Where We Stand Health Reform—The Time to Act Is Now
Source: From the AARP Bulletin print edition | September 1, 2009
http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/policy/articles/nu09_randhansenhcr.html
Dear AARP Members,
Health care is dominating the news these days—and it should. All sides agree on the diagnosis: While America’s health care system is known for research and innovation, it unfortunately costs too much, wastes too much, makes too many mistakes and gives us back too little value for our money.
Rarely does a policy issue touch so closely to each of our lives. We hear every day from members who tell us heartbreaking stories … the 60-year-old who couldn’t afford her insurance and had to declare bankruptcy … the 80-year-old who can’t afford to fill his prescriptions … the 50-year-old breast cancer survivor crushed by health costs for her parents’ care and unable to get insurance for herself because of her preexisting condition.
Since health care is so personal yet big—accounting for a sixth of our nation’s economy—the solutions are complicated and confusing. There are many difficult questions to sort through, and reasonable people disagree on the wisdom of many specific proposals. Each of us owes it to ourselves to get educated on the issue and decide about these tough choices.
AARP is fighting to make sure health reform will:
Lower drug costs and strengthen Medicare. Close the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole,” ensure patients’ access to their doctors, not increase copays, and crack down on fraud and wasteful spending.
Protect your health care choices. Make sure you can choose your doctor, your health insurance plan and where to receive care.
End discrimination by insurance companies. Prevent insurance companies from denying you coverage because of a preexisting condition or using age to price Americans ages 50 to 64 out of affordable, quality health insurance.
Guarantee stable, affordable coverage. Ensure you have the security of knowing that if you lose or change jobs, you will be able to get affordable, quality health insurance.
The cost of doing nothing is unacceptable. Without reform, a family’s premiums for health insurance will almost double by 2016 to over $24,000. Medicare enrollees have already seen their premiums more than double this decade, and they already spend a third of their income on out-of-pocket health costs.
Despite the tremendous need for health care reform, many of you have expressed confusion, skepticism and even fear about what Congress is proposing.
These concerns are understandable. There has been a lot of misinformation and fear-mongering in this debate. From allegations about rationing care to wild reports of government-sponsored euthanasia, the rumors just keep getting crazier. Haven’t we all had enough?
Throughout the debate, we want to help you cut through the noise and find the facts about what health care reform means for you and your family.
AARP has been working with Republican and Democratic leaders for years, and we will continue to do so. To be clear: AARP has not endorsed any comprehensive health care reform bill—but we are fighting for a solution that improves health care for our members.
At the end of the day, the standard that AARP will use to judge the legislation is simple: Will this legislation improve health care and provide peace of mind to our members and their families?
We urge you to make your voice heard. Tell Congress not to let myths get in the way of fixing health care.
Sincerely,
A. Barry Rand, CEO
Jennie Chin Hansen, President
Source: From the AARP Bulletin print edition | September 1, 2009
http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/policy/articles/nu09_randhansenhcr.html
Dear AARP Members,
Health care is dominating the news these days—and it should. All sides agree on the diagnosis: While America’s health care system is known for research and innovation, it unfortunately costs too much, wastes too much, makes too many mistakes and gives us back too little value for our money.
Rarely does a policy issue touch so closely to each of our lives. We hear every day from members who tell us heartbreaking stories … the 60-year-old who couldn’t afford her insurance and had to declare bankruptcy … the 80-year-old who can’t afford to fill his prescriptions … the 50-year-old breast cancer survivor crushed by health costs for her parents’ care and unable to get insurance for herself because of her preexisting condition.
Since health care is so personal yet big—accounting for a sixth of our nation’s economy—the solutions are complicated and confusing. There are many difficult questions to sort through, and reasonable people disagree on the wisdom of many specific proposals. Each of us owes it to ourselves to get educated on the issue and decide about these tough choices.
AARP is fighting to make sure health reform will:
Lower drug costs and strengthen Medicare. Close the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole,” ensure patients’ access to their doctors, not increase copays, and crack down on fraud and wasteful spending.
Protect your health care choices. Make sure you can choose your doctor, your health insurance plan and where to receive care.
End discrimination by insurance companies. Prevent insurance companies from denying you coverage because of a preexisting condition or using age to price Americans ages 50 to 64 out of affordable, quality health insurance.
Guarantee stable, affordable coverage. Ensure you have the security of knowing that if you lose or change jobs, you will be able to get affordable, quality health insurance.
The cost of doing nothing is unacceptable. Without reform, a family’s premiums for health insurance will almost double by 2016 to over $24,000. Medicare enrollees have already seen their premiums more than double this decade, and they already spend a third of their income on out-of-pocket health costs.
Despite the tremendous need for health care reform, many of you have expressed confusion, skepticism and even fear about what Congress is proposing.
These concerns are understandable. There has been a lot of misinformation and fear-mongering in this debate. From allegations about rationing care to wild reports of government-sponsored euthanasia, the rumors just keep getting crazier. Haven’t we all had enough?
Throughout the debate, we want to help you cut through the noise and find the facts about what health care reform means for you and your family.
AARP has been working with Republican and Democratic leaders for years, and we will continue to do so. To be clear: AARP has not endorsed any comprehensive health care reform bill—but we are fighting for a solution that improves health care for our members.
At the end of the day, the standard that AARP will use to judge the legislation is simple: Will this legislation improve health care and provide peace of mind to our members and their families?
We urge you to make your voice heard. Tell Congress not to let myths get in the way of fixing health care.
Sincerely,
A. Barry Rand, CEO
Jennie Chin Hansen, President
