies’ discrimination against older Americans and Medicare improvements that strengthen benefits while protecting the program for future generations.
“Since we began our latest battle for comprehensive health care reform more than two years ago, we have fought for a package that provides quality, affordable coverage for all Americans and protects Medicare for seniors and future generations,” said Joanne Limbach, who volunteers as state president for AARP Ohio.
Today’s endorsement marks the first time in this legislative battle that AARP has put its full weight behind a comprehensive health care reform package. In the coming days, AARP will be educating its members about the health care reform package through its publications, paid advertising and more than five million calls and e-mails to its grassroots activists.
“As Ohio’s congressional delegation prepares to vote, they will hear from older Ohioans,” Limbach promises.
The Affordable Health Care for America Act and the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act contain critical components AARP has been fighting for on behalf of its members and all older Americans to improve health care for them and their families. They include:
-- Protecting and strengthening Medicare for today’s seniors and future generations of retirees;
-- Ensuring seniors can see the doctor of their choice or find a doctor if they need one by improving Medicare’s payments to doctors;
-- Lowering drug costs for seniors by closing the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole” and allowing the government to negotiate with drug makers for lower drug prices;
-- Taking steps to reduce waste, fraud, abuse and inefficiency in the Medicare program;
-- Requiring Medicare and insurance companies to provide for important preventive services like screenings for diabetes, cancer and osteoporosis free of charge;
-- Preventing insurers from denying affordable coverage to anyone because of their age or health;
-- Limiting how much your insurance company can make you pay out-of-pocket;
-- Providing affordable health insurance options for those who don’t have insurance; and
-- Providing benefits to help seniors and people with disabilities live in their own homes and communities.
“For all Americans, including our younger members who often struggle to find affordable insurance, this plan makes coverage more affordable by strictly limiting how much more insurance companies charge based on age,” Limbach said. “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.”
Limbach adds, “AARP is proud to endorse the Affordable Health Care for America Act. We urge members of the House to pass this critical bill this year and finally fix our broken health care system.”
AARP lauds Ohio delegation for Medicare Fairness Act vote
Dorothy Dunford is being recognized by AARP with its 2009 AARP Ohio Andrus Award for Community Service, our national organization’s most prestigious volunteer honor.
