ShAARP Session: Observations from AARP

Help is not reaching all people who need medicine. We need to have the figure raised that prevents many seniors from getting medicine at a lower price when they hit the gap. Many Seniors cannot take generic drugs and this really hurts.

Please take a look at what can be done to ensure people are getting the medicine they need. It is sad that this country can help others but not their own seniors.

Thank You,
Laura

1. For those who itemize tax returns, reduce/eliminate the 7.5% deductable for health care costs.
2. Exclude the first $5,000-$10,000 of earned interest income from taxable income. If you want to encourage saving, and self reliance, this would help.
3. Have a wany to those who don't itemize the be a beneficiary of point number 1.

In no particular order of importance:
1. Abolish the Electoral College.
2. Health Care Reform should follow the ideas of Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio..
3. As soon as possible all Health Insurance should be provided/administered entirely by the Federal Government.
4. All private insurance companies should be forced to offer the same basic policy . They might be allowed to sell extra coverage to people. who want extra coverage;.
5. All insurance companies should use just ONE identical set of forms.
6. Vision and hearing devices should be included in basic coverage.
7. Laws in Congress should pertain to ONLY one subject per law/bill.
8. Abolish bonuses for all federal employees.
9. Never again let any departmen of the Federal Government hire private security firms in war zones. Cancel such arrangements NOW and use our military forces.
10. Permit all honorably discharged veterans to use private doctors/hospitals at no charge. This should include any/all drug/therapies offered at present by the VA.
11. Reduce by one fourth the amount of time required to permit generic drugs to go on the market.
12. Eliminate the cap on income which issubject to Socail Security tax.
13. The U.S. Senate should be restructed so that each Senator represents about the same number of people. It is WRONG that small population states have the same number of Senators as the large population states. There should be 50 senatorial districts. Where necessary the district will possibly include parts of more than one state. The boundary lines would be adjusted according to census numbers every ten years.
14. All Adjustable Rate Mortgages should be banned by law. Existing ARMs should be changed to fixed-rate loans immediately.
15. When/if we have a sane immigration policy, any fines imposed on present, non-criminal immigrants should be paid into Social Security/Medicare.
16. Each Legal immigrant allowed into the U.S.A. should pay a substantial fee of of at least $1,000.00 (The fees should go to SSA/Medicare). They often pay more to get here illegally. Also, They should be transported by us at commercial rates to get here. Further, their health should be completely inspected before they come.

Until we can get our economy back in shape, none of the rest really matters. If we lose all our benefits due to the economy none of the rest matters and this is really important.... if we don't start taking our country back from China, we may need to learn a new language, so again none of the rest will matter. Buy American and read the labels. Write letters to Walmart and others large corporations. Especially drug companies. Drug companies can afford to give seniors lower drug prices, but they won't. If they would cut back on THEIR spending, such as drug reps buying expensive lunches for the Doctor's offices they push their drugs to. I use to work for a Doctor's office, at least 3 lunches a week were bought. The reps are paid an enormous salary as well.
Bottom line to all this is, it boils down to a lot of little things that companies can cut back on to save money and pass the savings down to us. Don't be fooled by the talk of large overhead. They make their own large overhead. So check all these things out about big conglomerates and write letters to anyone you think it will matter or make a difference to.
We need regulations put on these companies, including insurance, Doctor's fees (I saw the Physician's Assistant last visit for less than 5 minutes, insurance was billed $160 and the info given to schedule my procedure was wrong and did not have all the information), drug costs, gas.... oh, could I go on and on.
So please write those letters and don't let up. This is our country, let's take it back!!!

What is the rate cut do to me ?

Well may be nothing. Because I happen to be a law abiding citizen. I have been streching my dollars and paying my bills (even credit cards) on time. I have a hefty mortgage which is way over the price of the house(what's new).

But unless I default on the payment or scare the banks that I am walking away from my house, they are not going to do anything to help me, are they. Well if I worked for the Bush administration, I could have helped myself with a couple of $Billion from Wallstreet or Enron.

Stabilizing Social Security and keeping Medicare sensible and affordable is very important. With all the money going out to help the financial world, it's critical that these two programs continue to be adequately funded and strengthened.

Imagine if Bush had achieved his goal of privatizing Social Security? It is hoped that more a sensible administration will end the reign of "free market" folly.

I hope that our government will not only recognize the need for medical care for all stages of life but do something about it such as stop subsidizing private insurance, stop destroying Medicare by slowly erroding services and physicians fees and above all stop calling Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid entitlement programs as it is really affordable insurance and in this country it should be a right.

I would hope that our representatives would pay for their own medical care as we do.

If you do not have your health, nothing has any meaning.

Sincerely,

Marilyn

Remove social security income from being taxed or at least raise the income levels significantly before that income does get taxed!! This would solve many problems for seniors just getting by.

I'm tired of hearing so much about health insurance for everyone. I have a medicare advantage plan and still cannot afford the healthcare I need. I need surgery on my shoulder but first I have to pay the doc almost $400 - his part - before he will even schedule the surgery. Then I have the hospital to pay also. I don't have the money. I also need a hip replacement but let's not even go there. I have a missing crown on the lower right side of my mouth and a missing filling on the lower left side. they are sharp and keep my toungue and the insides of my mouth sore all the time. I need $2500 to get them fixed. Our income is $36 over the limit for any assistance. Talk about a gap. Thank God I don't need lots of meds or I guess I would just have to die.

With all the bailout nonsense taking place it is my great hope that the spirit of self sufficiency is rekindled within the USA. We are rapidily becoming a society that only know how to reach for a handout. I wish that AARP and other such agencies will put less inphasis on handout and bailouts and encourage all to start being dependent upon themselves. Social Security was never designed to be a complete retirement package. It was always a supplement. We seasoned citizens should remember those before us that made their own way without government help or intervention. I watch on the local news stories of how bad it is for seniors, but when interviewed the ones whining the most think nothing is their responsibility. Get real and become in charge of yourself.

I think all of us should hound Congressman and Senetors to help
the seniors who are living in povorty who have to do without all
of the things they need to live a decent life.Greed seems to drive the most people in the world and the U.S.A.Their motto is look out for #1 and forget all others.Greed got the U.S. and the world into this downfall and the working class people are suffering for it.
Why not lend a helping hand to those that really need help.
Helping others makes me feel good all over.

Curtis

I WAS hoping that AARP would get my name right in the introduction on the emails they send out, but to no avail. I WAS hoping that AARP would offer some MEDI-GAP type insurance to cover folks like me who are disabled and receiving SS disability and Medicare who are NOT 65 years old yet, to no avail.

I will continue my AARP membership knowing that they DO a lot of good and that they are sort of like a union - a spokesman between us and the bigshots.

My hopes for 2009 are that everyone without medical insurance, including myself, will stay healthy. I am 61 and too young for Medicare. Since my only income is SS widows benefits, I can't afford insurance. I fear that I will lose my home if I get sick. I had a bout with breast cancer in 2006 and, due to complications, have been unable to work since. I feel very blessed however, since I am still alive.

Some things I would urge Congress to do:
1.remove the earnings cap on social security, and use that money to shore up the program
2.get out of Iraq and negotiate an end to the problems in Afganistan
3.spend economic stimulus money on building up rapid transit systems coast to coast (reducing oil consumption, creating jobs, resurrecting many communities that have been cut off by lack of rail service)

I would like to see American Principles, Values and Laws that have been trampled on for the last eight years restored and enforced. The first step would be to see that George W. Bush, Richard Cheney and hundreds of other Bush Administration criminals are held accountable for their criminal behavior. They must be shown that the "rule of law" is far superior to their oligharchic and facist obfiscation of the "law of the land."
In order to accomplish this every American must particpate and strongly demand that President-Elect Barack Obama and their Congressional Representatives TAKE ACTION. If they do not take action we must throw out those members of Congress who fail to act in the 2010 elections.
If Congress will not take actions to enforce our laws then they are, just like Bush, negating all law. When and what will they too, next decide not to enforce or do. Many in Congress (House and Senate) have spend eight years complaining about the Bush Administration's criminal acts but have taken no action whatsoever to curb Bush's actions or hold Bush accountable for those actions. Individual political survival, political fears and self-interest are not excuses for shirking responsibility to constituancies and the nation.
President-Elect Obama must be pursuaded to vigorously investigate and prosecute Bush, Cheney, and others in the Bush Administration who have committed criminal acts. After he takes office Barack Obama and his Justice Department will have the principal role in pursuing the criminal activities of the Bush Administration.
Our current serious problems (deficit spending, economic recession, healthcare costs, environmental issues, educational issues, budget deficits, trade deficits, joblessness, increased poverty rates, .....) have either been created by or substantially exascerbated by flawed Bush Policies and Practices.
Among them: overt bias to "Big-Money and Big-Business" and, against the vast majority (90+%)of Americans; criminal usurpation of ungranted powers; criminal deceit and lies; unbounded arrogance and egomanical behavior; war mongering; the use of criminal and inhumane torture.
I would reference all, who are interested, to the Dennis Kucinich(OH,D) and John Conyers(MI,D) Articles of Impeachment, that have been introduced in the House of Representatives, against George W. Bush and Richard Cheney. To date these Articles of Impeachment have not been acted upon. This inaction is the result of Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi's having "taken them off the table." This is a gross dereliction of duty and responsibility on the gutless Speaker's part.
The Speaker must be urged to do her duty and take up her responsibility NOW.

The Goverment both Democrats and republicans have kept borrowing money from Social Security and saying that it would be paid back with intrest and all of us know that it has never happened,and we draw less in payments every year because we are charged more for Medicare each year and this was supposed to be free to all persons who retired after they were 62 but all we have had is a constant increase in payments,if we get 3.5% cost of living than they take 2.8% and tells us to be happy. Medicare is to be used for the older people to help them with all their medical problems and living expenses but with all the cut backs that the goverment has created it hardly covers the expenses for the older people and when they have to take it out of their pockets it takes it out of their mouth so they have to go without food so they can make payments to medicare and the doctors and hospitals,Now more Doctors are stopping Medicare every day because of the low payments they recieve, sometimes it doesnt even cover the drugs that they use to help us.
Now they are giving our Social Security that we worked for all our life to the illegal aliens and this is taking it away from the people that it is meant for.
My fear is now that OBama has been elected that he will fullfill his promises to all the aliens that he in fact will put them on Social security even if they do not work,Its time that the congress and this country starts thinking of its own people who fought to keep it free first (and the people who fought are all AMERICANS who were born or Naturalised and took the oath to protect America).
It is time that this congress stops saying that they are Democrats or Republicans and they have to work for their party,now it the time to throw the words Democrat and republican out the window and work for their country (Not the other Countries that they seem to put first but their own Country) and work for the people who put them in office no matter where thay came from,we put them there and we can remove them if they stop working for us.(Social Security was and is paid for by the people out of their pay and it belongs to the people who wroked so hard for their retirement,it belongs to the people not the Goverment)

I would like to see Congress tighten up loopholes in HUD fair housing legislation, so that the right to have Emotional Support Animals is clarified:

1) an ESA does NOT need specialized training to be able to assist with specific emotional disorders. The solace that companion animals provide is instinctive when a close bond is formed between a human and an animal companion.

2) a “doctors letter” to show need for an ESA can come from any medical professional who is licensed to write prescriptions for drugs for emotional conditions or any mental health professional who is licensed to do mental health counseling therapy.

3) HIPPA law protects the right to medical privacy and association boards should not have access to sensitive health details.

According to Gary A. Poliakoff, head of the Becker and Poliakoff law firm that represents many condo associations in Florida, "...The Courts and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have interpreted the [federal Fair Housing Act] to allow not only trained service animals, but also emotional support animals. Proposed HUD Rules on the subject will vastly expand the definition of those pets allowed to such an extent, that if approved, will pretty much eviscerate no pet restrictions..."

To contact your two US Senators to make this request, go to http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm, then choose your state from the drop down box.

To contact your US Representative, go to http://www.house.gov/ and fill in your zip code plus 4 in the upper left to find your representative. When the answer comes up, click on the link for your representative and follow instructions on the site for contacting him/her. Don’t know your full zip code? Go to http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp to find it.

To contact the President elect, go to http://change.gov/page/s/yourstory.

Citizens FOR Pets in Condos www.petsincondos.org is a 501-c3 tax exempt private operating foundation dedicated to increasing acceptance of companion animals in condos and other types of association-run housing. We educate the public about the health benefits of having animal companions and also advocate for responsible pet ownership/guardianship. Our motto: “creating a win-win situation for both people & pets.”

Make applying for Medicare less complicated,especially when changing status from employer-backed coverage. When reaching the eligible age while still covered in the above mentioned way, it can be very confusing to then know exactly what to do at retirement time. The same goes for when one is covered by spouse's employer.

I think single payer health care is needed so that all americans can be insured!

I think the most important issue to work on in 2009 is the economy. However I think the two most important issues that AARP can be of help is to try to acheive affordable health care and to secure social security.

I appreciate the good work to delay mandatory IRA 2009 withdrawal for over 70 1/2. It should be extended at least two more years if at all possible.

The 25 year old SS offset law for federal retirees should be repealed. I stared drawing Social Security at age 62. Now 9 years later it has risen to only $140 per month due to the offset. My federal pension is very modest to say the least. I don't have a zillion dollar fat cat high level and congressional pension.

Also, federal retiress should be allowed to count medical insurance payments for tax deduction purposes just like active federal employees. Talk about unfair, this takes the cake.

I would like to see AARP back HR 1322 The Emergency Retiree Health Benefits Protection Act.

Despite the economy, we are one of the richest countries in the world, yet we do not have universal health insurance. We DO require that all cars be insured, but not all people. Why? Car insurance makes certain that you have liability. But who pays when someone waits too long to go for medical care because they can't afford it and then requires thousands-even hundreds of thousands-of dollars in medical care? We do.

While restoring confidence in the economy is of utmost importance, I feel AARP can be most effective in pushing for a fair universal health care plan. It is time for the USA to put its ingenuity and technology to work in introducing a fair and comprehensive health care plan (which means many parties will have to make compromises for the betterment of all).

I hope that if the rumors that Nancy Pelosi flies a private large jet to California and back frequently at tax payer expense are true, that there will be a tax payer revolt!!! She and congress want the CEOs of the major corps to give up their private planes, which I also favor, but apparently She feels her own needs outweigh the carbon footprint and expense. Let her pay for it herself if she doesn't want to take the red eye scheduled flight instead.

All of us NEED to have RESPECT for others!
Even AARP is constantly showing and talking about the Boot Thrower, just like what we see and hear on MSNBC constantly!

I am so ashamed of a(so called)media giant and AARP, since this is all being done to try to disrespect our President. Can some-one please tell me why it is necessary (in the scheme of all other problems we have) that MSNBC or AARP should ever be talking about the boot throwing incident?
J.D.

I expect to be blessed in the year to come as I have always been.
I expect AARP to continue their outstanding work.
I expect our government to change from politically driven decisions
to morally driven decisions.
I expect social security to be used for those who have paid into it,
not those who live off us tax payers or immigrants who don't
desire to be citizens and pay into the system or illegal
immigrants.
I expect this nation to return to it roots which were based on morality
not what feels good or is easy.
I expect our flag to be honored and those who desecrate it to be
punished as a presidential assassin would be.

It's true that our economy is in a shambles and I don't know if the new administration is willing to do what is needed to make the present, and the future, better. Regulation is absolutely necessary if free enterprise is to help everybody.

But as far as I'm concerned, the most important thing we must address is the health care of US citizens. Anyone that says we have a good health care system is totally out of touch with reality. In fact, it ammazes me that in a Nation where so many people insist that out founders set us up as Cristian Nation, and who insist that they are Chrisiatian allow the current program to exist. Without taking up too much space I really think the health system the Canadians have, should be adopted by the US, and with the ingenuity we like to claim fame to, and considering that we spend more than $7,000 per person per year, improved upon. (After all, aren't we the greatest people in the world?) Actually, considering that countries with health care programs better than ours do what they do with far less money spent on health than we do. And not only is everbody covered in such countries but in many, both dental care and eye care are also covered.

Dan Kanoza

My hope for 2009 is that AARP take stronger stands on environment and energy issues, especially the overpopulation problem which should greatly address my energy and envirionment concerns.

What about those people caught inbetween REAL retirement where they can access their pension, 401k, IRAs, etc. without penalty; sign-up for Social Security, apply for Medicare. There are 10s of thousands of people who are under age 59.5 who were downsized, laid-off or had a major illness that incapacitated them & used up all their savings.

Even if they are out looking for a job right now, in this economy there are few & far inbetween jobs to be had. Even if they did everything "right" - at least according to all those wonderful financial planners (ha!) - putting 15% to 20% of their earnings into IRAs, 401k or other retirement plans & now having to pay a penalty to access THEIR money, through no fault of their own. How about something to help them out????

They aren't working so can't enjoy the benefit of buying more units to add to those accounts at a lower rate. They will never be able to replace the money they lost in these type of accounts. Their hands are tied because if they take all the money out to put in some other type of account they have to pay full taxes + the 10% penalty & to add more salt to the wound, their homes, which were their "fall back" reserve for money are losing value - even if they've maintained them well & even updated them. Talk about a Catch 22!!!

Most, if not all of these people also do NOT have any, or very little medical insurance. So, God help them if they have a chronic illness or a major medical event happens.

So - - its not just retirees who are on fixed income who are suffering. Its anyone who tied up their cash in retirement accounts, real estate or other funds their financial advisors told them to, then through bad management decisions at the company they may have worked at for 30 years find themselves without a job, having a decreasing net worth, not much chance of getting a job & at higher risk of medical problems with no insurance to cover it. These people are trying to live on even less than fixed income! What is being done to help them???

It doesn't make a difference who is in power because both Democrats and Republicans are corrupt and do anything to line their pockets.

I really hope that President Barack Obama will get back to helping home owners save their homes by, for example, halting the relentless adjustment of ARMs. This seemed to be one root cause of our national financial disaster and has not been addressed by Paulson’s bailout of banks. Bush’s approach of saving the big players while the little people drown is just another version of failed “trickle down economics”. The Reagan-inspired Republican philosophy to “get the government off our backs” is now obviously catastrophic nonsense. It has never been clearer that we need intelligent and diligent regulation of financial markets and I am sure this will be a priority for President Obama.

UNFAIR TAX TREATMENT
Many of us have loss a lot of money in the stock market the past two years. The IRS will tax you fully on a stock market gain in the year that it occurred; however, the IRS will only let you take a $1,500 (single) or $3,000 (married) Capital Loss deduction per year. If you took a $100,000 Capital Loss this past year and have no more Capital Gains or Losses, it will take more than 66 years (single) or 33 years (married) to complete your deduction. You will die with a large reserve in the Capital Loss deduction that will simply disappear--you and your heirs will lose this deduction!
We need to be able to take a much large deduction or percentage of our Capital Losses, so that we will not lose these deductions.
Even if you have a five-year income averaging method, you will still lose a good portion of these deductions. We need to have our tax code amended to be more fair.

Like most of the other comments here my concern is the incredible need for a national health care plan.

Rather than comment I'd like to compliment the posters because what they say is a reflection of how they have educated themselves on the issues they present. That seems to be sorely lacking in the general population.

In 2009 the government needs ro regulate how the $700 billion bailout to the "fat cats" is managed. The amount received should be "capped" to each entity. ALL executive bonuses should be excluded if no profit was realized. After all, bonuses are a reward for outstanding performance. I also believe a portion of the amount received should be utilized to protect the jobs of the workers; the people who keep the businesses running. Stop rewarding failure!

Create a health care system like that in Canada.
Nationalize the energy industry.
Get out of Iraq immediately.
Limit executive compensation to a percentage of what the lowest paid employee makes.
Make the tax system more progressive.

A universal health care system. I believe a single payer approach is best to remove the inefficiencies from the system.

Until then, AARP should establish a group health insurance plan that provides competitive group health coverage for those under 65 rather than selling the AARP name for use by insurance companies that decide who they will and will not cover.

We must establish universal health care operated by the Federal Govt. A signle payer plan is the only one that will really work. We have let insrance companies get rich for years and now is the time to stop.

Something must be done to bring back the middle class. We must stop the out flow of jobs overseas and put the work back in the U.S.

We must restart our manufacturing plants in the Country. We cannot survive as a service industry country

We must take the Cooperate Money out of Washington. This is ruining our Country and the President should try to force Congress to change the Laws. They cannot receive such money and still regulate the cooperations. Charlie