FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

October 1, 2009

Contact:  Jason Erskine / 206-517-9345

September 10, 2009

Contact: Jason Erskine / 206-517-9345

AARP Overnight Survey: Independents More in Favor of Health Reform

All parties agree, health reform must be a priority this year

WASHINGTON—Independents 45-plus felt the President’s speech last night addressed some of their questions by a three-to-one margin according to overnight polling released by AARP today.  The same survey found that a majority of Democrats, Republicans and Independents all agreed reform must be a priority for this year.

In a national survey of Americans over 45, AARP found that many independents had concerns about health reform coming into last night’s speech (77 percent), but most (72 percent) felt that some of their concerns were addressed by the President’s speech.  Further, a clear majority of independents considered themselves “more supportive of the proposals being talked about related to health care” after the speech was over (63 percent).

“What we saw in this survey was something we’ve seen for decades: that once you explain why we need reform people understand its importance,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President.  “Last night’s speech wasn’t as much of a ‘game changer’ as it was a volume softener.  Older Americans across the political spectrum continue to agree that reform must be accomplished this year – we are hopeful that momentum carries us to reform that AARP can support.”

When asked if after watching the health reform address people felt that reform should be a priority for our leaders to address this year, 70 percent of Independents, 95 percent of Democrats and a majority of Republicans – 56 percent – agreed it should.

LeaMond added, “Illness does not ask who you voted for in the last election before the costs associated with getting sick decimate your family.  This survey finds that Americans – from all political walks of life – are worried about our current system and want reform. And AARP is going to fight as it has for more than 50 years until we achieve that reform.”

AARP is fighting for reforms that protect and expand benefits for people in Medicare, prevent discrimination based on age or health, and ensure no one—not an insurance company or a government bureaucrat—can come between you and your doctor.  We are working to close the dreaded gap in Medicare drug coverage that forces many to stop taking the medicines that keep them healthy, and ensure that older Americans can buy and keep affordable health coverage.

Woelfel Research Inc. conducted interviews with a random sample of people at least 45 years old who watched the president's address to Congress. The interviews, conducted on September 9, 2009 have a margin of sampling error of +/- 4.3 percent.

A link to the complete survey can be found here: http://www.aarp.org/research/surveys/care/health/hcreform/articles/pres_speech.html.

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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September 9, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 9, 2009

New Poll Shows Concerns with Current Health Care System Remain High

AARP, AMA and ANA Jointly Release New Data

WASHINGTON – New polling released today shows that Americans 50-plus remain concerned with the current health care system, underscoring the need for reform.

Data released jointly today by AARP, the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Nurses Association (ANA), show that about half of people over 50-years old are concerned that there won’t be enough nurses or doctors to provide care in the future, and two-thirds of those polled are either very or somewhat concerned that the current system limits their ability to see the doctor of their choice.

“The fact that we need to strengthen our health care system may have been lost in some of the media coverage over the last several weeks, but this survey of Americans shows that the need is as great as ever,” said AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond.  “Tonight the President will address Congress, and while AARP hasn’t endorsed any of the bills, it is critical – especially based on this polling – that any solution ensures that people can see the health professional they want, when they want – particularly for people on Medicare.”

The polling found that nearly nine in ten people (87 percent) believed it was important for doctors to be reimbursed adequately so they continue to accept patients on Medicare.

"This summer we’ve heard a lot of misinformation about health reform proposals on the table. The poll we’re releasing today reminds us that people have serious concerns with the health system in place now: The status quo is unacceptable,” said AMA Immediate Past President Nancy H. Nielsen, M.D. “Currently, 46 million Americans don’t have health insurance, and the Medicare physician payment formula threatens seniors’ access to care by projecting steep cuts just as the baby boomers enter Medicare.  We need to cover the uninsured, implement insurance market reforms and repeal the flawed Medicare formula to ensure all Americans access to the care they need.”

The poll also revealed that most people believe there are not enough nurses to support the current health care system, and that the nurse shortage will remain a problem in the near future.

“Two-thirds of the poll respondents are sensing what we have recognized for the last decade – that we are experiencing a critical nursing shortage and that it will worsen as the rates of registered nurse retirements and aging Baby Boomers requiring health services each increase,” said ANA President Rebecca M. Patton, MSN, RN, CNOR. “Health care reform must ensure that the RN workforce is sufficient to make universal access to quality care a reality, not just theory. We can catch up with growing demand through increased investments in nursing workforce development and educational programs.”

Also of note – more than three-fourths (78 percent) are worried that some day either they or someone they know might incur a health care cost that wouldn’t be covered by their health insurance.

The telephone survey was conducted from September 4-7, 2009 by Woelfel Research, Inc. The RDD sample consists of 1,001 United States residents at least 50 years old. The results from the study were weighted by age and gender.  The margin of sampling error is ±3.1%.

The executive summary of the polling is available at: http://www.aarp.org/research/surveys/care/health/hcreform/articles/hcr_concerns.html

About AARP

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.

About the American Medical Association

The American Medical Association (AMA) helps doctors help patients by uniting physicians nationwide to work on the most important professional, public health and advocacy issues in medicine. Working together, the AMA's quarter of a million physician and medical student members are playing an active role in shaping the future of medicine. For more information on the AMA’s health system reform efforts, please visit www.hsreform.org.

About American Nurses Association

The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the only full-service professional organization representing the interests of the nation's 2.9 million registered nurses through its 51 constituent member nurses associations and its 24 specialty nursing and workforce advocacy affiliate organizations that currently connect to ANA as affiliates. The ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the rights of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

# # #

In a new YouTube video (www.youtube.com/watch,)  AARP’s policy director, John Rother, talks to people who currently have health insurance coverage about the benefits of health reform to their personal financial security and peace of mind. 

Here is the transcript of his comments.

“What if you already have health insurance through your employer? What does health care reform have to offer YOU?

A great deal. Hello, I’m John Rother of AARP. And I’d like to offer some straight talk.

This isn't about "other" people. It's about you and your family. It's about your future.

You've probably noticed that premiums are skyrocketing. They’ve doubled in eight years, and there’s no end in sight.

But you're also paying a price in ways that aren’t so obvious.

If you have an employer plan, you’re paying for it with lower wages. You’re also being charged to cover people who don't have insurance.

These costs are rising fast. But the potential costs you face are even more dangerous. Hopefully, you won’t suffer a major illness. But if you do, it could ruin you financially.

We often hear from people who are shocked to learn what their insurance does NOT cover.

Three-fourths of people who go bankrupt because of medical bills actually had coverage. [ New York Times 7/1/09]

But let's say you are satisfied with your insurance coverage. How safe you are from losing it?

The answer for a lot of people is: Less safe than you realize. This can happen if you lose your job, or you change jobs. Or maybe your employer stops offering health care.

Right now, more than 14,000 people are losing coverage every day. [Families USA]
Every day.

When that happens, you and your family are at the mercy of the individual insurance market, which can turn down--or charge unaffordable premiums--to anyone they think might get sick.

All the problems I've described are getting worse.

They are affecting more people every day including people who thought they had nothing to worry about.

The hopeful news is that health care reform would protect you and your family.
Health reform would guarantee that you always have choices of quality, affordable coverage no matter what happens.

That's whether you lose your job, get sick or switch jobs for any reason. These aren't rare events that only happen to "other" people. These things happen all the time.

They could happen to you.

And if they do, don't you want protection you can count on?”

If you haven’t already heard, Tim Eyman’s latest initiative, Initiative 1033, will be on the ballot this November. AARP Washington has joined the coalition to oppose I-1033 because the measure has the potential to severely and negatively impact issues ranging from health care to education.

If passed, Initiative 1033 would severely limit the amount of state, county, and city revenue that could be spent starting in 2010. Any revenue raised above the limit would be required to go to reducing property taxes in the following year.

And while the idea may sound good on the surface, it is already a proven failure.   I-1033 uses the same failed formula as the “TABOR” law passed in Colorado, which led to deep cuts to public schools, roads and highways, and children’s health care. It did so much damage to the state’s economy that in 2005, Coloradans voted to suspend the law.

Similar initiatives have been defeated at the ballot in Maine, Nebraska, Oregon and most recently California—and they've been kept from the ballot in Ohio, Missouri, Oklahoma, Montana, and Michigan. Between 2005 and 2009, TABOR was introduced legislatively in 28 states (AL, AZ, CA, FL, GA, ID, KS, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NH, NM, NV, OH, OK, OR, PH, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI). Colorado remains the only state to have adopted this terrible idea.

AARP, the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Microsoft, the Children’s Alliance, the Nature Conservancy, the Washington Education Association, the Washington State Council of Firefighters and the Washington State Hospital Association are just a few of the more than 100 organizations and individuals asking you to say “No” to another harmful Tim Eyman initiative in Washington.

AARP members and their families would be especially hard hit by Initiative 1033. Despite a growing senior population, funding for nursing homes, in-home care and adult day health services are being cut – and 40,000 Washington residents of all ages may lose Basic Health Plan coverage. I-1033 will make our health care crisis even more severe.

I-1033 will mean more bad news for our communities and small businesses. I-1033 will make things harder than ever for local communities already struggling to maintain basic services such as road repair, libraries and public safety. Small businesses rely on those services, and oppose I-1033 because they will continue to suffer during a prolonged recession.

If passed, I-1033 will cause more damage to our schools. This year we’ve slashed school funding by $1.5 billion, and as many as 3,000 teachers and education employees are facing layoffs. I-1033 will take even more resources away from Washington’s classrooms – and Washington’s kids.

I-1033 will make it harder for us to dig out of the recession. The national recession has cost our state thousands of jobs and forced billions in cutbacks to important local services. I-1033 will force even deeper cuts and lock them in for years to come – meaning more job losses, more hard times for Washington families, and a longer delay waiting for our economy to recover.

Times are tough enough already – let’s not make them worse. Please join us and Vote NO on I-1033. For more information visit www.no1033.com.

FRESH NEW KITCHEN, NEW BATH ON TAP FOR WINNERS OF AARP ROOM MAKEOVER CONTEST

You know you should email your member of Congress and let them know how you feel about the current health care debate. But maybe you don't know who your Congressperson is, what district you're in, or how to find out.

Now you can find out the easy way at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFInder/congress.aspx. Just click where you live on the Washington State map and you'll be taken to your Representative's webpage. Every district's homepage has a "Contact" link where you can send an email.

Our Senators serve all of us, no matter where you live in the state. So email Maria Cantwell at http://cantwell.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm and Patty Murray at http://murray.senate.gov/email/index.cfm.

During August, our Congresspeople are back home with us and they're waiting to find out what we think about health care reform. Send an email today...