AARP checks Obama
By POLITICO STAFF

The AARP spoke out Tuesday to correct President Obama's statement, in Portsmouth, N.H., suggesting that the influential ...

... advocacy group had endorsed Democractic health care reform legislation.

AP: "At the town hall in Portsmouth, N.H., Obama said, 'We have the AARP onboard because they know this is a good deal for our seniors.' He added, 'AARP would not be endorsing a bill if it was undermining Medicare.'

"But Tom Nelson, AARP's chief operating officer, said, 'Indications that we have endorsed any of the major health care reform bills currently under consideration in Congress are inaccurate.'"

AARP officials have appeared at White House events promoting health care reform and hosted a recent tele-town hall on health care featuring Obama.

Old news, besides he wasn't all that far off track. I am a member of aarp and while they are specifically concerned with Medicare, they also are quick to point out the false rumors in the news media about the public plan. The are FOR reform, but won't stand by anything until a final bill is done and can be examined.

He should have just said they are watching this closely and are on board for health care reform and left it at that. He did fix it on his second town hall. but of course if one word is out of place he'll get hammered for it, even if it was unintentional.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11, 2009

Contact
AARP Media Relations, 202-434-2560

AARP Reacts to President’s Health Care Town Hall

WASHINGTON – AARP Chief Operating Officer Tom Nelson issued this statement following remarks by the President at a town hall event in New Hampshire on health care reform.

“AARP has been working with Democrats and Republicans to fix our broken health care system.

“While the President was correct that AARP will not endorse a health care reform bill that would reduce Medicare benefits, indications that we have endorsed any of the major health care reform bills currently under consideration in Congress are inaccurate.

“AARP supports specific measures that would help older Americans and their families – including bipartisan proposals to create a new follow-up care benefit in Medicare that would help prevent hospital re-admissions, as well as to address the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap known as the ‘doughnut hole.’ We also support the need for lawmakers and the Administration to act this year to fix what doesn’t work in the health care system.

“We share the President’s commitment to act this year, and our members appreciate his insistence that any final reform package will not reduce Medicare benefits for the millions of people that literally depend on that program as a lifeline.

“We look forward to working with leaders of both parties, including the President, to build a final package we could endorse that addresses the concerns of the 50-plus population and brings quality, affordable health care choices to every American.”

For more information about AARP’s Health Action Now campaign, please visit www.healthactionnow.org.


http://www.aarp.org/aarp/presscenter/pressrelease/articles/prez_townhall_reaction.html

I have posted many times what cuts to medicare will do...Seems no one is worried when in fact WE ALL should be worried!!!!!

DONT MESS WITH MEDICARE PERIOD!!!!!!!!

It sounds like AARP likes the plan here.

AARP on Medicare and Health Care Reform
Source: AARP.org | August 2009


Medicare provides stable health coverage for 45 million Americans. You can’t be denied coverage because of a preexisting condition, you get to choose your doctor, and you have access to prescription drug coverage.

But everything about Medicare isn’t perfect. Today, on average, people on Medicare spend about 30 percent of their incomes on out-of-pocket health costs—including premiums for supplemental coverage. These costs are six times greater than for people with employer coverage. And, they’ve seen their Medicare premiums double since 2000.

While millions of people in Medicare have seen their retirement savings shrink because of the recession, their health costs have continued to rise and their drug costs have continued to soar. While many people may think health care reform is just about coverage for the uninsured, it’s actually about fixing what’s broken about our health care system—and improving Medicare is a critical part.

You may have heard by now that changes to Medicare will be part of health care reform. Why does Medicare need to be improved? Because waste, fraud, abuse and inefficiencies are not only costing you more but are undermining the Medicare program for you today, and ultimately for your children and grandchildren. Unless Congress takes action now, Medicare will not be able to effectively serve you or future beneficiaries.

While change is never easy, there are common-sense solutions that will help put Medicare on more stable ground so it can save money and continue to provide good care for older Americans.

Strengthening and Improving Medicare

We need to make sure any changes to Medicare protect your health and financial security, and there are some areas where we can improve your care and put Medicare on more stable financial ground.

These improvements include:

* Closing the Part D coverage gap, or “doughnut hole,” where beneficiaries are responsible for all of their prescription drug costs;
* Ensuring Medicare pays doctors fairly so you can keep the doctor of your choice or more easily find a doctor if you don’t have one;
* Lowering out-of-pocket costs for preventive services;
* Preventing costly and avoidable—and even dangerous—hospital readmissions;
* Cracking down on fraud and abuse, including aggressively pursuing those who fraudulently bill Medicare;
* Eliminating wasteful spending, such as by reducing overpayments to insurance companies;
* Improving the coordination of care for people with chronic health conditions; and
* Making it easier for low-income seniors to get help with paying Medicare premiums and other health expenses.

---->>>>Myths about Medicare

Throughout the debate, people may try to scare you about health care reform and what it means for Medicare. They may say things like “health care reform is going to cut Medicare benefits.” Don’t be misled, and don’t let them frighten you.
None of the health care reform proposals being considered by Congress would cut your Medicare benefits or increase your out-of-pocket costs for Medicare services. In fact, savings found in Medicare will be used to fill in gaps in the program, such as closing the “doughnut hole.”

We’re committed to ensuring that health care reform improves the quality of your care, lowers the amount of money you pay out of your own pocket, and makes sure doctors are paid fairly so they continue to treat you and other people in Medicare. At the same time, we believe some of the savings can be invested in health care reforms that strengthen the system for everyone, including those in Medicare.

Less money out of your pocket, the doctor of your choice, and better care—that’s what AARP is fighting for and that’s what health care reform will mean to people in Medicare.

We’re Fighting for You

While AARP recognizes and supports changes to Medicare that improve your care and strengthen the program, we will fight with the strength of our 40 million members against any legislative proposals that will cut benefits, raise out-of-pocket costs or reduce access to care.

The debate on health care reform is likely to last for many months. During that time, AARP will be ready and willing to provide you with information about what health care reform means for the Medicare program and what it means for you.

For more information about how the proposed changes to Medicare will impact you, call toll free 1-866-AARP-449 (1-866-227-7449).

http://www.aarp.org/health/articles/aarp_on_medicare_and_health_care_reform.html

I will rephrase...Do not cut medicare coverage!!!! FIX THE PROBLEMS!!!!!

While AARP recognizes and supports changes to Medicare that improve your care and strengthen the program, we will fight with the strength of our 40 million members against any legislative proposals that will cut benefits, raise out-of-pocket costs or reduce access to care.

I can't understand why anyone on this forum and in their right mind would support cuts to Medicare.

Myth: Health care reform will hurt Medicare.

Fact: None of the health care reform proposals being considered by Congress would cut Medicare benefits or increase your out-of-pocket costs for Medicare services.

Fact: Health care reform will lower prescription drug costs for people in the Medicare Part D coverage gap or "doughnut hole" so they can get better afford the drugs they need.

Fact: Health care reform will protect seniors' access to their doctors and reduce the cost of preventive services so patients stay healthier.

Fact: Health care reform will reduce costly, preventable hospital readmissions, saving patients and Medicare money.

Fact: Rather than weaken Medicare, health care reform will strengthen the financial status of the Medicare program.

Bottom Line: For people in Medicare, health care reform is about lowering prescription drug costs for people in the "doughnut hole", keeping the doctor of your choice, improving the quality of care, and eliminating billions in waste that is causing poor care and medical errors.


http://aarp.convio.net/site/PageNavigator/Myths_vs_Facts

Fact: No one has yet explained how they are going to pay for this.

He said over and over any cuts to medicare would not affect benefits but would affect money's given to insurers. Sounded pretty logical to me. Don't have the specific language he used but I am sure it can be looked up.

I must not have been very clear. NO one wants cuts in benefits to medicare, but it is interesting that the people that don't want a public plan are so stubborn on not wanting medicare messed with. It's a government run program, thought you were against that? Just curious.

It's been talked about all week.. what news are you watching? And Obama explained it 3 times at town halls and today on the radio.

I have more important things to do than watch some troglodytes trying to explain the inexplicable.

The real answer is that he has no clue how he is going to "actually" pay for it. If you call printing money and increasing the debt, "paying" for it..

Well then... I suppose you must be correct..

Ok they don't listen to anyone on the other side of the issue, I can hardly force you to. So you will just have to believe what you want to I guess.

I don't give a hoot about being correct, I just want to be as informed as I can be considering all the groups for an against and the reason they are for and against.