For Immediate Release                                  Contact: Gerardo Cardenas  312-458-3609

September 29, 2009                                                        

AARP SET TO FIGHT AMEREN’S NEW RATE INCREASE PROPOSAL

Volunteers Attend Hearing, Urge ICC to Reject $226 million Increase 

SPRINGFIELD– Barely one year after hitting consumers with a multimillion dollar rate increase, Ameren is back at the trough – asking the Illinois Commerce Commission to approve an even larger rate hike. On behalf of its 1.8 million Illinois members, AARP is set to fight the utility company’s plans, urging the ICC to say “No Way!” to their request.

The ICC has scheduled four public hearings on a $226 million increase for electric and natural gas customers, before the ICC renders a decision in 2010. For working families and older adults living on fixed incomes, Ameren’s proposed rate hike comes at the worst possible time – with average annual increases estimated at nearly $125.

“The country is in a recession. Now is not the time for utility companies to seek rate increases,” said Dean Clough, an AARP volunteer from the Springfield area, who attended the ICC’s first public hearing in Springfield. “We urge the ICC to do the right thing, and reject Ameren’s proposal.”

AARP is encouraging its members and the public to attend the hearings and voice their opposition, and if they cannot attend them to call the ICC directly at 1-800-524-0795 and provide a direct comment. Consumers can also go online to http://www.icc.illinois.gov/docket/comment , and provide comments.

Last year, Ameren got the go ahead from the ICC for a $162 million rate increase. Ameren is also seeking to apply a variety of new surcharges to Illinois consumers.

In the current economic downturn, utility bills are on the largest expenses individuals face every month. According to an AARP survey, older adults can spend nearly 20 percent of their income on utility costs, while almost half of people 50 and older said the recession has made it harder for them to pay their utility bills.

Public hearing schedule:

September 29^th – Springfield, 7 pm

Illinois Commerce Commission, 527 E. Capitol Ave

October 5^th – Collinsville, 7 pm

Kenneth Hall Regional Office building, 1100 EastportPlaza,

October 27^th – Pekin, 7 pm

PekinCity Council Chambers, 111 S. Capitol St.

November 2^nd – Decatur, 6 pm

Decatur Public Library, Madden Room, 130 N Franklin, 6 pm

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Where AARP Stands on Health Care

WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE INCOME PAYMENT PLAN?

In July, Governor Quinn signed an AARP-backed bill that will help provide some relief to consumers who are struggling with increasing utility bills.  The law (Public Act 96-0033) created the Percentage Income Payment Plan (PIPP).  The PIPP program is designed to assist low-income customers in making their utility service more affordable by providing year around assistance.  The program sets eligible customer's utility bills at 6% of their household income - with the remainer paid from state and federal energy assistance funding.

IS THE PIPP PROGRAM AVAILABLE NOW?

The PIPP program is currently under development by the state, utilities, and consumer advocates, and is expected to be rolled-out on a small scale in November/December for electric heat (ComEd and Ameren) customers, and December/January for natural gas heat (Ameren, Peoples/North Shore and Nicor) customers.  The program will be fully online in 2011.

WHAT ABOUT GETTING ASSISTANCE NOW?

Currently, applications are being accepted for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LiHEAP).  LiHEAP provides eligible households with a one-time energy assistance grant and emergency re-connection assistance.  Applications for LiHEAP are administered through Community Action Agencies - see link for the list of agencies by county.  The PIPP program will have the same application process once it is operational.

http://www.ildceo.net/dceo/Bureaus/LIHEAP/Illinois+LIHEAP/community+action+agencies.htm

For more information, call the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity at 1-877-411-9276.

For Immediate Release:                                                     Contacts: David Irwin (312) 458-3621                                                                                           

July 16, 2009                                                                                Gerardo Cardenas (312) 458-3609           

AARP SAYS ILLINOIS BUDGET SHOWS PROMISE & PROBLEMS

Statement by Bob Gallo

AARP IllinoisState Director

SPRINGFIELD , Illinois –Last night, as the General Assembly and Governor Quinn reached a budget agreement for Illinois, a looming disaster for many may have been narrowly averted.  AARP commends the Governor and the General Assembly for moving beyond the harsh “doomsday” budget.

While many details have yet to become to clear, AARP remains deeply concerned about funding for programs and services that enable hundreds of thousands of elderly Illinoisans to access health care and prescription drug assistance, receive home and community based services that help them avoid costly institutional care, and keeping Illinois’ veterans homes open. 

Our state leaders have made progress with this budget; however, AARP urges them to focus on long-term solutions to Illinois’ growing budget woes.   We look forward to working with the Governor and the General Assembly to ensure Illinois continues to uphold its strong tradition of providing critical services to the most vulnerable populations.

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For Immediate Release:                                                     Contacts: David Irwin (312) 458-3621                                                                                           

Thursday, July 9, 2009                                                                 Gerardo Cardenas (312) 458-3609                                                                                                                         

HIGH Rx COSTS HAMMERING ILLINOIS’ 50+ POPULATION

AARP Survey Finds Group Delaying or Skipping Medications, Cutting Back on Food to Afford Soaring Rx Prices

CHICAGO, Illinois – Skyrocketing prescription drug prices are stinging Illinoisans over the age 50 – forcing nearly 20 percent to cut back on the basics, like food and utilities, in order to afford needed medications.  According to a recent AARP survey, as brand name drugs see record price increases, the majority of the state’s 50 plus population are worried about being able to pay for their medications in the coming year.  

“No one should have to choose between filling their grocery cart and filling a prescription,” said Merri Dee, State President for AARP in Illinois.  “The high cost of health care is taking a harsh toll on people of all age groups – older individuals in particular are struggling with soaring prescription costs.”  

Key survey findings include: 63% of AARP members in Illinois are concerned about affording their prescription drugs, while close to 20% had to cut back on necessities to pay for prescriptions.  Additionally 21% didn’t fill or delayed filling a prescription due to cost and 18% took less than the prescribed amount to make the medicine last longer.  The survey also found women and Hispanics tend to be harder hit by high drug costs than the general 50 plus population.   

In the past year, prices for brand name prescription drugs increased an average of 8.7%, well past the 3.8% rate of general inflation.  The increase marked the largest price jump in six years, while generic drug prices decreased by nearly 11%. 

Already among the most expensive, specialty prescription drugs known as biologics, used to treat conditions that tend to affect older populations such as cancer and rheumatoid arthritis, saw the largest price increases at 9.3%.  Currently, generic versions of these drugs are not available, leaving consumers to either pay exorbitant prices or be forced to skip the medication altogether due to cost. 

The survey highlights the need for solutions to the growing problem.  As part of its push for national health care reform, AARP is calling on federal lawmakers to tackle the issue by closing the Medicare Part D coverage gap, known as the doughnut hole, and lowering drug costs by passing legislation, “Promoting Innovation and Access to Life-Saving Medicine Act” (H.R. 1427/S. 726), which would allow consumers access to generic versions of expensive biologic drugs.

The entire survey can be found at www.aarp.org/research/health/carefinancing/il_hcr_09.html

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

For Immediate Release                                               Contacts:

Friday, July 10, 2009                                                      David Irwin                  312-458-3621

                                                                                           Gerardo Cardenas 312-458-3609

NEW LAW BRINGS UTILITY RATE RELIEF TO ILLINOIS CONSUMERS

AARP Commends Governor for Helping Consumers Struggling with High Utility Bills & Making the Illinois Commerce Commission Accountable

CHICAGO , Illinois– Skyrocketing rates are forcing a majority of consumers to limit their use of home energy, with nearly half of them struggling just to afford their utility bills – at least for Illinois consumers relief came today in the shape of legislation signed into law by Governor Pat Quinn.

The AARP-backed legislation, sponsored by State Senator Kimberly Lightford and State Representative Bob Flider, will bring relief to low-income households. The law will allow eligible customers to pay no more than 6% of their income and use their LIHEAP benefits to maintain affordable year-round utility service.  

Consumers will also get help in better managing their utility bills, aiming to break the cycle of disconnections and reconnections that often occur when households struggle with paying their utility bills.

“Older adults and low-income households are having an especially hard time in this economy to pay their utility bills,” said Bob Gallo, AARP Illinois State Director. “AARP commends Governor Quinn for signing into law this measure that will provide urgently needed relief to people struggling to afford basic necessities.”

The legislation will also help make the state’s utility regulators more accountable to the public. SB 1918 aims to eliminate “back room” discussions between the Illinois Commerce Commission and utility companies, requiring that all such meetings be open to the public.

“The Illinois Commerce Commission has failed to strike a fair balance between the interests of utility companies and those of consumers,” added Gallo.  “This law will help make the ICC more accountable to consumers, and open the process by which the ICC and utility companies make decisions affecting the public.”

In the current economy, older adults, low-income residents and people with disabilities may pay up to 25 percent of their limited income in utilities.  A recent AARP survey found that nearly half (44%) of adults have found it difficult to afford their utilities in the past several months, while 63% have limited their use of home energy, or have had to adopt other cost-cutting measures, including cutting on medical care or prescription drugs, because of rising utilities costs.

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State Health Care Briefs 2009: Why Health Care Reform is Important is now available on AARP Policy & Research.

http://www.aarp.org/research/health/carefinancing/state_hcb_09.html

This set of State Health Care Briefs provides a one-page overview of facts on health care data for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

For Immediate Release :                 Contacts: David Irwin 312-458-3621

Thursday, June 25, 2009                    Gerardo Cardenas 312-458-3609                                                     

AARP “DOUGHNUT HOLE” DELIVERY TO REMIND CONG. COSTELLO TO FIX MEDICARE 

Volunteers in Illinois’ 12^th Congressional District Bring Strong Message and “Doughnut Holes” to Health Care Reform Efforts

BELLEVILLE , Illinois – As Medicare Part D takes center stage in the fight for health care reform, AARP volunteers in Illinois are driving the message home on the need to close the coverage gap, known as the “doughnut hole,” in the program. 

While 32% of Illinois’ Medicare Part D beneficiaries fell into the “doughnut hole,” a recent AARP survey found that over 21% of AARP members in the state didn’t fill or delayed getting a prescription filled because it was too expensive.  Nearly 20% of those surveyed said they had taken less medicine than their doctor prescribed to make it last longer and cut back on other basic necessities to afford their prescriptions.

AARP also announced a new tool today to help people avoid the Medicare coverage gap. The AARP Doughnut Hole Calculator, available at www.aarp.org/doughnuthole, guides visitors through their prescription drug options using localized information about their plans and prescriptions to determine if or when they will fall into the coverage gap.  Visitors can view a graph of their out-of-pocket spending by month, look up lower cost drugs for their conditions, create a Personal Medication Record and print out personalized letters to their doctors to help start a conversation about safely switching prescriptions.

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

  For Immediate Release :                                                       Contacts: David Irwin (312) 458-3621                                                                                            

Tuesday, June 16, 2009                                                                            Gerardo Cardenas (312) 458-3609           

AARP SAYS ILLINOIS BUDGET TO CREATE DISASTERFORSTATE’S ELDERLY

 AARP Vows to Fight Harsh Cuts to Health Care, Rx and Community Services - Urges Legislators and Governor to Fix the Budget

CHICAGO , Illinois – With one of the worst budgets in Illinois state history looming, older Illinoisans are bracing for disaster.  While letters are in the mail to those who will be dealt the harshest blow, AARP has vowed to fight the hurtful budget which is set to slash health care, prescription drug assistance and programs providing critical community services for the elderly. 

With nearly 2 million members in Illinois, AARP is urging the legislature and the Governor to go back to Springfield and fix the broken budget they left behind, before the harsh cuts take effect.

“This budget is devastating for Illinoisans of all ages; many who have already fallen on tough times will have the rug pulled out from under them,” said Bob Gallo, State Director for AARP in Illinois.  “Legislators and the Governor cannot, in good conscience, implement a budget that hurts so many people, including several hundred thousand of the state’s most vulnerable elderly.”

Key among the cuts opposed by AARP:

·          Community Care Program slated to cut by more than half, leaving over 20,000 without the services they need to remain in their communities, subjecting them to more costly institutional care, such as nursing homes.

·          Closing all four Illinois veterans’ homes – leaving over 1,000 veterans without health care and other services.

·          Circuit Breaker program cut by 50% – which helps over 270,000 older Illinoisans struggling with high Rx costs and property taxes.

·          Slashing funding for the investigation of neglect and abuse in nursing homes.

·          Cutting home services for the disabled – leaving over 5,000 people with no community access to the programs that help them remain independent.

“On behalf of our over 2 million AARP members in Illinois State, we are calling on our state elected officials to go back to Springfield and fix the nightmare budget they left behind,” added Gallo.

AARP has set up the Illinois State Budget Hotline, toll-free at 1-888-616-3322, to connect the public directly to their legislators on this issue.       

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