It appears that AARP IS the devil!

[ProudDad]

Just googling around and I find some interesting facts.

---------------------------

First:

"In 2008, AARP plans to begin offering several new health insurance products: An HMO for Medicare recipients, in partnership with UnitedHealth Group; and a PPO and "a high-deductible insurance policy that could be used with a health savings account" to people aged 50-64, in partnership with Aetna. AARP will likely become the largest source of health insurance for Medicare recipients, and AARP estimates the new products will increase its health insurance customers to 14 million by 2014."

Boy, they sure will want to fight for Universal Single-Payer -- as long as THEY'RE THE COLLECTOR and PAYER, yeah, right... :eyes:

If you can stomach it, here's the rest: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AARP

----------------------------

"AARP Goes For The Profits"

"So the AARP has decided to make a heavy move into the insurance business. This probably erases their utility as a partner in serious universal reforms, as much of the profit flowing through the insurance industry will be flowing into their coffers and any move that tamped down on industry profits would cut off some of theirs. So that's bad news. And nor will they be a different kind of insurer:

People ages 50 to 64 often find that health insurance is unavailable or unaffordable when they try to buy it on their own. AARP said its underwriting practices would be less stringent than those of many commercial insurers, but it reserved the right to deny coverage to some sick people ages 50 to 64.

To guarantee issuance of a policy to every applicant in that age group is “just not economically feasible,” Ms. Sweeney said."

Of course it's eminently feasible with HR676 - Universal Single-Payer HEALTH CARE!!!

http://ezraklein.typepad.com/blog/2007/04/aarp_goes_for_t.html

---------------------------

"What's AARP's priority? Health, or healthy profit?"

Here is a puzzle for people who care about the survival of Medicare as the nation's only universal health insurance program: Is AARP ahead of the curve or throwing us one?

I refer to the organization's announcement in April that, in partnership with UnitedHeath Care and in a new agreement with Aetna, AARP will expand health insurance offerings for its 38 million members, beginning next year, with special emphasis on insuring people 50 to 64, who are too young for Medicare."

Whores and Shills for the health insurance mafia and big pharma...

http://www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny-bzsaul5273738jun30,0,1261405.column


---------------------------

And from Dennis Kucinich, one of the authors of the ONLY Feasible, Universal Health Care Plan in play at present, HR676:

"AARP will profit over 4.4 Billion Dollars while America's Seniors Suffer!"

On September 21st, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) sponsored a Presidential forum in Iowa focused on health care reform. I was conveniently left out of the debate. Why? Because I am the only candidate in this race proposing a national not-for-profit, single-payer health insurance plan. My plan would eliminate the obscene profit of 4.4 billion dollars AARP alone stands to gain over the next 7 years at the expense of the senior citizens they claim to represent.

AARP's strategic partnership with healthcare giants United Health Care and Aetna are embraced by Senators Clinton, Obama, and former Senator Edwards who are pushing plans to keep the for-profit private insurers in business and in control of your life!

This is an outrage and you should be outraged!

It is clear they don't want me to upset their multi-billion dollar windfall. The health care plans of the invited candidates preserve and promote the interests of for-profit insurance and pharmaceutical companies at the expense of tens of millions of everyday Americans while the corporate media keeps America drugged with misinformation so you can't make an informed decision.

http://www.dennis4president.com/go/issues/a-healthy-nation/

And don't forget to contribute...

------------------

And lest we forget, another oldie but goody from 2003:

AARP to Reap Huge Profits from Flawed Medicare Drug Bill

http://www.pnhp.org/news/2003/november/aarp_to_reap_huge_pr.php

[BRLIB]

1. No excrement! Thom Hartmann said all along

they were nothing but an insurance company, and thankfully on his advice I never joined after my 50th.
Just dreaming but if Kucinich got in they would be roadkill..

These bozos are nothing but middlemen.

Even Geico has an eliminate the middleman commercial...

[mcscajun]

2. AARP is a hollowed-out shell of what it once was, courtesy of a Republican

I've never joined, by deliberate choice. I didn't like the whole idea, and then they stabbed seniors in the back with their support for Bush's Medicare "donut" shop, and I was glad I hadn't given them a dime. I hadn't even heard what Thom Hartmann had to say. But your post had me looking into that, and that's how I found this:

September 21, 2007
No doubt it’s just a coincidence that AARP has been run by good Republican swindler William Novelli since 2000, and has become a health insurance profiteer itself, supporting Bush’s various screw-you privatization schemes. (See the disgraceful ‘Harry and Louise’ style TV ads where the AARP pushes its ’supplemental’ health insurance on seniors who are scraping to pay for their over-priced prescription drugs, thanks to Bush.)

Novelli, formerly of Porter Novelli, a huge public relations firm, has taken AARP, an organization that once lobbied effectively for seniors, and turned it into a hollowed-out shell that does little besides peddle insurance and send out mountains of junk mail to its members. As Russell Mokhiber of Corporate Crime Reporter writes in “AARP to Kucinich: Drop Dead”:

“Novelli doesn’t give a damn about AARP or its 38 million members. If he did, he wouldn’t be selling down them down river by opposing a single payer system that would benefit not just AARP members, but everyone in the country. Novelli doesn’t give a damn about the health of the nation. What he cares about are the health insurance companies.”

This is how the insidious and deceitful Bush-Rove Republican Party works these days: Have an organization that is counter to your corporate campaign contributor’s interests? Just gut it from the inside by sneaking in stooges like Novelli to run the place, similar to what the Christopublicans have done to school boards across the land: Pretend you’re working in the public interest until you land the job; then bring out your true agenda.

http://www.liberaltopia.org/?p=647

That's it in a nutshell: an organization that once was a lobby for Seniors' interests is now bent on bleeding those same Seniors bone-dry.

[zulchzulu]

8. They sure have some pretty brochures and nice smiling photos of seniors

I'm not sure if they are wincing or smiling...

[mcscajun]

10. I could probably have papered my dining room by now with their offers

I've been getting them for nigh on 6 years now, all with some variation on: "AARP is for Seniors"

What a load of

[ProudDad]

16. Thanks for that

Explains a lot...

[silverweb]

28. Exactly.

They started out as an advocacy group years ago, but have long since become nothing but another insurance group.

[hayu_lol]

3. Kucinich consistantly forgets that his organization received...

a registered letter from the AARP in early July asking if would like to participate in their forum. There were a few requirements that all candidates had to comply with. One was that they had to have at least one office, manned, in the State of Iowa. Kucinich did not have an office in Iowa--Iowans have been saying that if you want our votes, then you should campaign and have an office in Iowa.

Kucinich failed to respond to the registered letter, failed to have an office in Iowa and failed to man that office. It was his fault that he was not there.

He whines and crys about how unfair life is...the other candidates who took part had no problems with complying with the few simple requirements.

He originally blamed the DNC...or his zealous brownshirts did...and made a really big fuss. Rove was good at disinformation--Kucinich is perhaps better at it.

He also whined and cried about not being invited to the private Harkin steak fry fundraiser in Iowa. He again, wasn't invited. All he had to do was send them a check for $30 and a ticket would have been sent. Then he would have been there. Where was he?

One does not screw up and then attempt to blame others for the screw up. Dennis cannot run an organized campaign--how much less could he run this broken and divided country?

[terisan]

4. Why should a candidate have to have a brick and mortar office? Sounds like AARP dreamed up that rule

to keep him out.

[youthere]

26. It's the same rule that's been in place for years...

AARP usually hosts a forum like this during presidential cycles.Sen. Tom Harkin has the same rules for those who want to participate in his annual steak fry.

Mike Gravel ALSO was not eligible to participate. It's not a conspiracy against Dennis. If you think the rules suck then write AARP, but the fact is that dennis had plenty of time to meet the criteria. He chose not to.

[superkia]

9. He may be upset that everyone is keeping him out, not just one outlet.

ABC went as far as cropping him out of the photo of all the candidates from their debate. The media has done a wonderful job of completely ignoring him also. I think they were smart to put in some restrictions though because he would have given a completely different outlook on the health care industry than the others. I understand the media wanting him to disappear because his message is for and about the people of this country and not for the corporations and the wealthy. That is not a liked stance in Washington and I think it shows his strength in character and honor to the people. Definitely an electable presidential candidate for what I want out of Washington.

[ProudDad]

20. Obama didn't bother with their

rigged dog and pony show either as I remember...

Only health insurance company shills allowed...

[proud patriot]

5. k and r

:hi:

[ProudDad]

17. Hi right back

:hi:

[gulfcoastliberal]

6. Bob Nardelli has suceeded in destroying the mission/core of AARP

Do a little research on the scumbag.

[mcscajun]

11. Bob Nardelli is Home Depot; Bill Novelli is AARP.

You need a scorecard to keep the Republican bastards straight.

[many a good man]

7. They're not demons

I can't believe how many DUers demonize AARP. They are way more progressive on issues than they are conservative. They stopped privatization of Social Security. They pushed for Medicare back in the day. They pushed for years to get a prescription drug benefit in Medicare. The plan they advocated did not contain any privatization.The Republicans came out with their plan and AARP endorsed it because it was the only chance to get the new entitlement enacted. Sure it makes them millions of dollars but its not the plan they originally wanted.

AARP started out as a way to save old people money on health insurance by pooling their money to get better rates. In the 60s they advocated for MediCare even though it would cost them commissions. They switched to offering MediGap insurance. Now they are working on pooling together so people not yet eligible for Medicare can get a break on health insurance. What the hell is the crime with that?

AARP is one of the top three lobbies on Capitol Hill. They lobby on behalf of old people, not corporations. They have 40 million members. I think progressives would be much better working off with AARP and getting them to push for legislation that we like. If you go to the forums on their website you will find a lot of outspoken liberals.

AARP is officially non-partisan. That means they can't advocate something if only one party endorses it. They have to be practical and only push for legislation that has a snowball's chance in hell of passing. That's what they're trying to do with their Divided We Fail campaign.

Attacks on AARP always get a lot of amens and kicks here, but there are a lot of satisfied AARP members on this board that remain silent. I think people should judge them based on the facts. They can be the most powerful ally we have.

[Catchawave]

12. Well stated....it's politics as usual...it's the DU !!!

Obama supporters hate AARP because he skipped their forum for a celebrity fundraiser. Old people suck, doncha' know...lol.

Kucinich/Gravel supporters just hate everything, I think they enjoy being miserable.

Sad, huh? AARP's one of the hardest fighting advocacy groups for seniors, I support them, as did our top five candidates at their nationally TELEVISED forum last week.

Just my opinion, I could be wrong :silly:

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ProudDad]

22. Why don' t you brush up on your reading skills

My OP was about how AARP could hardly be trusted on Health Care because they are making BILLIONS on the health insurance game as it is...

they have no incentive to change it for the better.

You not only "could be wrong" but in this case you ARE wrong...

[rhett o rick]

13. Good post and I like your avitar. nm

[ProudDad]

18. Ah, one more in the chorus

of just because the entire Civilized world has been able to implement Universal Single-Payer that's no reason to suppose that it could be done here...

Somehow insanely complicated systems to maintain corporate welfare for the insurance and drug industries is "passable" but Universal Single-Payer is not???

Thank you for your support (not)...

[ProudDad]

21. On balance, They ARE part of the problem

NOT part of the solution.

[ThoughtCriminal]

15. Here's the BIG catch for AARP/Aetna

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/17/health/17insure.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

<snip>
"People ages 50 to 64 often find that health insurance is unavailable or unaffordable when they try to buy it on their own. AARP said its underwriting practices would be less stringent than those of many commercial insurers, but it reserved the right to deny coverage to some sick people ages 50 to 64.

To guarantee issuance of a policy to every applicant in that age group is “just not economically feasible,” Ms. Sweeney said.
</snip>

---

Been down this road a few times trying to find reliable, affordable coverage since we're self-employed. If it's not HIPPA certified group coverage, they CAN and WILL deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. From experience, I have found that ANY claim will be AUTOMATICALLY denied on the basis of pre-existing condition, regardless of medical evidence to the contrary.

[ProudDad]

19. This is no abberation either

"Been down this road a few times trying to find reliable, affordable coverage since we're self-employed. If it's not HIPPA certified group coverage, they CAN and WILL deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. From experience, I have found that ANY claim will be AUTOMATICALLY denied on the basis of pre-existing condition, regardless of medical evidence to the contrary."

This is the Standard Operating Procedure in the for-profit health insurance game...

[booley]

24. If memory serves...

Gingrich considered his co-option of AARP one of his biggest successes.

Why do you think they supported so much of the Shrub's early agenda?

[youthere]

25. Uh..Kucinich was invited to the AARP Forum in Iowa...

There were two Iowa events that Kucinich was not a part of ...Tom Harkin's steak fry and the AARP forum. He was invited to participate and required to meet the following criteria:

* Have filed an FEC Form F-2, "Statement of Candidacy," with the Federal
Election Commission;

* Have publicly announced an intention to run for the nomination of the
Republican or the Democratic Party for President of the United States;

* Have a Campaign Office inside the State of Iowa; and,

* Have employed at least one paid campaign staff representative to
perform full-time campaign duties in the State of Iowa on behalf of the
candidate since at least August 1, 2007.


http://action.dennis4president.com/forum/posts/id_1232

Dennis chose not to establish the office in Iowa so was not eligible to participate. For the record neither was Mike Gravel or Del LaMagna, Albert B Howard, James Prattas,or Danny M Francis.

Kucinich's absence from the Iowa AARP forum was not some conspiracy to exclude him because of his position on health care...he simply did not meet the requirements set forth by AARP. Obama also did not participate in the AARP forum.

I agree, AARP pretty much sucks, but lets hate them for the right reason.

[ProudDad]

27. I dont' hate them. I do not support them

I don't support ANY for-profit health insurance corporations.

That's the RIGHT REASON to not support them.

[depakid]

29. They sold their members out on Medicare Part D

So really, does anything else that they do surprise anyone?