"AARP Announces Support for Senate Health Reform Bill"

[Clio the Leo]

Ok, send this one to grandma and let her know she can come out of hiding.

AARP Announces Support for Senate Health Reform Bill

Posted by Dan Pfeiffer on December 15, 2009 at 1:13 PM EST

For decades, Americans have talked about fixing our broken health care system. Presidents from Truman to Nixon to Clinton have attempted and come up short. Now, though, we’re far closer than ever before to signing into law real health insurance reform – reform that will give insured Americans unprecedented stability and security, make quality, affordable insurance available to every American, and lower costs for American families, businesses, and the country as a whole.

And today the health insurance reform effort gained even more critical momentum as the AARP announced that it is supporting the Senate reform legislation.

This announcement is truly a big deal. For decades, the AARP has been on the front lines of the fight to cut health care costs and improve coverage for America’s seniors. They're supporting the passage of this bill because they know it will do just that. It will add years to the life of Medicare, reduce out of pocket costs – including for preventive care and prescription drugs – and ensure higher quality care for our seniors.

"This bill will strengthen Medicare by eliminating cost barriers to preventive care, reform Medicare's payment and delivery system to promote care coordination, and reduce hospital infections and preventable readmissions," AARP CEO A. Barry Rand wrote in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. “Moreover, through critical insurance market reforms and the establishment of exchanges, this bill will give the uninsured and small businesses access to quality affordable plans. The legislation also includes important provisions to strengthen home and community-based care and to assist individuals in saving to meet future long-term care needs.”

But the AARP’s support doesn’t just say a lot about what the bill will do. It says a lot about what the bill won’t do. It reaffirms that, for all the scary myths being spread by defenders of the status quo, nothing in reform will cut the Medicare benefits that have been guaranteed to America’s seniors.

It's safe to say that the AARP would not be supporting reform if it wasn’t a good deal for seniors.

Here's the money quote: "With your commitment to closing the doughnut hole in conference, consistent with the President's pledge, and the many positive features referenced above, AARP is pleased to support your efforts to obtain cloture, and urges timely passage of this legislation by the Senate."

So next time you hear the usual scary stories, it’s worth keeping this announcement in mind.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2009/12/15/aarp-announces-support-senate-health-reform-bill

You MIGHT want to tell her to give up the cigars though.



(I was looking for a pic of some nice, cute little grandma hugging the President but I found this one instead and couldn't resist it.)

[Pirate Smile]

1. I found one.

[Clio the Leo]

4. And you cant forget....

Granny Sarah!



Along with the classic...

http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c60bf53ef01156fbe86ac970c-500wi

[Vinnie From Indy]

2. Why wouldn't they? Their deal with big insurance is no longer threatened

AARP has a vested interest in the insurance industry. Good for big insurance, good for AARP.

[truedelphi]

3. Exactly. And as usual, this news article does not report on

That very important part of the quotient.

[Cleita]

5. Of course they would.

They are just a front for United Health Care.

[DURHAM D]

6. About that doughnut hole...

Medicare D - Once you spend $2,700 for covered drugs you slide into a hole - no coverage. You pay 100% for prescriptions.

After you get to $4,350 for the year you get help again.

The hole is $1,650 wide.

I read earlier today that the gap is closing by $500. So, does that raise the hole from $2,700 to $3,200 or lower the top of the gap to $3,850.

From the article:
Here's the money quote: "With your commitment to closing the doughnut hole in conference, consistent with the President's pledge, and the many positive features referenced above, AARP is pleased to support your efforts to obtain cloture, and urges timely passage of this legislation by the Senate."

They are NOT closing the doughnut hole - they are just narrowing it. But from what direction? I hate AARP anyway - this kind of double speak doesn't help. It just confuses seniors who don't know they are basically an insurance company and don't give a shit about seniors.

[eridani]

7. AARP siupported that shitty donut hole Medicare Part Disaster

I can't tear up my card this time because I already did it a couple of years ago. Fuck those shitstains. And fuck anyone who thinks that older people being forced to pay 3 times as much for the same shitty product helps us.

[DCBob]

8. More consumer groups have joined in support of the current bill...

-- American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
-- Consumers Union and Families USA
-- Service Employees International Union
-- Health Care for America Now

This bill is going to pass. Its better than the status quo and there is still an opportuity to make it better in conference.

[ej510]

9. This bill may be worse than the status quo. Forced coverage with out premium caps

or competition.

[asdjrocky]

10. Of course they did.

You know how much money they'll make off of this.

Here's a news flash, KBR endorses war.