AARP opposes Enzi’s new healthcare bill , From The Hill just now

[caligirl]

April 12, 2006
AARP opposes Enzi’s new healthcare bill
By Jeffrey Young

A small-business health-insurance bill expected to hit the Senate floor next month already has spurred intense lobbying — and now has attracted the attention of the influential senior-citizens group AARP.

Last week, AARP came out squarely against the legislation, which would allow trade associations representing small companies to offer health benefits through small-business health plans, also known as association health plans (AHPs).

At the same time that AARP is working closely with the Bush administration to sign up seniors for the new Medicare prescription-drug benefit, the group’s lobbyists are working to stall one of the GOP’s best chances at passing a healthcare-reform bill during an election year.

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) moved the bill through his committee in March and got it on a fast track to the Senate floor largely by neutralizing the opposition of some key interest groups, most notably the health insurers that fought against previous association-health-plan bills.

The aggressive involvement of the deep-pocketed and powerful AARP could change the debate.>>>>>>>>>

http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/Business/041206_enzi.html


Woo hoo this is great news, the battle isn't over but this is great ammunition. AARP had stayed out of this before now.

[postulater]

1. Thanks for posting this

Most people don't realize the devastation this would wreak on their health insurance, from diabetic equipment to cancer prevention to chiropractic care.

Health insurance would be essentially non-existent except for the wealthier who are willing to pay the extra premium to access what is now required by state law.

I talked to Russ Feingold about this at his townhall meeting last Saturday, he says he has been hearing lots of people in opposition to it and will stand for a filibuster.

[Buck Laser]

2. I still haven't forgiven AARP

...for backing the administration's prescription drug program. I dropped my membership when they did that. It'll take more than opposition to this bill to get me back. But it IS a start.

[caligirl]

3. I too was less than thrilled with them for the cave in to big pharma and B

I hope you will call your congressman and voice opposition to the enzi bill. If you need some info to peruse I can get all of it pretty quickly. The ANA, ADA American Cancer Society are against this bill.


And welcome to DU.:party:

[caligirl]

4. The American Nurses Association has this on Enzi posted, lttr campaign

Senator Michael Enzi (R-WY-S2)

Write A Message

Member
Info Committees Staff Votes Bills


Capitol Office Information

Address 379 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
Phone [phone]
Fax [phone]
Web Site http://enzi.senate.gov/

Biographical Information

Year Elected 1996
Re-elect Year 2008
Birthday 2/1/1944
Birthplace Bremerton, WA
Hometown Gillette
Undergraduate Institution George Washington University
Undergraduate Degree B.A.
Graduate Institution University of Denver
Graduate Degree M.A.
Profession Accountant/Small Business
Military WY Air National Guard '67-'73
Religion Presbyterian
Gender M
Spouse Diana Buckley
Children 3

District Office Information

Address Federal Bldg., Suite 2007
2120 Capitol Ave.
Cheyenne, WY 82001
Phone [phone]
http://vocusgr.vocus.com/grconvert1/webpub/ana/ProfileLegislator.asp?LegislatorID=5744%7CS&XSL=ProfileLegislator

[caligirl]

5. ANA position , gives an easy to understand write up on the problems

the Enzi bill causes.

Why is ANA Concerned???? And Why You Should Be Too!!!!

S. 1955

Eliminates important health care coverage protections that only exist in the states!
S. 1955 preempts over 1000 state benefit and provider mandate laws, leaving insurers free to offer policies that exclude basic benefits and leaves states with no recourse.

Millions of Americans would lose coverage for such important primary and preventative care as:
screenings for breast, cervical, colorectal and prostate cancer;
well-child care and immunizations;
contraception;
emergency services;
mental health;
and diabetes supplies and education.

In addition to the loss of these benefit mandates, S. 1955 would preempt mandates that guarantee access to Nurse Practitioners (32 states) Nurse Midwives (30 states) Nurse Anesthetists (17 states) and Psychiatric Nurses (18 states).

To gain this exemption from state laws, insurers need only offer one plan that resembles a plan offered to state employees in one of the five most populous states. That plan does not have to be affordable or comprehensive, and could be a high-deductible health plan. For example, Florida offers its state employees a plan that includes a $5000 deductible for families.

Prevents states from limiting how much insurers can charge small businesses with a workforce that includes older and sicker workers, as well as women of child-bearing age!
States that have taken steps to prohibit discriminatory pricing based on age, gender, geography and business size would be unable to enforce their laws. The bill imposes an out-of-date 1993 NAIC model law, rather than the more protective current model. Under this new system, many small businesses with workers who are older and sicker, women of child-bearing age, or who have fewer employees, will immediately see their premiums rise.

Includes such significant preemption of state law that it even allows insurers to sue states in federal court if they attempt to act on behalf of their residents!
Some insurers can even go directly to the federal court of appeals and get an expedited review of their case, a right not afforded to patients.

Invites cherry-picking and fraud!
The AHP portion of S.1955 still invites favorable treatment of those who are young and healthy, at the expense of those who have more complex health care needs. It also invites insurance fraud, through weak certification requirements.

S. 1955 will harm consumers that need health care the most, forcing them to pay higher premiums for less coverage!

ANA has joined with a long list of consumer, provider and advocacy organizations to oppose S. 1955. However, we need YOUR help – YOUR VOICE! Make sure your Senators understand the real implications of S. 1955 in your state!

Who Else Is Opposed???

List of Organizations Opposed to S. 1955 - April 3, 2006

Coalition S. 1955 Opposition Letter - April 4, 2006

National Conference of Insurance Legislators S. 1955 Opposition Letter

State Insurance Commissioners - Letters of Opposition
New Hampshire
Vermont

Detailed Information About S. 1955

S. 1955 – Current Text – April 6, 2006

S 1955: Section By Section Summary – Chairman Michael Enzi’s (R-WY) Markup of S. 1955 - April 6, 2006

Claim v. Reality on S 1955 – National Partnership for Women & Families - March 14, 2006

American Nurses Association Briefing on S. 1955 – Speaker Beth C. Fuchs, Ph.D., Health Policy Alternatives - April 10, 2005


Send an e-mail TODAY by clicking on the “Write A Message” button below.


http://tinyurl.com/qr7dj



This is the actual link but somehow it is cut in half, and doesn't work. So I put in a tiny url above.

http://vocusgr.vocus.com/grconvert1/webpub/ana/ProfileIssue.asp?IssueID=4491|Senate&XSL=ProfileIssue&hidLegislatorIDs=

[flaminbats]

6. small business, state's rights, law and order...

what happened to support for this among conservatives? Never mind that states have laws to prevent insurance fraud or to protect insurance companies from just ditching our coverage when they've collected enough money! Why should profitable corporations obey our laws, why should states be allowed to take positive action while the federal government does nothing, why should consumers expect anything back for their money?

We must stop this..if Democrats want to win back Congress, and this issue can do it. Any Republican who votes for this could be dead meat this year, but someone needs to make them pay! Republicans need to be called, they need to be told about the state laws Senate Bill 1955 will undermine. Republicans have nothing to lose by cosponsoring Lincoln's bill, just one Republican supporter could give that alternative legislation the momentum needed to pass.

:yourock:

[rodeodance]

10. thank you very much. this is very helpful. I will pass it around

[lovuian]

7. Good for Aarp!!!

Republicans always looking at ways to screw Americans on healthcare...

[rodeodance]

8. when I hear 'reform' linked with Repugs--I cringe!!!

[rodeodance]

9. Enzi got it on a fast track they say--that fact makes it suspicious.

Enzi (R-Wyo.)

[sandnsea]

11. Durbin-Lincoln is better

And it doesn't have the waiving of state requirements and it doesn't appear to charge older people more either, although that's how health insurance works in Oregon now. It's not perfect, but at least it's an answer to "Democrats have no plan".

http://democrats.senate.gov/dpc/dpc-new.cfm?doc_name=fs-109-2-37

[msgadget]

12. I appreciate AARP and Lincoln & Durbin

but the price of health insurance is the primary issue, imo. Groups of people are already allowed to form associations to buy insurance in many states. The big question is, have health insurers proved the need for such high premiums now that these premiums combined with high out-of-pocket expenses have fulfilled their disincentive role? IOW, we're all paying more for less coverage and insurance companies claim it is to prevent people over-using their insurance.

The availability of health insurance isn't the biggest problem, the premiums are (as Durbin and Lincoln have obviously noticed). Their plan does mention a necessity for it to be 'reasonable' while also giving insurers some flexibility to charge premiums based on age, geography, and family composition, but preventing extreme variations in premiums and, ultimately, who defines reasonable? Rarely is it the consumer. I applaud their efforts but a pie in the sky proposal would've been better against AHPs because the inevitable amendments to bills always weaken their intent and SEHBP already has a pretty big (and similar) loophole built into it.

There's gotta be somebody who forgoes common sense and comes out with a proposal for the entire nation to be considered one giant insurance pool. With risk spread over such a huge pool premiums would have to be lowered substantially for everybody. Crazy, I know, but premiums are criminal these days - time for something radical.

[ed murrow]

13. Kudos for Lincoln & AARP

I have not fully explored Blanche Lincoln's bill but I have many good friends working on her staff and I trust her when it comes to this issue.

The AARP seems to be redeeming itself as an organization by coming out against the Enzi Bill. I don't know if they will ever live down the catastrophe of this Prescription Drug Bill but they seem to be attempting to make up for it.

[msgadget]

17. They seem to have lived it down,

my mom doesn't associate them with Part D at all, unfortunately.

Hey, I love plans because they are the result of effort expended on - we always hope - our behalf. Health insurance is ghastly expensive, plain and simple. I'd like to see that aspect addressed first even as I realize how politicians feel they have to come at certain issues sideways. That's for them to figure out, the voter's job is to keep asking for the straight-on thing. :)

[ed murrow]

14. Take Action

There is a great diary on MyDD addressing the issue and I posted the AARP news in the comments.
MyDD Stop Enzi Diary

The diary also has a great call to action from the Foundation for Taxpayers

I encourage everyone to use this great online template to take action against this legislation

[caligirl]

16. thats great, thanks for the link. I posted a note there about the date

this bill will go to the senate floor. May 1-5 is the time frame to watch out for.

[reprobate]

15. These association plans are the bigges ripoff in the industry.

I sold some of them for a short while until I found out their secrets. They rope you in by offering the plan with a monthly 'membership' fee in the 'association'. This gives you acces to a 'buyers club' and other superfluous benefits.

At the same time, if you need to use the policy you'll ususally find that the company ends up paying (after delaying as long as possible) a small portion of the medical bill that a comprehinsive major medical policy group insurance would pay. These 'associations' are NOT among the biggest insurers in the industry. They are among the smallest. In fact, I know of one that operated out of someone's garage.

STay away from them and write and call your congressmen.

[flaminbats]

18. contacting certain Republicans can help..stop this from passing

some Republicans and Independents can still be convinced to vote against Senate Bill 1955 or to support the Lincoln Bill.

these Republicans are up for re-election in 2006..

Rick Santorum...(202)-224-6324
Dick Lugar...(202)-224-4814
Jon Kyl..(202)-224-4521
Olympia Snowe..(202)-224-5344
Lincoln Chaffee..(202)-224-2921

these Senators have not embraced the Enzi bill..

Johnny Isakson..(202)-224-3643
Jim Jeffords..(202)-224-5141
Gorden Smith..(202)-224-3753
John McCain..(202)-224-2235
Susan Collins..(202)-224-2523
Arlen Specter..(202)-224-4254

With the exception of Ben Nelson, IMO asking Democrats in the Senate to vote against the Enzi Bill is a good use of time.

[caligirl]

19. I'm still trying to get the SF Chronicle to write the first story on this

bill. To date I can't find a single article from that paper on this. :grr: