Who’s Taking a Health Care Hit?

Source: AARP.org

AARP knows that Americans of all ages are worried about affordable quality health care. Skyrocketing health care costs are forcing millions of Americans to choose between paying for food, housing and other necessities—or their health.  In fact, millions of Americans are just one medical emergency away from bankruptcy and financial ruin.

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.

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.

Across Kentucky today, AARP is working to deliver information and action steps to groups and organizations. AARP is making trained health reform volunteers available to speak at no cost to your organization, business or faith group.

The call is free to invite one of our trained volunteer speakers to your next meeting. call AARP KY at 1-866-295-7275 or send an email to aarpky@aarp.org or visit AARP Kentucky online at www.aarp.org/ky.

More 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.