Health Care Reform is Top Priority at AARP

By: State: Nevada | Source: AARP.org

Health Insurance Crisis is Hitting 50-64 Age Group Hard
 
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 Nevada, 69,065 people between the ages of 50-64 are currently uninsured, according to a recently released AARP report.  

Job Loss Means Loss of Health Care

Nevada’s unemployment rate had reached 10.4% in March. As more working men and women in this age group begin losing jobs with employer-sponsored health care due to the turbulent economy, 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.

Private Insurance Options Not Enough

Insurance industry data show that insurers reject between 17 and 28 percent of all applications from people aged 50-64. And 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.  

The Problem is Growing

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 at www.healthactionnow.org.

Sign up to get information on AARP’s health care reform campaign at www.healthactionnow.org.

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