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New Report Proves Age Rating an Excuse for Excessive Premiums

AARP Executive Vice President John Rother issued this statement following the release of today’s Urban Institute report on health insurance age-rating:

“Age-rating is just a wonky way to describe how insurance companies use age as an excuse to charge older Americans excessive premiums. Today’s report by the Urban Institute shows that denying older Americans affordable coverage is not only unfair, it could also increase the cost of health reform if it is not strictly limited.

“We should be working toward a fair system where all Americans can afford coverage to get and stay healthy. AARP has been fighting for years to abolish age-rating entirely. This year we have an opportunity to make great progress towards that goal with health care reform that tightly limits age-rating, which today can force older Americans to pay much higher rates just because of their age.

“Today’s report shows that tighter age-rating limits actually reduce the cost of reform by billions of dollars while providing affordable coverage options to millions who would remain uninsured under wider limits.

“AARP will continue our fight to make quality health care affordable to every American, regardless of age.”

For more information about AARP’s fight to limit health insurance age-rating, please visit www.aarp.org/getthefacts.

Added: October 8, 2009
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Dayton's Dorothy Dunford wins 2009 AARP Ohio Andrus Award

Exemplary commitment to community service earns AARP’s most prestigious volunteer honor

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.

“Service is the rent one pays for living,” says Dunford, a retired human resources specialist who has been honored with numerous local service and leadership awards.

The AARP Ohio Andrus Award will be formally presented to Dunford at a reception in her honor taking place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 22, at St. Timothy Missionary Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 4466 Free Pike, Dayton.

“This Andrus Award affirms that we can all work together for positive social change,” said Jane Taylor, state director for AARP Ohio. “AARP has long valued the spirit of volunteerism and the important contributions volunteers make to their communities, neighbors, and the programs they serve.”

Dunford was nominated by her sister, Carolyn Buggs, and selected in part for her distinguished efforts over 13 years to assure that the needs of local nursing care facility residents are met and residents are treated with dignity and respect. She has been actively involved in civic, community, faith-based and fraternal organizations, including Day of Caring (for more than 14 years) and is a reading tutor, a volunteer/sponsor of youth sports, and is supportive of higher education.

A mother and grandmother of three, Dorothy Dunford was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and has resided in Dayton for many years. She has been a care provider for neighbors, friends and family for many years. Recently, she needed to set aside some of her formal volunteer activities to support a family member with terminal illness to ensure the family member’s comfort.

The Andrus Award for Community Service recognizes exceptional AARP members or volunteers in all 50 states who make a difference in their community in a way that is consistent with AARP’s mission, vision, and commitment to volunteer service. Key criteria for selection included: efforts to enhance the lives of others, improve community, and inspire others to volunteer

Added: October 6, 2009
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AARP lauds Ohio delegation for Medicare Fairness Act vote

17 of 18 US House members representing Ohioans

Vote to Help Seniors Struggling in Tough Economy

Joanne Limbach, state president for AARP Ohio, today released this statement applauding Ohio’s delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives for its nearly unanimous support of the Medicare Premium Fairness Act (HR 3631).

“Older Ohioans are particularly hard hit as health care costs skyrocket despite lower inflation in other parts of the economy. People who rely on Medicare right now spend nearly a third of their income on health care. The lack of a cost-of-living adjustment in Social Security means they are seeing cots rise further out of reach.

By voting to hold Medicare premiums – that have doubled since 2000 – steady for the next year, the House is ensuring health care will be more affordable for those who rely on Medicare today without burdening taxpayers or future generations with new spending.

We sincerely thank every House member who showed they care about the health and economic security of their constituents in Medicare by voting in favor of the Medicare Premium Fairness Act.”

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: September 25, 2009
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AARP is fighting for you

Where AARP Stands on Health Care

There's been a lot of confusion about what's involved in health care reform, and even more confusion about who is supporting what. At AARP, our core goal remains the same. We are fighting for our members today, just as we've fought for them for the last 50 years. Today, that means we're fighting to protect the Medicare benefits you’ve earned. To guarantee that you’ll never be denied coverage because of your health or age. To prevent anyone from coming between you and your doctor. And to make sure patients don’t take a backseat to insurance companies.

More specifically, AARP is fighting to:

Protect Medicare Benefits.Medicare is a sacred promise that was made to seniors – because no one should be left to struggle with medical bills after a lifetime of hard work. We must protect the Medicare benefits seniors have earned and strengthen the program for future generations. We’re also working to fill in gaps in today’s benefit package, such as closing the Part D prescription drug coverage gap (the so-called “doughnut hole.”) and eliminate out-of-pocket costs for important preventive care like cancer screenings and diabetes tests.

Eliminate Waste: We must reduce waste in Medicare so we can ensure today’s seniors continue to get the benefits they’ve been promised. Currently, Medicare hands out billions in subsidies to private insurance companies. These are tax dollars that should be going to seniors’ care not insurance company subsidies. By eliminating this waste, we can protect senior benefits and fill in some of the gaps in Medicare.

Preserve Your Choice of Doctor: AARP is fighting to ensure doctors get paid fairly so seniors will have the freedom to choose the doctors they need. Without health reform, Medicare doctors will be forced to take a 21 percent pay cut.

Protect Your Right to Make Medical Decisions: AARP is fighting to ensure that all health decisions are made by you and your doctor, not your insurance company or the government. No matter what your age, your care should be your choice.

Prevent Discrimination. Health reform must end insurance abuses, such as denials of coverage due to a person’s health history, or using age as an excuse to charge sky-high premiums. Such discrimination has become a serious problem for Americans age 50-plus who need insurance, and AARP is fighting to make sure needed protections are in a final health reform plan.

Protect Consumers: AARP is fighting to stop the high prices charged by drug companies by: enabling drug price negotiation; allowing safe, legal importation of lower-priced prescription drugs from abroad; and permitting the sale of generic versions of biologic drugs – costly medications for diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis.

AARP will continue to scrutinize health reform proposals, to determine whether they make sense for our members and their families. We are watching this process closely and will continue to work to make sure all Americans have the health coverage they need.

Stay informed. Read the latest news on how AARP is fighting for you. http://www.aarp.org/getthefacts

Added: September 23, 2009
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AARP lauches new TV advertising campaign to inform members

“We’re fighting to guarantee that you’ll never be denied coverage because of your health or age.”

AARP launched its latest multimillion-dollar phase of its health care reform campaign with new advertising emphasizing the Association’s fight to protect Medicare benefits and guarantee Americans can’t be denied coverage because of their age or health.

“AARP’s been fighting for affordable health care for our members for more than 50 years,” said AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond. “Health care reform must protect the benefits people in Medicare have today, and ensure that all of our members – younger or older, healthy or sick – have access to affordable coverage.”

The latest television ads focus on what AARP is fighting for, both for people in Medicare and for the Association’s younger members, who often struggle to find coverage in the private market. One television spot notes: “We’re fighting to guarantee that you’ll never be denied coverage because of your health or age, to prevent anyone from coming between you and your doctor, and to make sure patients don’t take a backseat to insurance companies.”

AARP’s ads also reinforce the Association’s commitment to protect Medicare: “AARP has fought to guarantee none of the benefits you earned were ever taken away…. We’re continuing that fight by protecting your freedom to choose the doctors and treatments you need. And to have your tax dollars go toward your care—not insurance company subsidies.”

This phase of AARP’s advertising will run nationally online and on television, as well as locally on radio and in print outlets. The ads will appear on networks including CNBC, CNN, MSNBC, NBC, The Weather Channel, Travel Channel and USA. Online ads will be featured on ABCNews.com, American Greetings, CNN.com, The Motley Fool and other major web sites.

All of AARP’s health care reform advertising is available to view online at http://aarp.convio.net/site/PageNavigator/Myths_vs_Facts_campaign.

Added: September 17, 2009
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AARP comments on health reform bill by Senate finance committee

AARP Executive Vice President John Rother released this statement Wednesday, Sept. 16, following the introduction of health care reform legislation in the Senate Finance Committee:

“Today’s legislation moves the process forward and we hope the Chairman and his colleagues on both sides of the aisle can continue to have a rational, informed debate about its provisions as the committee’s markup process begins.

“AARP is pleased that the bill focuses on keeping people healthy by eliminating out-of-pocket spending for important screenings and preventive services in Medicare, and by covering annual wellness visits for Medicare beneficiaries and their doctors to focus on prevention. Under the legislation, doctors would be rewarded for providing quality care instead of for the number of tests ordered—a critical step in ensuring patients receive the highest quality care.

“The bill also includes incentives to improve quality of care by providing bonuses to Medicare Advantage plans while reducing subsidies to MA plans, saving taxpayers billions in waste. It introduces a pilot program on follow-up care, an important component in reducing costly and preventable hospital readmissions. Finally, the bill eliminates yearly and lifetime limits on what insurance companies will pay and substantially fills the dreaded Medicare doughnut hole—a costly gap in prescription drug coverage.

“However, we continue to have concerns about provisions that would allow for large differences in premiums based on age that could leave millions of older Americans still unable to afford the coverage they need. We also are troubled by the lack of any provisions to improve benefits for people with limited incomes so they can afford Medicare premiums and cost-sharing, and by the inclusion of an added premium tax that would raise prescription drug premiums on many middle-income working people in Medicare Part D.

“We look forward to working with Chairman Baucus, Ranking Member Grassley and their colleagues in the coming weeks to pass a health care reform package that protects benefits for people in Medicare and works for every American.”

Added: September 17, 2009
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Two Ohio Health Providers Among Top 10 AARP Best Employers Winners Nationwide

Jennings Center in Garfield Heights and TriHealth Inc. in Cincinnati win honors for innovations, policies that help keep skilled and experienced health care workers on the job

Jennings Center for Older Adults ranks fifth and TriHealth Inc. ranks eighth nationally among the 50 winners in the first year of AARP’s separate Hospitals-Health Care list of Best Employers for Workers Over 50.

In the past, AARP has considered both health care and non-health care organizations for general Best Employers honors, and, in fact, both of Ohio’s top ranked health care providers have been past winners. The Jennings Center in Garfield Heights makes its third appearance on the winners’ list, while TriHealth in Cincinnati makes its second.

“AARP has decided to set up a separate health care and hospitals honor roll this year to acknowledge efforts in the health care field to creatively deal with shortages in qualified workers,” explained Deborah Russell, AARP’s Director of Workforce Issues. “They have set a standard in meeting the needs of an age-diverse workforce,” she added.

Russell said she was especially delighted to have such top flight employers in Ohio ranked among the top 10 hospitals and health care winners this year. Thirty-six percent of both Jennings and TriHealth employees are workers age 50+.

Jennings offers its employees a number of benefits to help with caregiving responsibilities as well as an on-site wellness center with a dentist, an audiologist, an eye doctor, and a podiatrist, thus displaying a commitment to its staff both inside and outside the workplace.

TriHealth has shown its commitment to its older workers and retirees with initiatives like the Nursing Strategic Plan and the Seniority Program. The Nursing Strategic Plan has replaced many of the traditional 12-hour nursing shifts with four, six, eight, and 10 hour shifts. The Seniority Program assists older workers and retirees in maintaining healthier, more active lives, through special events, exclusive classes, valuable discounts, educational programs, lectures and classes, social outings, entertainment events and travel opportunities. TriHealth also has a Pharmacy Discount Program which allows employees to purchase prescription drugs at reduced rates.

Jennings provides both its full- and part-time employees a number of different learning and professional development opportunities. These opportunities take the shape of tuition reimbursement, in-house classroom trainings, on-line trainings, certification classes, and career development workshops. Over the past 12 months, 74 percent of employees took part in a development opportunity with the average employee spending six hours in training. The organization celebrates its employee’s long-service anniversaries with announcements, awards, parties, and during the annual Christmas celebration. In order to help its staff build new skills, Jennings Center offers its employees the opportunity to take part in temporary job assignments, team projects, career coaching, and committee and task group assignments. The Center is also committed to helping its older employees deal with the physical demands of work by investing in lift equipment and the Safe Movement Program.

TriHealth offers its full- and part- time employees a number of learning and development opportunities including tuition reimbursement, scholarship and educational loan opportunities, in-house classroom trainings, on-line trainings, and certification classes. Employees must work a minimum of one hour per week to be eligible for in-house and on-line classes while all other learning and development opportunities require 16 hours of work per week. In 2008, 96 percent of employees took part in at least one development opportunity with an average training time of 16 hours. Based on the results of the biannual Employee Opinion Survey, TriHealth has bolstered its alternative work arrangements policy, improved its Strategic Nursing Plan, implemented a senior care referral program and created a Pharmacy Discount Program. TriHealth employees can expand their personal and professional development through continued education and training with the School at Work Program, through temporary assignments in other departments, team projects, and by taking part in the formalized job rotation program.

Any U.S.-based employer with at least 50 employees is eligible to apply for awards with the AARP Best Employers program. Candidates are vetted to ensure that practices meet the needs of mature workers. Key areas of consideration include: recruiting practices; opportunities for training, education and career development; workplace accommodations; alternative work options, such as flexible scheduling, job sharing, and phased retirement; employee health and retirement benefits and retiree work opportunities.

AARP The Magazine will feature the 2009 Best Employers in its November-December issue, available in homes September 24. The article will be found online then at www.aarpmagazine.org.

For more information on the 2009 Best Employers, please go to www.aarp.org/bestemployers. Included is background on each employer’s workforce practices and a description of the selection process.

Added: September 9, 2009
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Members turn out for Health Action Now forum

More than 300 AARP members came together to hear what AARP leaders, Congressman Charlie Wilson, who represents Ohio's 6th Congressional District, and other experts have to say, to ask questions and learn how they can get involved in the current national debate on health care reform.

“All of us have a stake in achieving affordable choices for all Americans,”Joanne Limbach, who volunteers as state president for AARP Ohio, told the crowd gathered Aug. 25 at St. Florian Hall in Wintersvilles.

“Right now we have the chance of a lifetime to fix what is wrong and preserve what is working for so many of us. AARP is strongly committed to making sure all Americans have the stability, security, and peace of mind that comes from having health care that you can count on, no matter what.”

Richard Johnson of Wilmington, Delaware, who volunteers as a member of the national AARP Board of Directors, assured members, “AARP never has, and never will, support any legislation whatsoever that would threaten Medicare.

“We are working to ensure that any policies affecting Medicare strengthen the quality of care, improve efficiency of services, and eliminate wasteful spending, and, above all, protect your benefits. This debate on how to fix what’s broken about our health care system shouldn’t be about politics. It’s not about Democrats and Republicans. It’s about lives – your life, my life, and the lives of our loved ones.”

Marjie DeFede, news director for WOMP, WSTV,WOHI, WUKL and WYJK, moderated a panel discussion. Bill Demjan of Steubenville, an advocacy volunteer leader for AARP Ohio, gave an overview of the Divided We Fail and Health Action Now movements.

Along with Johnson, panelists taking part in the discussion: U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson, D-St. Clairsville; Brent Mulgrew, executive director of the Ohio State Medical Association; Al Bacon, senior executive vice president of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1199; and Ernie Boyd, executive director of the Ohio Pharmacist Association.

Members asked questions of panel members, and many stayed after the event concluded to speak individually with their congressman, AARP leaders and forum panelists.

Added: September 2, 2009
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Setting the Record Straight

AARP asking Congress to adopt real health care reform

By Jane Taylor

This year AARP has been working with leaders of both parties to pass essential, bipartisan legislation that will provide older Americans access to affordable, quality health care. We are aggressively working toward 1) protecting Medicare benefits, 2) ending discrimination based on age or pre-existing conditions, 3) lowering the costs of health care, including prescription drugs, and 4) eliminating waste, fraud and abuse.

While we have worked with Republican and Democratic leaders to ensure our 40 million members have the affordable health care choices they deserve, AARP has not endorsed the House Tri-Committee Bill or the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Bill. We continue to work with the House and Senate to promote our priorities.

We are serious about health care reform and are calling on our members and allies to ask their Congressional representatives to fix what is wrong and strengthen what is right with our health care system when they return to the Capitol this fall.

Here in Ohio, with our jobless rate at 11.1 percent, many of us know someone who lost health care coverage when they lost their job and now live one serious illness or accident away from financial ruin. We need to make sure Congress knows we want them to negotiate and adopt proposals that will give Americans of all ages and incomes a choice of affordable health care plans that will not come between them and their doctors or prevent them from choosing the best care possible.

Many of us know an older Ohioan who is struggling to afford prescription drugs and to keep pace with increasing out-of-pocket medical costs. Most Ohioans who rely on Medicare for coverage spend 30 percent of their income on health care expenses. AARP is asking Congress to adopt real reform that improves Medicare by closing the Part D “doughnut hole” coverage gap and reduces drug costs, protects patients’ access to their doctors, prevents dangerous, costly and avoidable re-hospitalizations, and improves the quality of patient care.

Finally, the status quo is unacceptable. We need to convince Congress to move forward this year with a health care reform package that includes a mix of the best solutions from both parties and both houses of Congress. AARP is counting on our members and allies to make it so.

Jane Taylor is state director for AARP Ohio.

Added: August 18, 2009
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Don't let myths about health care reform scare you

AARP is fighting to put an end to the scare tactics being used to block health care reform.

“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.”

Special interest groups are trying to block progress by using myths and falsehoods. AARP has promised to cut through that misinformed noise with facts that bust the myths being created. Like the myth that health care reform will lead to rationed care. That’s simply false. The fact is, none of the proposals being considered would stand between you and your doctor or prevent you from choosing the best care possible.

Another myth being spread is that health care reform will give the government the power to make life-and-death decisions for everyone. Again, 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.

Following are more facts about the health care reform proposals now being debated.

FACT #1: Medicare will not be ended, and no benefits or services will be cut.

Your services will not be ended, nor will your benefits be cut. AARP's position on this could not be clearer. And we have sent this message loud and clear to Congress. While the current proposals include savings in Medicare by cutting out fraud, abuse, waste, and inefficiency, we're standing up and making sure benefits for Medicare recipients are not only fully protected, but are improved.

FACT #2: No legislation currently in Congress would mandate the rationing of care. Period.

Our staff has read all of the legislation circulating in Congress and there are no provisions in these bills that would ration care for our members. None. If any ever did, we would vigorously fight to stop that legislation.

FACT #3: There is no provision of any piece of legislation that would promote euthanasia of any kind.

The rumors out there are flat out lies. Right now Medicare does not cover counseling for end-of-life care. The portion of the bill in question would simply provide coverage for optional end-of-life consultations with doctors, so that the patient can be aware of all of the treatment options on the table. It is not mandatory and it has nothing to do with euthanasia.

FACT #4: AARP has not endorsed President Obama's plan.

In fact, we haven't endorsed any plan. We are supporting reform of our health care system, something that AARP has pushed for many years. We're working closely with Republican and Democratic members of Congress to lower health care costs and to ensure quality affordable coverage for older Americans – and we want reform legislation passed and signed by the president this year.

So what is AARP fighting for in health reform?

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.

Find out more and take action at HealthActionNow.org.

Added: August 10, 2009
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My Journals (54)