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Need Financial Help to Raise Your Grandchild?My Journals (148)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11, 2009
Contact
Jim Dau or Jordan McNerney
202-434-2560
AARP Reacts to President’s Health Care Townhall
WASHINGTON – AARP Chief Operating Officer Tom Nelson issued this statement following remarks by the President at a townhall event in New Hampshire on health care reform.
“AARP has been working with Democrats and Republicans to fix our broken health care system.
“While the President was correct that AARP will not endorse a health care reform bill that would reduce Medicare benefits, indications that we have endorsed any of the major health care reform bills currently under consideration in Congress are inaccurate.
“AARP supports specific measures that would help older Americans and their families – including bipartisan proposals to create a new follow-up care benefit in Medicare that would help prevent hospital re-admissions, as well as to address the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap known as the ‘doughnut hole.’ We also support the need for lawmakers and the Administration to act this year to fix what doesn’t work in the health care system.
“We share the President’s commitment to act this year, and our members appreciate his insistence that any final reform package will not reduce Medicare benefits for the millions of people that literally depend on that program as a lifeline.
“We look forward to working with leaders of both parties, including the President, to build a final package we could endorse that addresses the concerns of the 50-plus population and brings quality, affordable health care choices to every American.”
For 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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Added: August 11, 2009
Views: 158 | Comments: 3 | Bookmarks: 0
Views: 158 | Comments: 3 | Bookmarks: 0
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 10, 2009
Contact
Kristin Legere
212-447-6723
Multimillion-Dollar AARP Campaign Busts the Myths of the Health Care Debate
Campaign couples power of 40 million members, reach of national ad blitz
New York, NY—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 New York State Director Lois Aronstein. “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.
Aronstein 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 and click on Campaign News.
AARP has over 2.6 million members in New York State. 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
Added: August 10, 2009
Views: 109 | Comments: 1 | Bookmarks: 0
Views: 109 | Comments: 1 | Bookmarks: 0
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 3, 2009
Contact:
Luci de Haan
(212) 407-3718
AARP Responds to Health Reform Scare Tactics
Commentary by Betsy McCaughey “rife with gross, cruel distortions.”
NEW YORK, NY — AARP New York State Director Lois Aronstein issued the following statement in response to recent commentary by Betsy McCaughey in various media outlets on health care reform measures passed or currently being considered by Congress.
“Betsy McCaughey’s recent commentary on health care reform column in various media outlets is rife with gross—and even cruel—distortions.
“Ms. McCaughey has again launched her customary broadside attack against comparative effectiveness research. She describes this term as ‘code’ for ‘limiting care based on a patient’s age.’ In fact the term for that is ‘age rating,’ a practice used by insurance companies to discriminate against older Americans against which AARP is vigorously fighting, and we look forward to her next column to help the cause.
“‘Comparative effectiveness research,’ on the other hand, is a technical term that just means giving doctors and patients the ability to compare different kinds of treatments to find out which one works best for which patient.
“Some estimates say that only about half of all therapies that patients receive have been backed up by head-to-head comparisons with alternatives. While our country spends more than $2 trillion a year on health care, we spend less than 0.1 percent on evaluating how that care works compared to other options.
“This research has been around (although sadly not enough) for decades, enjoying support from political leaders of both parties, doctors, patients, and consumer advocacy groups.
“The main opponents of this research are those groups with a vested interest in a health care system that wastes billions of dollars each year on ineffective or unnecessary drugs, treatments or tests. Given Ms. McCaughey’s position as a Director of a medical device producer, I would hope that any potential conflict of interest has not influenced her commentary.
“More concerning, Ms. McCaughey’s criticism misinterprets legislation that would actually help empower individuals and doctors to make their own choices on end-of-life care.
“This measure would allow Medicare to pay doctors for taking the time to talk with individuals about difficult end-of-life care decisions. It would help provide people with better information on the positives and negatives—both physical and financial—that different treatments can mean for them and their families.
“Facing a terminal disease or debilitating accident, some people will choose to take every possible life-saving measure in the hopes that treatment or even a cure will allow them more time with their families. Others will decide that additional treatment would impose too great a burden—emotional, physical and otherwise—on themselves and their families, declining extraordinary measures and instead choosing care to manage their discomfort. Either way, it should be their choice.
“This measure would not only help people make the best decisions for themselves, but also better ensure that their wishes are followed.
“To suggest otherwise is a gross, and even cruel, distortion—especially for any family that has been forced to make the difficult decisions on care for loved ones approaching the end of their lives.
“AARP is committed to improving the quality, effectiveness, and affordability of health care for our 2.6 million members in New York State and our 40 million members and their families nationwide. We will fight any measure that would prevent individuals and their doctors from making their own health care decisions. We will also fight the campaign of misinformation that vested interests are using to try to scare older Americans in order to protect the status quo. Profits should never be allowed to come before people in this debate.”
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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Added: August 5, 2009
Views: 168 | Comments: 4 | Bookmarks: 0
Views: 168 | Comments: 4 | Bookmarks: 0
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.
Added: August 3, 2009
Views: 103 | Comments: 1 | Bookmarks: 0
Views: 103 | Comments: 1 | Bookmarks: 0
AARP New York is helping publicize a little-known state grant program for grandparents raising grandchildren-a program used by only an estimated 8 percent of those eligible.
Children being raised by their grandparents or other relatives are eligible for a special public assistance grant that is based solely on the child's income and resources, not the caregiver's. These monthly grants average about $400 for the first child and $150 for each additional child.
To get more information or find out if you are eligible for this grant, visit www.nysnavigator.org or call (877) 454-6463.
Added: July 13, 2009
Views: 1364 | Comments: 4 | Bookmarks: 0
Views: 1364 | Comments: 4 | Bookmarks: 0
Find out what the AARP New York Harlem Chapter is doing to create the good in their neighborhood!
http://www.aarp.org/aarp/black_community/articles/aarp_harlem_chapter.html
Added: July 9, 2009
Views: 132 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0
Views: 132 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0
For Immediate Release Contacts: Kristin Legere, (518) 447-6723
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 Bill Ferris, (518) 447-6712
AARP Congratulates Attorney General Andrew Cuomo on his Supreme Court Victory Regarding Mortgage Loans from National Banks
Statement by Lois Aronstein
AARP New York State Director
AARP New York congratulates New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo for his victorious efforts to ensure that New York State has the right to oversee the lending practices of national banks to borrowers in the state. Today, in a dispute involving New York and several big banking companies, the U.S. Supreme Court gave state prosecutors the green light to investigate national banks for lending discrimination.
In the case of Cuomo v. the Clearing House Association LLD and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the high court said that federal banking regulations did not preempt the states from enforcing their own fair-lending laws. This case stems from the Attorney General’s efforts to investigate discrepancies in mortgage rates given to borrowers by national banks.
AARP has long been involved, both in New York State and across the nation, in advocating for stronger laws to protect individuals from predatory financial practices. Older persons, especially older minority homeowners, have often been the target of predatory mortgage lending practices. AARP filed a friend of the court brief in this Supreme Court case supporting state consumer protection oversight of mortgage loans and lending practices.
In a 2008 study of mortgage crisis data by age, AARP found that national homeowners age 50 and over have been significantly affected by the mortgage crisis. More than 684,000 homeowners age 50+ were delinquent, were in foreclosure, or had lost their homes during the six months ending December 2007. Older African Americans and Hispanics had higher foreclosure rates than whites of all ages.
Given these statistics and the recent national credit and mortgage crisis, it is clear that consumer protections in this area must be strengthened. Attorney General Cuomo has demonstrated that he is a champion for all New Yorkers in this fight to ensure that residents are protected from fraudulent and abusive lending practices.
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Added: July 2, 2009
Views: 135 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0
Views: 135 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0
To raise awareness of and engagement with AARP among Hispanic/Latino communities, Create The Good and AARP Segunda Juventud have joined forces to offer AARP's self-directed volunteering kits in Spanish. Tell your friends they can now launch their own Operation Energy Save or Operation Emergency Prepare, disseminate Home Safety Tips or help people manage drugs with RxSnapShot.
Added: June 26, 2009
Views: 124 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0
Views: 124 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Chaunda Ball, (917) 859-0029
June 25, 2009
AARP and the Catholic Family Center Launch Campaign to Help
Grandparents and Kin Caregivers Access Under Utilized Financial Benefit
ROCHESTER, NY— Today, AARP New York and the Catholic Family Center, which are members of the New York State Kincare Coalition, launched a public awareness campaign to help grandparents who are raising grandchildren and other kin caregivers receive financial assistance. It is estimated that more than 90% of kincare families who may be eligible are not receiving a financial grant that could help those families, who often struggle to make ends meet.
Children who are being raised by their grandparents or other relatives are eligible for a special public assistance grant that is based solely on the child’s income and resources, not their caregiver’s. These grants, called non-parent caregiver grants, average about $400 for the first child and $125 for each additional child.
Kinship caregivers do not need legal custody or guardianship to apply for these non-parent grants.
According to the United States Census, there are about 410,000 children in New York State who are being raised by a grandparent or other relative. Figures for enrollment in the state show that only about 8% or about 32,000 of those children are currently receiving the non-parent grant. Approximately 15,000 children are being raised by a grandparent in the Rochester area and surrounding counties.
The goal of the campaign, which the Coalition is also launching across New York State, is to make more grandparents and kin caregivers aware of the grant, its eligibility guidelines, and its application process. Kin caregivers face unique challenges and barriers when caring for a child, and are often unaware of the programs and resources available to help them. They must often navigate a dizzying array of legal, financial, and social challenges as they step in to care for their grandchildren.
With the downturn in the economy affectingjobs and retiree savings, kin caregivers, especially grandparents who may be on a fixed income, need financial assistance more than ever. Since the grant is based on solely on the child’s income, and not on the caregiver’s, even kincare families who aren’t considered low income, but make a moderate salary and yet still struggle with the added costs of caring for a grandchild, niece or nephew, could benefit.
“By stepping in to care for a child when parents cannot, kin caregivers help keep children out of more expensive foster care, reduce financial costs to state and local agencies, and improve the well-being of children in their care, said Lois Aronstein, State Director of AARP New York.
“Grandparents and kin caregivers provide stable, loving homes for children that is often lacking in foster care, which is why it is so vital to ensure that these caregivers receive the support and resources that are available to them,” continued Aronstein.
Locally, Rochester residents can get help through the Catholic Family Center’s Kinship Care Resource Network (www.cfcrochester.org) by calling (585) 262-7048, or visiting the center located at 87 N. Clinton Avenue Rochester, NY 14604.
The New York State Kinship Navigator program, which is operated by the Catholic Family Center also offers help to residents in the area and across the state. Their website, www.nysnavigator.org has detailed information about how to apply for the non-parent grant, and by calling 1-877-4KinInfo, or 1-877-454-6463, one of their kincare specialists can provide help in filling out the grant application.
The site also has a link to the AARP Foundation’s Benefits QuickLink tool for kincare families. This online tool helps to match grandparents raising grandchildren with public benefits, including the non-parent grant, and many others.
NEW YORK STATE KINCARE COALITION
The New York State Kincare Coalition is dedicated to empowering the grandparents and other relatives who are raising nearly half a million children in New York State. The goals of the coalition are to remove barriers facing kin caregivers and engage policy makers in the areas of education, health, legal issues, temporary assistance and child welfare. The members of the coalition are a statewide network of organizations and agencies that serve kin caregivers by providing resources, legal and social services, support groups and advocacy.
AARP NEW YORK
AARP has over 2.7 million members in New York State. 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 34.5 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. Visit www.aarp.org/ny for more information.
CATHOLIC FAMILY CENTER
Catholic Family Center (CFC) is Greater Rochester’s largest provider of comprehensive family services. Each year, CFC assists 1 in 10 Rochester area residents as they work to remain or become healthy, productive, participating members of our community. CFC serves all people—regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, age, ability or gender. CFC’s many programs are constructed to work together to address the broadest spectrum of human need across all stages of life.
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Added: June 25, 2009
Views: 484 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0
Views: 484 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2009
Contact: Jim Dau or Jordan McNerney 202-434-2560
AARP Thanks President, Senate Leaders
for Helping to Close the “Doughnut Hole”
CEO Rand: Americans “will now have a new opportunity to lead a healthier life”
WASHINGTON—This morning, AARP CEO A. Barry Rand delivered the following remarks at the White House announcement of a new agreement to substantially fill the Medicare Part D coverage gap:
“Thank you Mr. President. AARP is proud to stand with you and Chairman Baucus and Senator Dodd to announce that the gap in Medicare’s drug coverage, known as the ‘doughnut hole,’ will be substantially filled for millions of middle income Americans as part of health reform.
“I want to applaud Chairman Baucus and Senator Dodd, who continue to be champions for this issue and have always fought for people struggling to make ends meet. We are honored to stand with you today.
“Senator Baucus, your strong leadership of the Senate Finance Committee coupled with your creativity is what led to the development of this unique solution. We also support your Finance Committee’s process and look forward with optimism to its next steps.
“Bottom line: without you, Chairman Baucus, we certainly would not be here today.
“When the President issued his clarion call for all parties to come together and address the issues of health care reform, AARP, representing over 40 million members, was proud to be one of the first to step forward.
“Today’s announcement will mean that struggling Americans who have been looking for help in their pocketbooks just to stay healthy, and who say that one of their single largest drivers of health care costs is prescription drugs—Americans in Medicare’s ‘doughnut hole’—will have their brand-name drug costs cut in half. That’s a 50 percent reduction in drug costs.
“Too many Americans who fall into the coverage gap stop taking their medications because they simply cannot afford them. They will now have a new opportunity to lead a healthier life.
“Mr. President, every American who is burdened by the high cost of health care or has inadequate access to our health care system—every business that is fighting to be competitive and save American jobs knows that health care reform cannot wait.
“This is an early win for reform and a major step forward. It is a signal the process is working and will work. But AARP is not done. We will continue to work with you, Mr. President, and the House and the Senate to protect the people who rely on Medicare, to further lower drug costs, and to have guaranteed access to coverage for all Americans.
“Together, we will complete the mission for comprehensive health care reform. Thank you for your leadership on this issue, Mr. President.”
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.
30 – 30 – 30
Added: June 22, 2009
Views: 121 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0
Views: 121 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0
