Health Action Now!
Make sure our leaders make meaningful health reform a top priority this year. Tell Congress that NOW is the time for health reform!
AARP: Health Reform and You
Updates From Washington
- Read health care reform legislation pending in Congress
- Read CBO cost estimates for health care legislation
- June 2009 MedPac report to Congress
- Independent Analyses: Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan research organization, compares health-reform proposals pending in Congress.
Myths VS. Facts
- Politifact, an independent, Pulitzer Prize-winning fact-checking Web site, evaluates claims made about the impact of health care reform
- Factcheck.org, a project of the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center
- Health Care Reform: The Assault on Truth
As Congress nears the end of its debate over health care reform, AARP has chosen a side – yours.
- 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;
- To make sure your health care does not take a back seat to insurance companies
- And to make sure seniors and future generations have the health coverage they need when they retire.
Where We Stand: How Health Reform Will Help You and Your Family
The Affordable Health Care for America Act, recently passed by the House of Reprsentatives, contains critical components AARP has been fighting for on your behalf – proposals that would improve health care for older Americans and their families. They include:
- Protecting and strengthening Medicare for today’s seniors and future generations of retirees.
- Improving the doctor-patient relationship and ensuring that no one—not government or your insurance company—can come between you and your doctor
- Lowering drug costs for seniors by closing the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole.”
- Taking steps to reduce waste, fraud, abuse and inefficiency in the Medicare program.
- Requiring Medicare and insurance companies to provide for important preventive services like screenings for diabetes, cancer and osteoporosis free of charge for those who don’t have coverage.
- Preventing insurers from denying affordable coverage to anyone because of their age or health.
- Limiting how much your insurance company can make you pay out-of-pocket.
- Providing affordable health insurance options for those who don’t have insurance or can’t afford it.
- Providing benefits to help seniors and people with disabilities live in their own homes and communities.
On Your Side
While AARP is pleased to see that the House plan includes many of the proposals that are most critical to protecting Medicare and ensuring Americans age 50+ have access to stable, affordable health care, we know the fight isn’t over. That’s why we’re going to keep working with members of the House and Senate to ensure our priorities are included in any final health care reform bill.
Get the Facts
Older Americans are asking important questions about how they would be affected by health reform. As the process moves forward, AARP will continue to provide information you need to decide for yourself about what health care reform means for you. You can count on this site for the most up to date about health care reform will impact older Americans, and where AARP stands on important provisions.
If your questions aren't answered on this site, please feel welcome to contact us at 1-866-AARP-449 (1-866-227-7449). And if you want to join AARP's efforts to fix our health-care system, please visit healthactionnow.org.
AARP in the News
11/11: AARP, Members Reach Out to Congress in Support of Health Reform
11/7: AARP Praises House Passage of Health Care Reform Bill
11/5: AARP Endorses Affordable Health Care for America Act
10/23: 10/23 AARP Supports House Effort to Close Doughnut Hole
10/21: AARP Disappointed by Senate’s Vote to Block Protection of Access to Medicare Doctors
10/16: AARP, AMA Urge Congress to Strengthen Medicare and Preserve Access to Choice of Physician
