AARP Bulletin Survey on Consumer Debt and Loans: Executive Summary  / Research Report
July 2009— Levels of debt and consumers’ ability to take action to reduce financial obligations does not differ between those age 18-49 and those age 50+, although more older respondents to this national survey had retired their student loans than younger respondents. (3 pages)

State Health Care Briefs 2009: Why Health Care Reform is Important  / Research Report
June 2009— This set of State Health Care Briefs provides a one-page overview of facts on health care data for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States  / Research Report
June 2009— Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current population Surveys, this series of annual AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheets by Ke Bin Wu has been reporting the income, poverty and health Insurance status of Americans of all ages since 1995.

A Medicare Buy-in Program In Brief  / Research Report
June 2009— Medicare buy-in as part of health reform? The pros and cons of allowing older Americans to buy into Medicare before age 65 are reviewed in this brief synopsis of an AARP Public Policy Institute research report of the same name by Gerry Smolka and Sarah Thomas. (2 pages) (Publication ID: inb174)

A Medicare Buy-in Program  / Research Report
June 2009— Medicare buy-in as part of health reform? The pros and cons of allowing older Americans to buy into Medicare before age 65 are reviewed in this AARP Public Policy Institute Insight on the Issues by Gerry Smolka and Sarah Thomas. (14 pages) (Publication ID: I29)

Physician Payment Reform in Medicare In Brief  / Research Report
June 2009— Ways to improve Medicare payments to physicians currently being tested, as well as lessons from abroad, are examined in this brief synopsis of the AARP Public Policy Institute research report, Physician Payment: Current System and Opportunities for Reform, written by Lynn Nonnemaker, Sarah Thomas, and Joyce Dubow. (2 pages) (Publication ID: INB173)

50+ Hispanic Workers: A Growing Segment of the U.S. Workforce  / Research Report
June 2009— Older Hispanics participate in the labor force at relative high rates and are dependable and relatively healthy; nonetheless, many face substantial challenges in the workplace, working in physically demanding jobs and earning low wages and few benefits, according to this 2009 report. (77 pages)

Providing More Long-term Support and Services at Home: Why It’s Critical for Health Reform  / Fact Sheet
June 2009— Expansion of home and community-based long term care services can significantly help address the health care needs of many older adults, as explained in this AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet. (3 pages)

The GINA Law: Consumer Protection in a New Era of Genetic Testing  / Research Report
May 2009— A May 2009 Medicare coverage decision involving genomic testing, and the passage of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), highlight the scientific and societal ramifications of integrating genomics and genetic testing into our healthcare system, while protecting consumers, as discussed in this AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet by N. Lee Rucker. (4 pages) (Publication ID: FS156)

AARP Bulletin Survey on Employment Status of the 45+ Population: Executive Summary  / Research Report
May 2009— One-quarter of the 45+ population reported being retired and another twenty-two percent reported it was somewhat likely that their job could be eliminated within the next year in this nationwide survey. (5 pages)