ShAARP Session: Observations from AARP

Why is AARP in bed with liberal democrats as it relates to healthcare? Socialized medicine has been tried many times and there is an abundance of proof that the individual ALWAYS gets the shaft. This is about individual freedom and AARP is against it? Why would I, or AARP, want to support a healthcare system that will eliminate and ration the care the older one gets?

AARP is not for the individual - it is a left-wing liberal organization just like a labor union.

You are being exposed and people are not stupid. Membership should be tanking very soon.

I am very disappointed that AARP is not being a stronger senior advocate in the Health Care discussions. In the past, AARP was THE senior advocate, but it is apparent that building a longer term advocacy relationship with the party in power has taken over as the priority. The "lets all go along to get along" philosophy will not serve the senior community. Current proposals will severly reduce care options and services to seniors. Get your voice back or accept not being "our" voice.

I am amazed that AARP is supporting Obamas health care plan. Has your legal or medical advisors read this bill? For that matter what's the odds that the President has?? Read page 425 regarding counseling sessions for seniors, don't you seniors find that frightening?? Better yet read Betsy McCoughs web site @ Defend you health care.com. She has read the bill. I strongly believe your membership will drop drastically if you continue to support this current plan

AARP has not done its homework. Talk to other countries who have this so called wonderful insurance. Yes everyone has insurance and it is paid for by everyone who works for a living. However there are limits to healthcare provided and the seniors are rarely considered worth the cost of expensive proceedures. And now that the government will have access to all of our healthcare records they can decide who will receive what proceedure. I am not a member of AARP but was considering joing, however I have decided not to join at this time. We have friends in Germany and they are hate their insurance, the same insurance our government is trying to rush through our system. Have any of you read the healthcare bill??? Has anyone read the healthcare bill?

WHO decided that AARP supports this healthcare Plan? I was under the assumption that AARP was an organization of "seniors". I do not remember getting anything from AARP asking my view on this Plan. What is the consensus among members of AARP on this Healthcare fiasco? I would like to see some numbers and why was my husband or myself not polled?

I could not believe how many seniors are being seriously misinformed about the healthcare reform that the President and congress are pushing. This would be disasterous for seniors!! I have watched and listened to President Obama at every opportunity and read the bill. What he espouses publicly is not what the bill does.

The bill would cover illegal immigrants, Needles for addicts, abortion, and has a very hefty Affirmative action punch to it. It would actually raise costs for everyone. It would not benefit seniors and in fact would reduce drastically what benefits seniors currently have under medicare and use the savings elsewhere. Seniors are big losers when it comes to this bill.

The AARP should be fighting HARD AGAINST this bill for it's members.

I would support any healthcare reform bill that cut down on fraud in medicare, fixed the broken VA hospitals, did not include a government payee option, did not cover people here illegally and would not pay for abortion.

As a proponent of Obama health plan I would like you to give me a yes or no answer to this question:
When my pacemaker battery dies in 5 years, at age 84 will I be able to get a replacement?

When did AARP decide to knife seniors in the back? Wall Street Journal says $20 billion will be cut from Medicare and this before the baby boomers will be swelling the Medicare rolls. Medical procedures, like hip and knee replacements and heart operations will be cancelled. This is what Pres. Obama and AARP are not telling us. The government not your doctor, will decide what treatment you get or don't get. Can euthanasia be far behind? AARP is now foremost an insurance company and no longer looking out for American seniors.

I am sorry I ever joined AARP I think you have thrown us under
the bus I will not join again take my name off all paper work.
Jackie Smith

AARP does not advocate for seniors. If so you would be advocating against "Obama's/Pelosi's/Read's health care reform bill" being promoted in the house at this time. You are for the liberal agenda, period, whether it helps seniors or not. I agree with the two comments already written. This bill will not help seniors.

I am trying to tender my resignation from AARP because of their willingness to throw over their members to follow the socialist members of our elite congress and senate that are traitors to our constitution and way of life. AARP is acting the same as our national leaders and lie to the ignorant masses that they take the money from.

AARP is so very liberal. That is the reason I dropped my membership several years ago. They do NOT represent me in any way I want to be represented!

Have the leaders of AARP gone insane? If they were advocating for the seniors there is no way they could support this bill. Sounds like someone is on the TAKE big time.

AARP no longer cares about its members. If it did, they would ASK the members how they feel about the NEW socialized meddicine system Obama is pushing. My wife and I are NOT renewing our membership in an organization (AARP) that discriminates against its members. Maybe if everyone does NOT renew their membership, AARP will not be able to spend $25 million to hurt their members!

AARP has dumped seniors! It is time to have an alternative organization that will really represent seniors. If we investigate, we may find someone in the AARP organization is looking to be appointed to the Obama administration! Shame, shame of AARP's leadership. You aren't representing seniors!

I FEEL BAD. I TALKED ALOT OF MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY INTO JOINING AARP. THEY HAVE TO BE GETTING A BIG PAY OFF FROM THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION . AARP IS A NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION RIGHT, WHICH ALLOWS THE GOVERNMENT TO THROW MONEY IN THEIR DIRECTION. I WOULD BET YOU WILL SEE AARP GETTING A LARGE GRANT FROM THE GOVERNMENT IF THIS INSANE BILL PASSES.I AM A DEMOCRAT. BUT THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE. INDEPENDENT IS WHAT I WILL BE. I WILL BE DROPPING ARRP AND WILL APOLOGIZE TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND REQUEST THE SAME.ANYONE READING THIS THAT IS GOING TO ATTEND ONE OF OBAMAS TOWN HALL MEETINGS, COULD YOU DO ME A FAVOR ASK THE PRESIDENT IF AARP IS GOING TO RECEIVE ONE CENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT IF THIS BILL PASSES. OH I FORGOT THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA ONLY ALLOW PEOPLE THAT ARE INVITED FROM WHAT I HEARD. SO THEY ARE ONLY GOING TO ASK THE QUESTIONS THE PRESIDENT AND HIS STAFF WILL ALLOW.SO DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THESE TOWN HALL MEETINGS. IF I AM WRONG ABOUT THIS SOMEONE WHO FEELS THE SAME AS ME AND IS AROUND ONE OF THE TOWN HALLS .COULD YOU PLEASE TAKE TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY TO TRY TO ATTEND . AND IF ALLOWED TO. PLEASE ASK IF AARP WILL BE RECEIVING MONEY FROM THE GOVERNMENT ANYTIME SOON.AND COULD YOU PLEASE RESPOND BACK . I WOULD BE SHOCKED.

SHAME ON AARP! A fifth grader can read portions of the bill and realize SENIORS will be shafted! Of course, a fifth grader would look at the bill with unbiased eyes and not be benefitting financially by voicing support for the bill. AARP, like unions have outgrown their usefulness and are now feeding on its hosts (the seniors and the country) to fatten their own coffers, Seniors best interests be darned!

Income, Poverty, and
Health Insurance Coverage in
the United States: 2007

US Census published August 2008

http://www.census.gov/prod/2008pubs/p60-235.pdf

46.6 million Uninsured

9.5 million “Non citizens” “Illegal Aliens”

8.3 million earn $50,000 to $75,000

8.7 million earn over $75,000

6 million choose not to have insurance (mostly young)

6 million between jobs and will have insurance within 4 months

Net uninsured equals = 8.2 million.

8.2 million out of 304 million population is 2.7% of United States population without health insurance.

And we are going to change the whole system for 2.7% of the population?

President Obama must think we are nitwits.

I just heard that AARP backed Obamas health plan if it passes you will sure have 1 less member i can't believe you backed it

As a 64 year young health care provider. I am worried about AARP supporting the insane health
care bill proposed by the White House and Congress.

The Titanic was built by people who didn't sail with the ship. Why endorse a health plan designed
by people who will not use it, but instead have their own Golden health care plan.

Look at the government plans of Canada and England and then look in the mirror to see if you
have lettering across your forehead.

I will not support an organization that endorses this crazy proposal. This will kill the superior
health care mechanism that this country has when compared to Canada and England. If your legal
department is for this plan then you need to talk to the common man and women and to the self
employed, you may get some enlightenment as to such items as page # 425 of the 1,000 page proposed plan.

C. W. George

Health plan reform? yes! but not Mr. Obama's and Nancy Pelosi's health plan. I am astonished that the leadership of aarp would even consider supporting this health "fraud" being forced on the American people.

If aarp continues to support Obama's health plan, I will oppose it publically, because you don't speak for me. You have stabbed the elderly in the back! What is Obama promising the leadership of aarp for their support? You know he is. Where in the Constitution do you and the Democrats get the authority to deny health care to anyone?!

Shame on you AARP. I have also cancelled my membership and requested a refund. AARP does not speak for me or any other other senior. Their best interest lies with their President and CEO, both who fit the OBAMA profile. The President will be appointed to this new board that will decide Healthcare policy. Obama said as much during his DC town hall meeting. I will boycott any and all organizations that have AARP affiliations. I don't need their discounts. I concur with other former members that are calling on all seniors to resign and cancel their membership. Please don't forget the AARP credit card, or any other memberships you may have that provide a kick back to this corrupt, self serving, not for profit (HAHAHAHA) organization.

AARP is in the tank with Obama and his people now....we seniors who pay the bills at AARP need to wake up and start cancelling our memberships immediately........thats what me and my wife did.

Many, many of our friends are dropping their AARP membership too.

AARP has abandoned seniors in favor of their love for Obama....I absolutely cannot believe what is happening to this country...........GOD HELP US

I agree with Hornett in the 07/30/09 12:30 PM message:

"AARP is in the tank with Obama and his people now....we seniors who pay the bills at AARP need to wake up and start cancelling our memberships immediately........that’s what me and my wife did.

Many, many of our friends are dropping their AARP membership too.

AARP has abandoned seniors in favor of their love for Obama....I absolutely cannot believe what is happening to this country...........GOD HELP US"

I am in the process of canceling my membership now and I challenge each and every member to do the same if you want to live after Obama-Care is passed to cancel your membership with AARP now that it has placed its support behind this effort. I will not be associated with any organization that does not look out for its member’s healthy longevity.

CALL TODAY AND CANCLE YOUR AARP MEMBERSHIP!!!
Let’s send them a valuable message.

Who or whom is resonsible at AARP for going along with this obama care. Shame on them for making this decision it will cost them many many memberships. Did AARP read the bill? I'm sure not, just as none of our representatives did not, which will cost them their jobs. As it will cost AARP where it hurts the most in the wallet. And you are supposed to be looking out for the people over 50. You should all loose your jobs over this outrage.

I am very dissapointed with AARP's support of the Obama/Pelosi health plan and will not renew my membership. AARP has become too liberal and does not support, nor defend, the 50+ group any longer.

Aren't you just dying to have the government take over YOUR healthcare?

AARP's support of the Obama Healthcare Plan is tantamount to its signing a death sentence for many seniors. It flies in the face of the American Spirit and the American Way.

AARP's support of the Obama Healthcare Plan is tantamount to its signing a death sentence for many seniors. It flies in the face of the American Spirit and the American Way.

I want my membership cancelled. I can't believe you would throw the seniors under the bus.....I hope everyone who is a member quits this sorry organization that is suppose to aid and prevent the seniors of being ripped off and now YOU are the champions of the biggest rip off organization of all....Please refund my money and NEVER send me any of your scam insurances or any thing to do with the AARP.

Did you forget what the letters AARP are? Duh! You are supposed to be the advocates of senior citizens, not the enemy.

I am not an AARP member but my parents are (and I'm only a few years away!). I have discussed this with them and they are doing what I would urge anyone to do - call and cancel your membership NOW. It will send a bigger message than just not renewing - which they won't find out about until your renewal time. You can always rejoin at a later date if they return to being a "Senior Advocacy" group. Send them and congress a message - CANCEL NOW!

Anyone who cancels their AARP benefits because of BOGUS EMAILS they're reading SHOULD CANCEL! Is it any wonder why the Republican Party is dwindling in numbers - people who forward this bogus crap should be labeled TERRORISTS - because all they are doing is SPREADING FEAR and NOT FACTS.
AARP would be a much better organization with the idiots gone - but remember to CUT UP THOSE AARP CARDS as well - can't be asking for any SENIOR DISCOUNTS showing your canceled AARP CARD because that would be HYPOCRITICAL!

GOOD RIDDANCE TO YOU ALL!

AARP ROCKS!

I will cancel my membership effective immediately, AARP no longer represents me as they obviously do not have my best interests in mind.

The government can't even figure out "Cash for Clunkers" and you back them in complete charge of my health care, no thank you!

I am now at the age of 72 years and have been with the AARP for a long time, a sell out to the present admin. was a shock to me as to many sensors, get out of AARP they can not stay in as a lair to the old people of the USA without your dues. This is a notice to AARP that they wiil lost three members from this household as of now. I have heart problems and will get NO medical hejp under the feds.

adding 50 million people essentially to medicare rolls. where do we get the doctors.. where do we get the money ..this biil, and i have read it is a danger to all seniors except our masters in congress who are exempt fom it. how aarp can support this is beyond me....my membership of 20 years is through

My parents before me were members of AARP long before I joined. They would be very disappointed as am I at the fact that AARP is supporting the present health bill. I listened to your representative on TV last night trying to give ear to what AARP might have to say. Because of what I have learned I am at this point in time telling you to cancel my membership that I had renewed and please send me a refund. You are no longer representing the senior people of this great country. God help us all!

I CANCELED today!
The first time I called they tried to talk me out of it and referred me to their HealthactionNOW.org website. It is just a bunch of socialist propaganda with no place to suggest something a little more reasonable than Obamacare. How about malpractice liability caps that could save us $151B in unnecessary medical tests per year???
Of course the congress is run by lawyers, and we have two in the Whitehouse, so little chance we could actually do something to reduce costs (other than ration).

To John Adams:

The only idiot I see on this blog is you!!! Terrorist?? This administration insists that is not a politically correct term...Also remember one's man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter!!!

If the homicide belt fits…wear it.

I just tried to call to speak to someone at AARP who could assure me that someone, anyone, at AARP has read the Health Care Reform bill. After being on hold for five minutes, and transferred to the Executive Office (?), I was told that no one at AARP could come to the phone to speak with me. I am very curious about your seemingly hasty buy-in of the Obamacare bill. I have read the initial version of 1,018 pages and am nothing short of terrified over some of the proposed legislation. I have been a member of AARP for over ten years and always had the notion that you represent the voice of senior citizens. Clearly, if you ever did represent me, you do NOT now, therefore I request an immediate cancellation of my member. I am a private citizen who is NOT affialiated with any 'astroturf' or any other of the labels being applied to Americans who seek smart, thoughtful discussions of how to improve our health care in this country. Your organization no longer listens and has sold me out.

Medicare is already in trouble and it will be getting worse in the next few years as more and more baby boomers become eligible.

You are right the bill does not "say" that there will be rationing. But would you tell me how you can fix Medicare by adding 10's of millions or even 100's of millions more people to a system already in trouble. With the requirements for decreasing doctor's pay and other demands on doctors, it stands to reason that many doctors will quit the profession, as has happened in other countries with government run health care.

There is also that pesky little Health Choices Commission. They are being tasked with deciding what treatments are most "Cost" effective. That will lead to preferences of less costly treatments rather than what the doctor thinks would be best for the patient. And is it cost effective for a 90 year old to get a stint to avoid a heart attack? OF COURSE THERE WOULD BE RATIONING!

And what in the world would I want someone coming to my home advising me on "end of life issues"! Those are private matters to be discussed between me and my family privately!

Come up with a better plan. Constrain lawsuits to damages, not the millions for "Pain and suffering" these lawsuits cause doctors to go out of business, and cause extra testing that is many times not warranted by the actual symptoms. Allow insurance companies to operate across state lines. Allow small businesses and other entities to form coops to pool insurance rates. Allow Health Savings Accounts so that people who are of low risk can purchase low cost insurance for catastrophic purposes only and young people can begin to grow the HSA's before they have families and grow into higher risk ages.

And most of all keep the government out of health care!

How do we as subscribers remove the "executives" that have sold us out of Health Care? How do we put enough pressure on this organization to change their position?

Who are the executives, board of directors and the CEO? We need these names to start sending emails and faxes.

AARP...........Please open your eyes at look at the ONE FACT that proves that this Healthcare Bill is bad for all of us. If the authors of a Bill exempt themselves AND their staffs from the rules and provisions of the Bill...it is a bad Bill for us. How can "they" say this is good for us...but "I" deserve better. Sounds very close to the defunct USSR where the party leaders got the best and the people got what was left over!

many representatives on the phones work for a customer service company who is contracted out to aarp. many of the representatives who were hired for such calls as replacing membership cards, or changing adresseses. Many of them cannot believe the aarp would back this plan. Many of them are frusterated listening to angry callers, when they are just as angry, but need thier jobs to support thier families. Please be respectful when you call to cancel. Leave 2 comments and let them go, they have to listen to these stressful calls all day for for a choice they did not have any part in making.

My wife just turned 50 she is 10 years younger and was a democrate and liberal until the past few months. Your organization and your cozy relationship with the Obama administration and the liberal washington Democrats for our own benefit at AARP is so obvious it hurts. I predict a new seniors Non Profit organization will emerge shortly. I will join and be loyal member unless they become corrupted.

Shame...Shame on the AARP. Move out of Washington and you may still survive.

I predict AARP will fail just as this healthcare crap will fail.

Ck your membership rolls after congress gets back from their taxpayer paid vacations!

The new catch phrase from bueracracy to BARACKRACY!!!!

IMPEACH OBAMA NOW!

Just started receiving AARP membership information in the mail. After looking at their obvious endorsement of the Obama plan (although they will never admit it) and their disgraceful treatment of AARP members at a Dallas meeting...who would ever want to join an organization run by a band of liberal idiots. The membership information is in the trash. AARP needs to worry, not only about current members, but also the members it will NEVER get.
Brian

I am herewith cancelling my membership number 3135755485 5. You are obviously just a puppet and we senior members are not the puppeteer. Having spent 30 years in the military defending this country, I cannot support an organization that is aiding what two world wars could not accompolish and that is to destroy this country. /s/Jack L Rinehart

AARP states it is not in support of the health care program as stated by its president on TV. Yet it advertises the opposite. Another bait and switch tactic to support the Obama plan and penalize the taxpayers of this country.
I resign my current AARP membership due to expire in Oct.'10

I just watched Lou Dobbs on CNN and according to what he said - thousands of members have resigned their membership to AARP because of its approval of the health care plan. Is that true? Does AARP indorse the plan and have thousands resigned?

I am a member of AARP . I'm on Medicare. Was considering transferring my supplemental health insurance to AARP because my carrier (Anthem) is against health care reform. Then I found out your carrier is even a much bigger foe of health insurance reform. So much for relying on AARP!!!

I am outraged that you are supporting this "health care refrom" abomination that Queen Pelosi and her cronies wrote and that Obama and the idiots in the White House support. This is NOT health care reform! They are trying to take over every facet of our lives under the guise of "helping" the "millions" of people in this country who don't have healthcare (really +-3% of the population). If you don't believe this is a takeover by incompetents, just look at the auto industry. These clowns took it over and they can't even run a rebate program! You have hitched your wagon to a falling star - check Obama, Reed and Pelosi's poll results. They're falling almost as fast as your membership. And oh yea, I resign - By the way, what part of the constitution gives the President of the United States the right to fire the CEO of a private corporation?

I here-by give notice to AARP that I am cancelling my menbership in AARP (AARP #3894736) effective 5 September,2009. I have been a member since 1997, and have not receirved the promised "representation". We seniors have paid for our medicare benifets, yet AARP has done nothing to prevent our "beloved" leaders from conficating our monies on their "pork" projects. I wonder what color the bed linens are for the AARP?

Please no more "junk mail" from AARP, as I consider any thing from AARP to be ''junk mail' except my check for my membership cancellation. (A little over 3 years dues.)

My wife and I are cancelling our memberships with A.A.R.P.You people are all about greed lining your own pockets! You don't care one bit about your members, only your own personal agenda's! Don't include us in your backdoor politics anymore, how do you look at your face in the mirror and say I'm looking out for my member's best interest!

The reason we dropped our AARP membership years ago, is AARP has become more a money-hungry Democratic Party flunky rather than a source for helping seniors. AARP and I and everyone I have spoke with know that thousands of seniors will die, and millions suffer because of the cuts in medicare payments to doctors. Already many doctors won't even see medicare patients. Thousands more won't after the Democratic/AARP health care bill passes. Somehow the seniors have to get rid of the leaders of AARP and put in their place those who are first concerned about seniors, and not politics.
You have some smarts, though, I have yet to find a way to get my message out to other AARP members as you guard all the ways anyone else can hear critical comments about your leadership.

I have been a member of AARP for 20 years, and I am very upset to hear that you are supporting the Health Reform Bills. As of April 2010 I will not be renewing my membership and will let all of my friends that belong to AARP know that you are not the organization that I joined 20 years ago. Hopefully they will not renew either. I am soooooo ashamed to let anyone know that I am a member at this time. Lena Conrad, Montgomery Alabama

I am not apoligiseing o anyone . I am against the health care reform as it is written. cancel my arrp membership immeaiately. do not bother to e-mail me or contact me. Just cancel.

I e-mailed AARP to cancel my membership because they have decided to represent seniors without any referendum as to what health care bill we actually support. In fact, they are telling us how to think, as if we were really stupid, in their publications.

Then I realized that they can claim me as a member because my membership lasts until 2012. So they can say that they are representing a certain number no matter how many have resigned. I didn't expect AARP to be so duplicitous.

Can only think that over the next few years their numbers will drop.

I e-mailed AARP to cancel my membership because they have decided to represent seniors without any referendum as to what health care bill we actually support. In fact, they are telling us how to think, as if we were really stupid, in their publications.

Then I realized that they can claim me as a member because my membership lasts until 2012. So they can say that they are representing a certain number no matter how many have resigned. I didn't expect AARP to be so duplicitous.

Can only think that over the next few years their numbers will drop.

I have just finished listening to the "e-broadcast" of the AARP governing body including the CEO. As a medical physicist and partner in an equity management llp, I was struck by the TOTAL "buy-in" of this AARP board to the fiscally impossible promises made by the so-called "health act".

A fundamental law of physics states that energy must be conserved in any physical action. Here, the AARP board is falling hook, line and sinker for the impossiblity of a VAST increase in all manner of projected health benefits, WITHOUT concomitant cost INCREASES.
IE: the law of fiscal conservation is starkly broken, which implies: BEWARE, fraud is in the offing.

ALSO: if it sounds WAY too good to be true, (ie: this bill gives to all, HUGE amounts of unfunded benefits) then it most probably is way too good to be true. ALSO, THIS GOV'T can't get us H1N1 vaccine, BUT it can manage 1/6 of the nation's economy??? NO WAY!!

I do not like a socialist type of government and will not support any one who does. So cancel my membership. You can not talk to anyone with sush insanity. Thank you, nonmember, Joseph.

I have been a member of AARP for many years and always thought that they were advocates for our senior citizens. Now, I see that AARP is endorsing Obama's health care bill which will absolutely destroy the finest health care system in the world! It is unfortunate, indeed that AARP has turned it's back on our senior citizens and have betrayed the segment of our population that they are supposed to protect.

I am cancelling my AARP membership today!

My wife and I have been irritated AARP members for 10 plus years. We just cancelled our membership yesterday because they no longer represent us. The present government is determined to destroy the finest health care system in the world..replacing it with a 3rd world/African one!

For those of you commenting here, would you mind adding whether you a) are old enough to receive Medicare benefits, and b) whether you refuse them and pay for all your health care out of your own pockets. Just curious.