shAARP Talk: Observations from AARP

Kaiser Family Foundation has a new poll on the issues that the public wants to see Congress take action on. Big shock, the top domestic issue is health care for Democrats, Republicans and Independents. Just another reminder about how important this issue is to voters.

Lots of coverage in today’s papers on last night’s forum in Sioux City where McCain and Huckabee talked about health and financial security issues. The highlight comes from CNN: Huckabee says, "I think that frankly they're the losers for not being here," Huckabee told reporters following the forum. "I thought the format was the most refreshing we've had in this entire presidential campaign."
According to exit polls, roughly 1 in 4 voters in the 2006 election were AARP members, so maybe he's onto something...

SCHIP is again alive, if only for a short time. Still has to go back through the legislative wringer, but let's keep our fingers crossed for the 10 million kids who need health coverage.

It used to be that bells and whistles that made cars safer were only for the high rollers. No more. Today’s NY Times highlights what Detroit and others are offering drivers in new cars to make them safer and easier to drive. Among the toys are: cameras that see behind you and steering that can help prevent or correct a skid. Pretty cool, huh?

What’s key here is that the automotive industry recognizes that the needs of drivers is changing. People want to stay mobile as long as possible and “smarter” cars can help them do just that.

An interesting article this week in The New Republic by Jonathan Chait about what he deems “entitlement hysteria”. He brings up, correctly, that there’s a lot of talk, but not a lot of action in Washington on the long term health of Medicare and Social Security. Chait also argues that the reason for inaction is a lack of urgency and a lack of permanency. While this is somewhat true (nothing will fall apart tomorrow), what Chait is off on is the impact. For many (especially considering the housing market AND lack of savings), Social Security may be even more important in the future. While people still need to save and build a nest egg for themselves, they also need something they can rely on in retirement, which is what Social Security is all about.

When it comes to Medicare, Chait is right on – the biggest challenge to the future of Medicare, and health care more generally, is cost. That’s why it’s time the Presidential candidates start to address this issue, as well as financial security. The cost of inaction is too high, not just for us, but for the next generation.

The Hill: Social Security COLA fails to keep up with rising costs

Last week we learned how much next year’s Social Security checks will be, based on the program’s annual cost of living adjustment (COLA). The average benefit will increase 2.3 percent, not enough to help many beneficiaries keep up with the rising costs of energy and food.

Bloomberg: Medicare Advantage Plans Backed by Program's Elderly Recipients

AARP, the largest lobbying group for older Americans, wants to reduce payments to insurers for the Advantage programs, saying the money should be used to keep down Medicare premiums.

"We believe that the $54 billion in excess payments over the next five years can be better spent improving the Medicare program,'' said Andrew Nannis, a spokesman for the group, in an interview.

The Hill: Democrats tweak SCHIP in effort to override veto

“Everything we’ve been doing, we’ve continued doing,” a spokesman for the AARP said. Those activities have included dispatching their formidable lobbying team to shore up support on Capitol Hill for the SCHIP bill, print and TV ad campaigns and grassroots activity.

Bloomberg: Frank Says Mortgage Bill Needed to Restore Confidence

U.S. Representative Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, defended mortgage legislation introduced this week, saying new rules are needed to prevent future abuses and restore investor confidence.

Ray highlighted it this morning – Larry Lipman’s Medicare Monitor talking about the recent ads by AARP and the AMA on limiting payments to Medicare Advantage plans. What’s it all about? Basically insurance companies are getting paid to the tune of $54 billion while people who receive Medicare have seen their premiums double since 2000. Something is out of whack when the insurance companies are getting the gravy and the Medicare beneficiaries are getting stuck with the bill.

Today, Congress is hard at work talking (not doing anything just yet) on financial security issues, including mortgage reform, retirement plans, and 401k fees. Why should we care? If you want to even think about retiring, you have to consider getting a mortgage and saving for retirement. How can Congress help? By passing legislation regulating predatory lending and ensuring everyone has an opportunity to save. We’ll keep you posted on what they’re doing.

Austin American-Statesman: AARP ad focuses on Medicare Advantage

AARP is launching a series of ads in newspapers that circulate on Capitol Hill in an effort to persuade lawmakers to cut payments to Medicare Advantage plans.

The ads argue that insurance companies, not Medicare beneficiaries, are the ones who benefit from the higher payments that Medicare Advantage plans receive.

Politico: New bills aim to help delinquent borrowers

In addition to backing the bankruptcy changes, AARP also supports a long-term approach to prevent predatory lending, proposed in a bill by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.).

“This is a pretty broad issue, and we are making a broad campaign,” said AARP Federal Affairs Director David Certner.

Washington Post: Car Advice for Older Drivers

AAA says the CarFit® program was created by the American Society on Aging in collaboration with AAA Mid-Atlantic, AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association.

MSNBC: US healthcare burden is 'causing pension cutbacks'

The rising cost of healthcare is cutting into Americans' ability to contribute to their retirement accounts and save for other long-term expenses, according to a survey to be released on Wednesday.

While some of the candidates might be lame for not attending the AARP Iowa issues forum, there is good news. The event will now be a forum with Senator John McCain and former Governor Mike Huckabee talking about health and financial security issues AND it will be online.

Be sure to check out the webcast this Thursday, October 25th at 7PM CT (8PM ET).

I know it is close to 80 degrees in most of the northeast today, but eventually it will get cold. And some people have trouble affording keeping their homes heated. According to a recent blog posting by David Certner, funding for LIHEAP isn’t keeping up.

Winter doesn't mess around. That’s why Congress shouldn’t mess around either.

Presidential candidates are out and about chattering about health and financial security. The latest? Senator Biden is expected to announce his health care plan in Iowa today. And former Senator Fred Thompson was just out and about in Florida talking about Social Security yesterday.

It’s great that candidates are talking about these issues, now we need to hear some details. And see some action.

CNNMoney.com: Facing up to the costs of long-term care

"You are more or less married to an insurer and you can't really change," says John Rother, director of policy and strategy for AARP, the retirees' lobby.

New York Times: A Few Lessons on Saving, Courtesy of Employers

AARP noted that nearly all the 50 companies that made its 2007 list of best employers for workers older than 50 listed financial planning information or training as a benefit.

New York Times: A Place in the Sun (and Close to Campus)

As the AARP Magazine has pointed out, boomers are a demanding, some might say spoiled, generation. One of the magazine’s surveys found that boomers sought places with a “youthful vibe,” great medical facilities, cultural and educational opportunities, and sophisticated restaurants — not your conventional retirement community.

New York Times: For Love and a Little Money

“People used to say, ‘Here I am, what do you need done?’ ” said Deborah Russell, director of work-force issues for AARP. “Today’s retirees say, ‘Here’s what I do well, how can you use it, and what will you pay?’ ”

Washington Post: In the Storm of Divorce, a Parent and Grandparent Can Offer Safe Haven

Know your rights. You don't really have any. According to the Grandparent Information Center on the AARP Web site: "Grandparents do not have an automatic legal right to visit with their grandchildren." This is why you need to overcome your sorrow and build working relationships with your adult child, with the ex, the new partner and the in-law grandparents.

AP reported that AARP, along with IPTV have retooled the previously scheduled debate to a candidates forum with Senator John McCain and former Governor Mike Huckabee. The candidates will talk about health and financial security issues.

AARP members in IA will be lucky to hear from these two candidates on the issues, but those who are not attending are really missing out on talking to an important constituency in the state. It’s their loss.

Blogs have been talking about 10 Questions, a new opportunity for people to ask the candidates questions about the issues they care about. It is sponsored by blogs from both sides of the aisle, as well as the mainstream media and looks like it will be quite interesting and, more importantly, another forum to get candidates to address health and financial security.

Intro video below, check it out!

Los Angeles Times: A friendly town among the hills

Line Vreven, director of international affairs at AARP, the Washington-based advocacy group for the 39 million Americans ages 50 or older, noted that Panama recently reduced the length of tourist visas to 30 days from 60 days, making shopping for a house more complicated and pressure-packed for newcomers.

Washington Examiner: Power Profile: Bill Novelli: Former ad man unites AARP’s 38 million members in pursuit of retirement security

Novelli walks a tightrope in many aspects of his job. He has managed to bring together organizations as diametrically dissimilar as the Business Roundtable and the Service Employees International Union, persuading them to join with AARP in an alliance called Divided We Fail that pushes for affordable health care and long-term financial security.

New York Times: Health Plan Used by U.S. Is Debated as a Model

While health policy experts acknowledge that the federal employees’ program could be a workable way to reach some of the uninsured, they also say there is nothing about it that would help address what they see as an underlying reason for the growing numbers of uninsured: the nation’s runaway medical costs. And without major changes, they say, the model would be sharply limited in achieving the goal of universal coverage for all Americans.

Washington Post: Leavitt's Healthy Vision

Leavitt, who on this occasion said not a word about the SCHIP veto override attempt then looming before Congress, instead described what he and his colleagues are doing to prepare for the coming revolution in health care in this country. It is a story that, while less publicized than the SCHIP fight, holds promise of a better day not just for children but for all Americans.