• Recycling – Cell phone manufacturers, service providers, and non-profit groups often have programs to refurbish mobile devices or recycle their components, including peripheral devices like chargers.

• Donating – Many organizations collect old mobile devices for charitable purposes.
• Reselling – Some individuals and organizations will buy your old mobile devices. You can find names and addresses online.
• Disposing – Keep the environment in mind when disposing of mobile devices. Cell phones contain batteries, which should not be put in your trash because they will end up in landfills where they could be harmful. Many cell phones also contain heavy metals which can contaminate the earth. The EPA recommends that you check with your local health and sanitation agencies for the proper way to dispose of electronics safely.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 10, 2009

Contact

Jim Dau or Jordan McNerney

202-434-2560

Campaign couples power of 40 million members, reach of national ad blitz

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.

30 – 30 – 30

1. Stopping insurance companies from charging older Americans unaffordable premiums because of their age.
2. Ending the practice of excluding people from insurance because of pre-existing conditions.
3. Holding down health costs and making insurance coverage more affordable for all Americans.
4. Making prescription drugs more affordable by narrowing the Medicare doughnut hole, bringing generics to market faster, and allowing Medicare to negotiate better drug prices.

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Help Someone Save on Prescription Drugs: Use This Easy Online Doughnut Hole Calculator

In 2007, about 26% of Medicare Part D enrollees who filled any prescription—or about 3.4 million people—fell into the “doughnut hole,” the coverage gap where people have to pay all the costs of their prescription drugs.

If Medicare Part D helps someone you know pay for prescription drugs, there’s a chance they could fall into the doughnut hole (or coverage gap). If you have 15 minutes, you can help someone you know learn if they may be at risk.

Or, to introduce the online calculator to a group, you can show the video or request a PowerPoint presentation via email.

AARP’s FREE online Doughnut Hole Calculator does the math, while preserving the user’s PRIVACY. In 15 minutes or less, you can help a friend use the calculator to find out if they are at risk for falling into the hole. The calculator offers suggestions for reducing their costs so they can postpone hitting the gap or even avoid it entirely.

Let’s get started!

To get started, write down the following information:
• Your friend’s zip code,
• the exact name of their current Medicare Part D plan (many sound similar), and
• a list of the prescription medications they are currently taking.

Step 1: Select Plan
Enter your friend’s zip code and select their Medicare Part D plan.

Step 2: Enter Drugs
Enter the list of your friend’s medication in the online medicine cabinet.
Privacy Note: After you close the calculator, none of this information will be saved.

Step 3: View Report
When the drug list is complete, hit “Next” and view the report that says if and when your friend could fall into the Part D coverage gap called the Doughnut Hole. When they hit this gap, they will be responsible for all of their drug costs, even if they have Part D coverage.

Under the bar graph, click on “Click here for a more detailed explanation of these costs.” Review the explanation with your friend. You may wish to print this page for reference.

Step 4: See Options
Even if they won’t hit the doughnut hole, you can continue to use the tool to look at other ways your friend can save money on their prescription drugs by using a less costly form of the same drug. Simply click on the “Any options to Save?” link beside the drug listed in your friend’s Medicine Cabinet, and then re-calculate their costs with the new choice

Some medications may have no lower cost alternatives. Others may have up to three lower cost alternatives for your friend to consider. Some of these are generic substitutes, others may be therapeutically similar suggestions.

To switch to a less expensive drug, your friend will need to talk to their doctor. Click on “switch back” to the original prescription to print out a letter to the doctor which asks the doctor to consider lower cost alternatives. Regardless of whether your friend finds possible cost savings, be sure to print them a wallet sized list of the drugs they take – and a few extra for them to give to family members, and to place on their refrigerator door.

A Few Additional Tips:

• Click “print letter to doctor” for each medication that you want to talk to your doctor about changing to a less expensive alternative.

• You can recalculate yearly expenses each time you “switch” to a new medication by adding up the monthly costs under “Explanation of Monthly Drug Costs.”

• Suggest your friend consider lowering their monthly costs by switching to less expensive medications, even if you don’t fall into the Doughnut Hole (or coverage gap).

• Encourage your friend to talk to their doctor to decide if the new drug(s) will work as well as the one(s) you are now taking.

• Be sure to print the letters and wallet card and take notes if you need to. No information will be saved. Your privacy is protected.

• Join the Medicare Part D Doughnut Hole discussion.

Watch the video.

Scammers use many marketing ploys to try to trick you. These products are offered over the Internet with websites describing miracle cures and emails telling stories of overnight magic.   

• Be suspicious of claims of quick relief or healing that don’t sound logical, such as “lose weight while you sleep” or “the tumor will be gone overnight”.
• Be skeptical of ads that claim to cure chronic conditions such as diabetes or arthritis.
• Be wary when you are pushed to make a decision immediately.
• Ask questions, and if you don’t get answers that you understand, just say “no”.

• Talk with your doctor before you try it or buy it.  
• Remember that “natural” doesn’t mean either safe or effective; there are many natural substances that shouldn’t be ingested.
• A money-back guarantee isn’t proof that a product works.
• Confirm the online seller’s physical address.
• Check with the local Better Business Bureau (BBB) where the seller is based to see if there are reports against the company.