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Name: AARP
Birthday: March 23
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COLUMBUS, Ohio
United States
COLUMBUS, Ohio
United States
AARP lauds Ohio delegation for Medicare Fairness Act voteMy Journals (54)
OCC Experts Offer Program to Help Residents Control Costs
As utility costs rise, Ohioans can learn how to manage their electric, natural gas and telephone bills though a program taught by the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC) on Managing Your Utility Bills. The free program covers utility bills, utility assistance programs, budget billing and energy efficiency.
The OCC urges rate payers to learn how to understand what is on their utility bills in order to make good decisions. The state agency points out there are options available to control utility costs such as budget billing and assistance programs and encourages consumers to contact them to find out about services and programs that may assist residents with managing utility costs.
AARP chapters and other community groups are invited to schedule a speaker by calling 1-877-PICKOCC (1-877-742-5622) and select Option 4, or visit the OCC Web site at http://www.pickocc.org/education/speaker.shtml
Added: June 30, 2009
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Views: 84 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0
Members encouraged to make toll-free calls to their state legislators
Following is a statement from Jane Taylor, state director for AARP Ohio, asking the Ohio General Assembly not to cut Passport, to restore funding for senior services, and to implement the unified long-term system in our next state budget to take effect July 1:
New and additional cuts proposed in the PASSPORT program will have 10,000 older adults put on waiting lists to receive in-home and community-based services. An additional18,000 older Ohioans will be cut off from basic community services including home-delivered meals, visits by health aides, and trips to the doctor. All told, the latest round of proposed budget cuts will deny a total of 28,000 older Ohioans the care they need to remain living at home and active in their communities.
Inevitably, many of these vulnerable elders won’t be able to hold on and remain at home without help and will be forced into skilled nursing facilities to get the care they need – at THREE times the cost to receive services in their own homes. AARP Ohio continues to encourage the state to implement a single unified long-term care system – one that allows Medicaid dollars to follow the individual into the most appropriate and affordable care setting, a unified system that promotes the most effective and efficient use of taxpayer dollars.
It makes no sense to put Medicaid funds for nursing homes in a separate budget, allowing frail older Ohioans no other choice but to get care in the most restrictive and most expensive environment. For 9 out of 10 older Ohioans, nursing homes are the least preferred and most expensive option. A single unified long-term care system would put funding where the demand for service is greatest, rather than restrict the choices of those who don’t need 24-hour skilled nursing care but have no other option than to enter a nursing home if PASSPORT is unavailable.
A unified long-term care budget allows the most effective and efficient use of taxpayer dollars, both in the best and the worst economic climates, and is crucial when Medicaid funding is severely restricted. AARP Ohio encourages the governor and state legislature to continue to work to implement a unified long-term care system that balances available Medicaid funding to provide a range of options for individuals and families who need services.
AARP Ohio urges you to call our toll-free hotline – at 1-800-926-5875 – to be connected to the offices of your state senator and state house member and ask them not to cut Passport, to restore funding for senior services and to finish their job now so we have a budget by July 1.
Added: June 24, 2009
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Views: 113 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0
Conversation among stakeholders focuses on achieving solutions
More than 300 AARP members came together Tuesday in Mentor to hear what experts have to say, to ask questions and learn how to engage in the current national debate on health reform.
“All of us have a stake in achieving affordable choices for all Americans,” says Joanne Limbach, who volunteers as state president for AARP Ohio. “Right now we have the chance of a lifetime to reform health care and to reduce costs for everyone, regardless of age, income or physical condition.”
Limbach welcomed guests and moderated a panel discussion among experts who presented solutions, trade-offs, and responsibilities shared by individuals, employers, health care providers and government. Richard Suttell, an advocacy volunteer leader for AARP Ohio, provided an overview of the Divided We Fail and Health Action Now movements.
Presenting information and answering questions were panelists: Anthony Bacevice, M.D., president of the Academy of Medicines of Cleveland & Northern Ohio; Anthony Caldwell, media relations liaison in the Public Affairs Division of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU); and William Lambert, DPA, who volunteers as AARP Ohio health reform issue specialist.
Members at the event learned that our health care system costs too much, wastes too much, makes too many mistakes and gives us back too little value for our money. That’s why AARP, on behalf of our 40 million members, believes Congress must pass health care reform that provides all Americans with affordable health care choices.
AARP is calling on Congress and the President to find common sense solutions this year that will lower prescription drug costs and provide affordable health choices to Americans age 50 to 64.
AARP Priorities
We believe any health care reform bill must address the following six priorities:
1) Guaranteeing access to affordable coverage for Americans age 50 to 64;
2) Closing the Medicare Part D coverage gap or "doughnut hole";
3) Creating access to generic versions of biologic drugs used to treat cancer and other serious diseases to reduce the price of these costly treatments;
4) Preventing costly hospital readmissions by creating a follow-up care benefit in Medicare to help people safely transition home after a hospital stay;
5) Increasing federal funding and eligibility for home and community based services through Medicaid so older Americans can remain in their homes and avoid more costly institutions as they age; and
6) Improving programs that help low income Americans in Medicare afford the health care and prescription drugs they need.
Coverage for People Age 50 to 64
Even before the recession began, the AARP Public Policy Institute says 7.1 million adults age 50 to 64 were uninsured in 2007 – 1.9 million more than in 2000 – a 36 percent increase in the number without coverage. Americans age 50-64, who will make up nearly 20 percent of the entire population by 2015, are being priced out of affordable health insurance. Unless we are able to provide this age group with access to affordable health insurance, the ranks of the uninsured will keep going up, and their costs will continue to skyrocket.
Since people develop health problems as they age, and people with insurance tend to be healthier, failing to provide affordable health care choices to people age 50 to 64 will mean they’ll be sicker and their coverage will cost more when they become eligible for Medicare.
That’s why AARP is calling on Congress to provide Americans age 50 to 64 with a choice of health care plans they can afford – even people with pre-existing conditions. We’re fighting to ensure that people in this age group can get adequate coverage for no more than 10 percent of their income (5 percent if they are low income), including both premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
Specifically, we are supporting two bills that would help people in this age group get the coverage they need. They include: the "Medicare Early Access Act of 2009" (S. 960) and the "Pre-existing Condition Patient Protection Act" (H.R. 1558).
The "Medicare Early Access Act of 2009" would allow Americans age 55 to 64 who can’t find affordable insurance to buy into Medicare. It would also provide a tax credit that would cover 75 percent of the cost of an individual’s premium, a critical part of making insurance affordable to people in this age group.
The "Medicare Early Access Act of 2009" would allow Americans age 55 to 64 who can’t find affordable insurance to buy into Medicare. It would also provide a tax credit that would cover 75 percent of the cost of an individual’s premium, a critical part of making insurance affordable to people in this age group.
The "Pre-existing Condition Patient Protection Act" would prevent insurance companies from denying coverage to any individual with pre-existing conditions.
Closing the "Doughnut Hole"
Nearly 20 percent of people who get their drug coverage through Medicare delayed or did not fill a prescription because of cost – higher than any other insured group. That’s why AARP is calling on Congress to close the Medicare Part D coverage gap or "doughnut hole."
In 2007, 3.4 million people in Medicare fell into the "doughnut hole," meaning they’re responsible for their entire drug costs, but they still have to pay their Part D premium. Countless others skip taking their medications just to stay out of the hole. And, because drug prices continue to outpace inflation, the hole keeps growing larger.
AARP believes Congress should close the doughnut hole so people have more of their drug costs covered and aren’t forced to pay premiums while at the same time paying full cost for their drugs.
Lowering Drug Costs through Generic Biologics
Today, one in two Americans say someone in their family skipped pills, or postponed or cut back on needed medical care due to cost. This is especially true with biologic drugs, which are used to treat serious conditions like cancer, multiple sclerosis, anemia, and rheumatoid arthritis, but can cost $10,000 per month.
Generic prescription drugs save consumers and health care providers billions of dollars each year and 69 percent of all prescriptions filled in the U.S. are for lower cost generic prescription drugs. But unfortunately, no lower cost generic alternatives are available for biologic drugs. This means that companies can continue to charge unreasonable prices for their products long after their patents have expired.
That’s why AARP has endorsed the "Promoting Innovation and Access to Life-Saving Medicine Act" (H.R. 1427/S. 726).
The "Promoting Innovation and Access to Life-Saving Medicine Act" would create an FDA approval process—similar to that for traditional prescription drugs—for generic biologic drugs.
Cracking Down on Wasteful Spending with a Medicare Follow-Up Benefit
To put Medicare on stable financial ground and lower health care costs for people in Medicare, we must crack down on wasteful spending. We can start by providing follow-up care benefit in Medicare, which would help people transition home safely after a hospital stay preventing costly, unnecessary hospital readmissions. Such a benefit can help save some of the more than $17 billion Medicare spends on largely preventable hospital readmissions and significantly reduce the 20 percent of people in Medicare who are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of their discharge.
The goals of the benefit, which would target the most at-risk individuals, would include delivering the services individuals need following a hospital stay so they don’t have to return, managing their medications and helping family caregivers with resources and support.
Long-Term Care (LTC)
Today, millions of Americans who want care at home are struggling; care is often uncoordinated and people frequently end up in costly institutional care settings. AARP believes all Americans should have the choice to get needed services and supports at home, since 89 percent of Americans 50+ say they want to remain in their own homes as long as possible.
Developing a better system for LTC and people with chronic conditions would save money, improve quality of life for individuals who need these services, and better enable them to live at home where they want to be.
Steps to improve long-term care include: removing certain income limits on home-and-community-based services (HCBS); increasing the federal match rate for home and community based services so that states can expand these programs; improving quality and coordination for individuals receiving both Medicare and Medicaid; and helping the 34 million family caregivers who support their loved ones.
AARP supports two bills that would improve access to long-term care, they include: the "Empowered at Home Act" (S.434) and the "Retooling the Health Care Workforce for an Aging America Act" (H.R. 468/S. 245).
The Empowered at Home Act would expand eligibility for services and provide states with additional federal money so more Americans could receive care at home.
Retooling the Health Care Workforce for an Aging America Act would provide training and support for family caregivers and improve training for the long-term care workforce.
Helping Low-Income Americans
The current patchwork of programs for the most vulnerable people in Medicare is so cumbersome that millions are not getting the help they need.
In fact, the programs are so complicated that 4 million people who need help with paying for their prescriptions can’t get it. And, two-thirds of those who are eligible for assistance with preventive care, which would help them avoid costly re-hospitalizations and unnecessary nursing home admissions aren’t getting the care they need because the process is too complicated.
Specifically, AARP believes Congress should eliminate the asset test, which penalizes those who did the right thing and built up a small retirement nest egg. We must also expand eligibility to more people with low incomes, standardize eligibility rules and strengthen efforts to inform our most vulnerable older Americans about these valuable assistance programs.
Added: June 15, 2009
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Views: 98 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0
A specially equipped AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour bus will spend several days in Ohio cities this summer -- including three days at the Ohio State Fair -- providing free health screening and educational services at local events, community centers, Walgreens store locations and other select locations.
Screenings are recommended for adults age 18 and older. Results are instantly provided and consumers are encouraged to visit a doctor or health care provider to discuss them. Visitors also have access to free educational information on a variety of health and wellness issues that are available in both English and Spanish.
As proven through previous Walgreens programs, health screenings are a critical method for detecting potential diseases before symptoms are noticed. In fact, of those screened during the 2008 tours:
· 72.8% had high blood pressure levels
· 68.2% had high body mass index
· 65.9% had low bone density
· 60.5% had a waist circumference outside of the normal range
· 38.0% had high cholesterol levels
· 13.3% had high glucose levels
Free, one-year AARP memberships will be given to all adults who receive screenings. Participants under the age of 50 can pass on the free membership to an eligible adult, and existing members will receive a one-year extension on their current membership status
Added: June 2, 2009
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Views: 150 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0
One in five fall into gap and few climb out
AARP’s Health Action Now campaign is shining light on the growing problem of prescription drug costs and reducing the gap in prescription drug coverage for people in Medicare. Closing the Part D doughnut hole could save people in the program thousands of dollars in drug costs and keep them healthier by ensuring they can afford their medications.
The Association is pressing lawmakers to lower individuals’ drug costs as a part of health reform, including closing the doughnut hole—which forces more than 3 million people in Medicare to pay their full drug costs each year—and increasing the availability of generic drugs, particularly generic versions of costly biologics.
“Prescription drug coverage has literally been a life-saver for people in Medicare, but the widening doughnut hole is still leaving too many Americans on their own to face skyrocketing drug costs,” said AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond. “We know that higher costs lead people to skip doses or give up their prescriptions entirely, putting their health in jeopardy and driving up long-term costs.”
AARP is working with leaders on Capitol Hill to close the doughnut hole, which is predicted to top $6,000 by 2016. Today, 3.4 million people fall into the gap each year, while only 15 percent of those are able to get out and receive catastrophic coverage.
AARP is also fighting to bring more generic drugs to market, particularly generic versions of costly biologic drugs used to treat diseases like cancer and multiple sclerosis. Unlike traditional chemical drugs, biologics are created from living organisms and have no FDA approval process for generic versions. Without generic competition, biologic makers are free to charge thousands of dollars per month, even for drugs that have been on the market for many years.
LeaMond added: “Since the 1980s, safe, affordable generic drugs have helped Americans save billions of dollars on their health care bills. With biologics now making up a large and growing share of the market, it’s time to bring those same savings to people taking these breakthrough drugs while protecting medical innovation.”
AARP has endorsed the “Promoting Innovation and Access to Life-Saving Medicine Act” (H.R. 1427/S. 726), which would create an FDA approval process—similar to that for traditional prescription drugs—for generic biologic drugs.
In addition, AARP is working to help the four million low-income Americans who are eligible for the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy, which greatly reduces a person’s drug costs and has no gap in coverage. The Association is fighting to increase access to the benefit by raising and ultimately eliminating the asset limit, expanding eligibility, standardizing eligibility rules, and raising awareness about the program.
AARP’s new fact sheet, “Closing a Gap in Medicare Drug Coverage,” details how the doughnut hole affects people in Medicare Part D and includes data on the number of people who reach the doughnut hole in each state. The fact sheet is available at http://www.aarp.org/research/medicare/drugs/fs_medicare_gap.html.
For details on AARP’s health reform priorities, visit http://www.aarp.org/governmentwatch.
Added: May 20, 2009
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Views: 147 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0
Learn What’s at Stake and How to Get Involved in Health Action Now
At This Public Forum Taking Place over Lunch Tuesday, June 9, in Mentor
Right now we have the chance of a lifetime to reform health care. AARP believes all Americans should have affordable health care choices. We want Congress to act now to lower costs for everyone and provide a choice of health care plans they can afford to people who have no coverage.
Learn more about what real health reform means to AARP at a public forum on Health Reform: A Shared Responsibility. AARP Ohio is hosting this luncheon forum on Tuesday, June 9, in Mentor.
A panel of experts, local and national elected officials in Ohio’s Congressional District 14 and AARP leaders will share their thoughts on how we can achieve affordable, quality health care for all Americans. You will get the chance to submit questions and learn how to get involved in our Health Action Now campaign.
Health Reform: A Shared Responsibility is open to the public at no charge, but you must register to attend. It will take place at 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9, at LaMalfa Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 5783 Heisley Road, Mentor. To register for the forum and complimentary lunch (provided by AARP at no cost to you), call our reservation line toll-free at 1-877-926-8300 with the names of those planning to attend, addresses and phone numbers.
AARP’s message to the President and Congress is: it isn’t real health reform if it doesn’t include these critical priorities:
● Guarantee affordable coverage for American age 50-64
● Close the Medicare Part D coverage gap (called the donut hole)
● Prevent costly hospital readmissions by creating a Medicare follow-up care benefit to help people transition home after a hospital stay
● Increase federal funding and eligibility for in-home and community-based services through Medicaid so older Americans can remain in their homes as they age and avoid more costly institutional care
● Create access to generic versions of costly biologic drugs used to treat cancer and other serious illnesses
● Improve programs that help low-income Americans in Medicare afford the health care and prescription drugs they need
Share Your Personal Story about the Need for Health Reform
Personal stories are a powerful way to illustrate the challenges faced by Ohioans of all ages and backgrounds. AARP Ohio encourages you to share your personal stories to help raise awareness among legislators, policymakers and opinion leaders about the need for real health reform. Please email your personal story illustrating the need for health reform to OHaarp@aarp.org. Put “Heath Reform Story” in the subject line and include your full name, address and phone number. AARP may contact you for your permission to highlight parts of your story as we work to achieve Health Action Now.
Added: May 12, 2009
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Views: 123 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0
Job loss is tough at any age, and even more so if you’re age 45+.
If you just lost your job, what should you do first? If you've been out of work for awhile, how do you stay positive and move forward during the job-search journey?
Now a free AARP webinar can help you:
- Create an effective job-search strategy
- Manage your job hunt, finances, and health
- Connect with others to get the support you need
- Cope with the emotional ups and downs of unemployment
'Navigating your Way through Job Loss' is the timely topic of this one-hour AARP webinar scheduled 2-3 pm EDT on May 20 and June 11. Hosted by AARP Workforce Issues Director Deborah Russell, it is designed to help jobseekers age 45+ deal with the emotional stress of losing a job along with some ideas for an action plan to move toward another job.
Joining Russell on the webinar will be Dr. Elizabeth Harper Neeld, an author and expert on dealing with tough transitions in life, and Mary O'Donnell, a licensed mental health counselor and AARP Communications Strategy Director for Financial Security. As an audience member, you will be invited to ask questions.
Sign up for this webinar at www.aarp.org/realrelief
After the webinar, you can download a free action plan with step-by-step tips and resources to help you succeed with your work search in today’s tough job market. The action plan also outlines steps to manage your finances and to maintain your health during this time of transition.
Please note: You do not need to be an AARP member to attend this event. All are welcome!
If you have questions about this webinar, please send an e-mail to survivejobloss@aarp.org.
AARP Job Loss Resources
In addition to this Web event, AARP offers these resources to assist job seekers age 45+:
- Real Relief: www.aarp.org/realrelief
- AARP Work Channel: www.aarp.org/money/work
- The Water Cooler: an online community for job seekers at www.aarp.org/thewatercooler
- Webinar assistance: survivejobloss@aarp.org
Added: May 8, 2009
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Views: 190 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0
AARP has made guaranteeing access to affordable health coverage for people aged 50-64 an essential element of health reform. Why? Americans aged 50-64 -- who make up nearly half of AARP’s 40 million members -- are taking a hard hit in these times of shrinking employer-sponsored health coverage.
They have become the fastest growing group of uninsured. The rate at which they have been losing coverage is really alarming -- 36 percent between 2000 and 2009. And, now, in today’s turbulent economy, as more working men and women in this age group are losing jobs with employer-sponsored health care, they are finding it more and more difficult – if not impossible -- to get affordable individual coverage.
This is -- in large part -- because health insurers consider age and pre-existing conditions when setting their rates. Seven of every ten Americans in this age group have at least one -- if not several – such chronic health conditions as diabetes and heart disease. Insurance industry data show that insurers reject between 17 and 28 percent of all applications from people aged 50-64.
Those “lucky”enough to find individual coverage must pay, on average, premiums that average three times higher than premiums for those of the same age who have employer coverage. And their out-of-pocket spending for health care is more than twice that of those with employer coverage -- despite less generous benefits.
This problem is becoming more serious because, thanks to the aging of the baby boomers, our 50-64 population is growing rapidly. Nearly one of every five Americans will be 50-64 by 2015. So, AARP is pressing Congress to find a common-sense solution to the coverage gap for 50-64-year-olds.
For information on AARP’s efforts to help people in this age group – and on ways you can help – please check out our new web page for health reform – www.healthactionnow.org.
Added: May 5, 2009
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You can help prevent the spread of swine flu and other illnesses by:
● Washing your hands regularly with soap and water
● Covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze
● Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth
●Avoiding contact with sick people
● Staying home from school or work if you feel sick
While we encourage all older Americans to get an annual vaccine for seasonal flu, the swine flu strain is not prevented by the seasonal flu vaccine.
The Centers for Disease Control have important information about swine flu available at www.cdc.gov/swineflu.
“We encourage people to take personal responsibility for their health with preventive measures – like flu shot – to guard against illness and disease,” says Jane Taylor, state director for AARP Ohio. “Keeping people healthy is more efficient and economical than caring for people after they get sick.”
People 50+ are more vulnerable to the flu and its complications, so anyone 50 or older should get a flu shot. You can find a flu shot clinic at www.AARP.org/flu.
A growing number of Americans are caregivers. This sandwich generation needs to get immunized to prevent serious disease for themselves and also for the people they care for, grandchildren and older parents.
In a 2007 AARP survey, we learned nearly half of 50+ Americans skipped their flu shot. Many mistakenly believed the vaccine could give them the flu.
This is also a good time to ask your doctor about a vaccine for pneumococcal disease, which causes 4,800 deaths annually. Everyone 65+ should consider a pneumococcal vaccine.
Added: April 30, 2009
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Views: 174 | Comments: 1 | Bookmarks: 0
Under the existing state regulations governing the individual health insurance market, older Ohioans and residents of all ages who suffer from chronic conditions can be denied coverage, issued policies with riders that exclude coverage for existing ailments, or be forced to pay extremely high insurance premiums.
“This means that older and less healthy Ohioans are in effect locked out of the individual market and have nowhere else to go,” says Ron Bridges, government affairs director for AARP Ohio.
Current regulations often make health insurance rates unaffordable for individual Ohioans with chronic ailments such as diabetes and epilepsy, and effectively eliminate coverage for individuals who have been treated in the past for cancer, heart disease or strokes.
The Executive Budget proposed by Gov. Ted Strickland, which is now being debated in the Ohio General Assembly, includes a statutory change to significantly reduce rates by reforming open enrollment regulations to prohibit insurers from refusing coverage based on pre-existing conditions. You can Learn more about the proposal to reform open enrollment by visiting http://www.healthcarereform.ohio.gov/
AARP Ohio believes these proposed open enrollment reforms will allow all residents – and especially the estimated 196,063 uninsured Ohioans between the ages of 50 and 64 – better access to adequate and affordable health care.
AARP encourages you to let your state senator know that you support open enrollment reform. You can call your state senator toll free at 1-888-844-5009 or find contact information to send a letter or email by visiting http://www.senate.state.oh.us/senators/by_name.html
Added: April 27, 2009
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