ShAARP Session: Observations from AARP

Sorry to say I am very disappointed that you are supporting the proposed health reform by President Obama. I will never renew my membership with you again. You don't seem to care about the Seniors.

Jennie, aside from the moral issues of Government becoming a competitor to private industry, the REAL ISSUE that you and others choose to flagrantly ignore is the elephant in the room - TORT REFORM. The issues are laid out rather nicely here:

http://atr.org/trial-lawyers-thwart-meaningful-healthcare-reform-a3657#

Why is AARP silent on this blood-sucking Dracula of a problem? Any US doctor will tell you about the extortionate insurance premiums that all providers have to pay, in homage to the Tort Vampires and their clients, those who play the lottery-go-round under contingent fee arrangements.

Any doctor will tell you they do multiple, unnecessary tests out of fear of time- and money-sapping litigation, and even then it's often never enough. The giant sucking sound is of dollars being purged from the economy to the coffers of fat-cat litigators and malpractice insurers, making all of us that much poorer.

Is AARP silently on the side of the Tort Vampires? We don't know, because AARP fails to have an honest discussion about this, or indeed, any discussion at all.

Why don't YOU talk about this, Jenny, instead of pontificating on how great our Fearless Leader's New Plan will be?

BTW I am an American living in England. If you want to devolve US care down to open mixed-sex Victorian-style wards, cardboard porta-urinals (which get reused...), and a massively bloated mid-level NHS bureaucracy and rampant MRSA in the wards, please go for it. Just don't be doe-eyed and tail-wagging for something you don't know the first thing about.

Oh one good thing over here - they don't have nearly the lawyers per capita as in the US and it's almost impossible to get Lotto-style awards. At least, there is a little more sanity here in that department.

If we had meaningful tort reform, thus fostering more private competition, our system would largely heal itself and provide more affordable health care solutions. Currently, only strong providers can withstand the overheads created by the Tort Vampires. Long gone are the days of the private practitioner - they just can't survive. The result is highly damaging to community-based local competition.

As for me, I am so disappointed in the AARP position on the latest proposed government healthcare boondoggle, and your failure to enunciate the real issues we face, that I am resigning my membership.

Teddy and I are very much opposed to the Obama healthcare bill HR3200. We also are most upset for AARP's support. I really thought you guys were smarter than what your dialog portrays. We've heard all the retoric about the so called "public option" and one's choice to stay in a private insurance enviorment. You people should be smart enough to know that the details of this plan will, in a few years totally destroy and eliminate the private sector insurance offerings. BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNMENTAL RESTRAINTS PLACED ON THE INSURANCE COMPANIES THEY WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO GET OUT OF THAT BUSINESS.

IF THIS PROGRAM IS SO GOOD THEN WHY DOES THE BILL EXEMPT ALL GOV EMPLOYES, CONGRESS PERSONS AND UNION EMPLOYEES.

In order for me and my wife to support this program it must reduce government involvement and offer it to everyone. I'm not really thrilled about having to pay the medical costs for those who are not citizens of these Unite States. If AARP doesn't change it position on this very important program, then Teddy and I shall have no option other than to cancel our membership along with all of our family mwmbers.

Sincerely,
Tom and Teddy Lancaster

Basically, your statement is a PR piece that says that you want what we want.

WE WANT TO STOP GOVERNMENT TAKE OVER OF HEALTH CARE AND OTHER BUSINESSES!!!

WE DON'T WANT INCREASED TAXES TO EXPAND GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE!!!

WE DON'T WANT GOVERNMENT TO CREATE FAKE GOVERNEMT COMPETITION HEALTH CARE OR OTHER BUSINESSES!!!

WE DO WANT GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW REAL NATIONAL COMPETITION FOR HEALTH CARE INSURANCE!!!

The government has never run any health care system well or on a budget. Obama says, we don't want to take over the Health Care system, we just want to provide competition. That would be Tax Payer Funded competition to put my health care provider out of business over time. Then I would have to sign up for ObamaCare. NO WAY!!! THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL STOP THIS!!!

I propose that AARP's leadership hasn't looked at who they represent ~ there is a huge disconnect between the leadership and the membership. Please do not denigrate our geniune concerns with the current legislation. It is elitist leadership to think that you know what is best of us. We can read and think and come to conclusions to which you should listen. In July, I renewed my membership and will review cautiously how the current AARP leadership "leads" in health care reform before renewing next year.

When Congress proposes a health program that they WILL enroll and support...then I will support it. Any program that is good enough for the common man/woman had better be good enough for them or count me out !
Offer us the opportunity to get their insurance....
We put these people in office to help guide us through tough times--not make it worse by bailing out irresponsible organizations and further increasing our deficit.
I think the decision to NOT make a decision until Congress and Obama have their heads on straight would be smart.

I have been a AARP member since I turned old enough to qualify for it. I lived in France 7 years and England 2 years, I was also in Germany and Canada and Wales. My father was a lifer in the Military. I know first hand what their health systems are like. One of the top rules were, even when you were on vacation, you were never permitted to be treated by one of their Doctors. The Military Doctors are not the best in the world but they were far better then the Doctors in these countries. What I can't understand is how you would support a bill that would give us the same type of Health care? We know these Foreign Health care system do not work or the People from these Countries would not feel they have to come to America for life saving treatments. I want you to tell me that you truly believe there is not a section of this bill that says that People with (examples) Retardation, MS, Cerebal Palsy, Parkinson, Cancer, Dementia and Alzheimer's are seen as no longer productive people in society, and should be given pain killers and let die. I want you to tell me should your child, be in an accident and become handicapped you would feel the same way? There is not even the slightest hint of Compassion in this Bill. Another question I have about this Bill is, if it is so good for Americans, then why is it not good enough for All Americans? Like Congress, the Senate, and, the President himself. All for one and one for all.
I belong to AARP but I do not give you the right to speak for me on this Bill. If you are going to make a statement favoring a Bill like this, "AARP is Behind the White House on this Bill". You need to poll your people and make sure they believe as you do, Majority still rules I believe. This way the people that do not believe in this Bill had the choice to drop their membership before you include them in your statement.

How better to lower health care costs which AARP espouses than to put a cap on jury awards. I've seen estimates of up to 25% of healthcare costs going to unnecessary tests performed to cover all possible law suits, high Doctor insurance premiums and tens of millions spent on jury awards. Why does AARP ignore this? If you do not recognize this burden then where are cost savings coming from? I can only think of Medicare and Part D that will suffer the most since these are probably the largest expenditures.

As a retired senior I am opposed to any healthcare reform that includes the "Public Option". This will lead to a single payer system in our country.
Health care reform should include:
1. Torte reform so doctors don't order unnecessary diagnostics for fear of malpractice lawsuits.
2. State to state portability of insurance.
3. Individuals should be able to "pool" with others for group rates rather then company sponsored group rates that are not portable.
I believe that the cost to taxpayers for any public option is to much.
I pay $1000.00 a month for good healthcare coverage now. I would love to reduce my healthcare costs but not by the government deciding what care I am "authorized" to receive.

I see that "60 Plus" is clearly against the public option, when is AARP going to publicly oppose this part of ObamaCare? If AARP won't standup against this then I have to assume that AARP supports it. If you are supporting the public option you better explain how this is good for your members. As for me I don't see anything good about it.

Yup,
Your on the wrong side of this issue....have you checked your membership numbers.

We DON'T want what the Obamanation they call health care reform.

I don't see anything GOOD coming out of this.

This is a VOTING issue....Whoever Votes this IN will be Voted OUT!

I've been concerned over the past couple of years that AARP has become a liberal political organization, and now I am flatly convinced based on it's support of ObamaCare. AARP should be polling it's membership before throwing it's support behind such Socialistic programs. The same mistake was made with it's support of Medicare Plan D!

If AARP trusts Obama, Pelosi and Reid to deliver what is right for the American public, then God help us all.

I don't think AARP or OBAMA administrtion care what we think. If you read the bill you will be scared to death. AARP I do not want you representing me as a senior. In fact you have never polled my household. If you did you would have gotten an ear full. I am not going to renew AARP ever! Neither are some of my friends, my mother and her friends also. Good luck staying in business. I am very very disappointed in AARP period!

I recently received a “Survey” from AARP requesting that my wife & I sign petitions addressed to our legislators supporting health care “reform”. We are not in favor of the revisions that are proposed and are unhappy about the fact that AARP is supporting them. We agree that some changes are in order, but altering the entire system in order to accommodate these changes is ridiculous. I am very dissatisfied with the manner in which AARP is handling this situation.

ARE You Listening AARP? The Answer is NO! Are you the same as our Politicians, Clueless to the Answer of NO?? WE THE PEOPLE, say NO! Our Congress is creating a their own revolution. A reckoning for those that do not represent the American Voice! And the resounding Answer is NO! - NO! to the Obamanation of Healthcare Reform. Why is there such a Rush to implement what is not understood and definitely not explained. "Rome was not built in a day", but fell fast from tyranny and confusion! No one has explained The "Healthcare Reform Bill yet or even better understands it including the President! Wake up America & AARP! Do not endorse this barrel full of muck. We will all PAY dearly for it! Lives, Time, Money, and lots of Taxes! The ones that want this new Healthcare aren't going to pay for it! We will, at a cost that will be of great burden. Pay Heed AARP! Pay Heed!!!

Why are you not listening to your members?

It is sad to see AARP is in lock step with this out of control administration.

I will not renew my membership with AARP!

I don't understand why AARP has sold us out. I was under the impression that AARP was looking out for our best interests but I guess even the elderly and even the disabled don't have a voice any more. Jennie says we can keep our health care, well, we don't get to keep the medicare advantage, that's what's going to pay for the sapposed 10 to 15 million people who don't have any and not the 50 million we keep hearing about. So the government takes from the fragile and the most needy and gives it actually to themselves to do with what they will even though we are the one's who paid into it so we could count on it in our retired years (which is what it was set up for)!!! I to will no longer renew my membership with you since you sold us out.

I was reading the most recent AARP newsletter and the article titled "Myths vs. Facts About Medicare" and am confused.

The first myth addressed was " Healthcare Reform Will Hurt Medicare. Fact: None of the healthcare reform bills that have been introduced by Congress would cut Medicare benefits or increase you out-of -pocket costs for traditional Medicare services."

My confusion is this- Per the congressional budget office (CBO)the cost of the reform is estimated to be $1.055 trillion through 2019 plus $245 billion for another bill for payments to physicians. Of the $1.055 trillion $426 billion is going to come from " cuts to existing programs including Medicare Advantage."

Additionally, the CBO estimates "15 million new medicaid enrollees due to expanded eligibility."

How then can there not be either a reduction in benefits or an increase in out-of- pocket costs if there will be increased enrollees and cuts of $426 billion dollars to existing programs?

Second myth:" Health Care Reform Means The Government Can Make End-Of- Life Decisions For You. Fact: No one, including the government or your insurance company, will be given the power to make end-of-life decisions for you."

If the government refuses to pay for your needed treatment and you have no money, is that not the same as making an end-of-life decision for you?

Are we not seeing government making such decisions right now with swine flu vacine eligibility? I just heard "free" clinics in our area were to only vacine healthy people between 2 and 49 years of age if my memory serves me correctly.

Third myth: Healthcare Reform Means Rationed Care. Fact: None of the health reform proposals being considered would stand between individuals and their doctors or prevent any American from choosing the best care possible."

Are we not seeing government rationing the swine flu vacine today? I don't think you can say they cannot or will not when they already are.

And true to form our government blames someone else for the swine flu vacine shortage. Government won't accept blame. It is the suppliers fault. It isn't government's responsiblilty to be sure of adequate supplies apparently. On a side note- Why is the vacine being made outside the US? Would legal liablility have any role in this dilemma? Does healthcare reform do anything to address tort reform?

When so many authorities are giving us such different messages is it any wonder people are so worried about what is going on in Washington on healthcare? Who can we trust!

Medicare will be imperiled by the Health Care Reform. Medicare will be drastically cut if health care reform continues, so I ask the AARP leadership to take another stance.

I am very disappointed in AARP following the current administration on Health Care Reform. I will be cancelling my membership as you apparently are not the voice of seniors. If you think that the public option will not lead to a total take over of health care by the federal government you are very naive.

I CANNOT B ELIEVE THAT YOUR AND OTHER AARP LEADERS ARE INDORSING THIS HEALTH CARE BILL.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE IN THIS ORGANIZATION TO REPRESENT US, SENIOR CITIZENS, AND PROTECT OUR INTERESTS.

LISTEN TO WHAT WE ARE SAYING......WE DO NOT WANT THE HEALTH CARE BILL THAT IS BEFORE CONGRESS AS IT IS NOW.

MANY OF US WILL BE DROPPING OUR MEMBERSHIPS IN AARP IF YOU CONTINUE TO VOTE AGAINST OUR WISHES....

Jenny,

Your Liberal AARP Board of Directors must be Barack Hussein Obama appointees. Who paid you thugs off on the Obamacare.

My wife and I are disabled seniors who will faithfully tell everyone who are seniors or are becoming seniors to stay away from this arrogant organization that is nothing but another arm of "Big Government". Which Czar are you working for, Jenny?

Oh yes, we quit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AARP is jusy like our socialist administration you jerks don't care what the people want you think you know better.

I am appalled that AARP would take the position it has on Health-Care Reform without polling the membership. Every study taken in this matter, including that of the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, has shown that the current legislation will have a negative effect on the economy of the country. Also, polls taken have shown a majority of the public are satisfied with their current health-care and want government to stay out of their business.

It is common knowledge that there are those who cannot afford health-care at any cost; however, that number is far, far less than the 47 million those idiots in Congress are tossing about. You need to remove the illegal immigrants (who will not and should not be covered) and those who can afford it but choose not to purchase health-care.

Why not push Tort Reform and legislation that would allow full competition in all states, which would lower the cost of care. Lastly, why not push legislation that would provide affordable care for those that cannot get coverage instead of creating a monster as they are proposing. All of the above would provide the steps necessary to lower the cost health-care and provide coverage for most Americans of the United States.

AARP

I am utterly dismayed to find this organization supporting the Obama health care "reform." It is a sad day when the elder statespersons of a nation cannot recall and will not re-read the lessons of history. Socialized medicine, socialized anything, does not work. It never has. It never will. Your sponsorship of this government grab for more power is in flagrant disregard for basic principles on which this country was founded.

I am a senior citizen. At 68 years old I still work part time as an engineering consultant for a national lab. I acknowledge that we need to work on the health care system in this country but it needs to be done carefully, after a great deal of open, transparent study and discussion. We do not need a frantic rush to reform with a bill that hardly anyone has read and the details of which are totally opaque to all Americans. As others have pointed out, you have neglected, totally, the issue of tort reform among other things. Your stance is incomprehensible to me and I feel that your organizaton no longer can be trusted to represent me or any other conservative person on issues of any import. My wife and I will not be renewing our membership.

George Klopp

I also am appalled that AARP has taken a position in support of the House bill. It makes no sense for seniors or anyone else. I would ask how you can do this with no input from the members but when I saw that AARP is aparently in bed with SEIU (see the divided we fall website) which is a thinly veiled Acorn organization maybe I understand. Did Acorn go out and poll the members in the same way they got out the vote for Obama?
I hope the membership rises up over this like the American public is over the other atrocities we are experiencing from this administration. By the way, pretty clever of you not having an email address to write to. If you did you might have to hear what the members think. I will certainly not renew my membership.

This is the last straw! AARP does not represent my feelings towards healthcare. Today's announceMENT amounts to a sellout of our American ideals to Abamacare! NO THANKS! I WILL NOT RENEW MY MEMBERSHIP. GO TO HELL AARP!!!

I feel like I've been sold out again and feel that your not listening to your membership. I resently did a survey in our condo complex. Of the 38 people I asked if they support the health reform bill being voted on 34 people DID NOT want this bill passed. My wife and I feel you are not speaking for the majority. We are not registered to any party, we vote for who feel is the best person regardless of what party. We will not renew our membership with AARP and I'm urging everyone I know to do the same.

I can't understand why AARP would endorse a health reform bill so early in the process. This piece of legislation will be amended many times before the final version is ready for a conclusive vote. I urge AARP to be restrained until all the final details are evident and fully understood. You do us no good by prematurely approving legislation. Listen to your members!

If the Health care plan passes, AARP can count me out of their system

AARP does not represent the membership or the right call to action in supporting the current health care reform bill.
The AMA does not represent the physicians of the country either. Only 28% are members and many are not practicing, retired, or academic/research and certainly not the predominant ones providing care to America and know the process on the front lines.
The AARP is selling out the current retired and those who wish to retire in the future. If this passes, the economy will be destroyed, the country ruined and the best most economic resolution to end of life could cost $.35 and be inserted into a pistol for dispensing.
This is an absolutely idiotic thing to shoot the economy and the life of this country and its freedoms in the head.
Those who continue to push this agenda will be out of office next election they are up for. It will cost us dearly to recuperate as a country.
BAD MEDICINE in UNCLE SUGAR COATED PILL. I think it will be rejected by the body(of America) and those associated will be toilet bowled away with the putrid plan.

Do we need some fixes? Yes. This is not it. When tort reform is left out, you have just been sold Florida Swamp. When the suggestion that correcting fraud will neutralize the expense, you have bought the house with a basement in that swamp.
Where have you congressional idiots been to allow that to exist if it does? Why not handle that first so not the economic strife associated and build confidence in your management recommendations? With all the federal systems bankrupting us with major deficits because the congressional idiots who are all about reelection and power, it is ludicrous to promote the wisdom of government to handle this when no wisdom by experience/performance exists.

Please AARP rescind your position as you are fast losing credibility of looking out for people and seem to be stepping more into the role of enabler of bad legislative/administrative behavior (irrespective of which party rules)

If you want my membership, I want to see some adult behavior based on real economic, social, world history experience that shows this will not work.

I saw it as an officer in the military doctor in the hospital/clinic and VA and in public health programs in my state.
This is some pie in the sky pipe dream that doesn't match reality.

JUST SAY NO to this DRUG MINDED BEHAVIOR. I am not old enough or senile enough to buy this.

Jennie Why doesn't AARP read the health care bill before
backing such a socialistic piece of legislation?

What a slap in the face! AARP pretends to represent seniors, then supports a bill that will be our death sentence. If you want socialism, go move to a country that already has it. Don't help force it on us! I hope membership goes to where it belongs- 0.

It really is amazing that there is not one positive comment about this issue. This is consistent among most of the USA as well. If you poll the 5-7 % "un-employable" you may find support for the bill. TORT reform is key - not one politician has the guts to tackle that issue - probably because of the potential back-lash from one of the most powerful organizations in the country.

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. Thomas Jefferson

I trusted AARP. I don't anymore. I'm against the Democrat Health Care Bill. AARP used my membership to support a bill that I'm againts without asking me. I will not renew my membership with AARP. I will not patronize any of their sponcers, those that are sent to me in the mail and those that are in AARP's Bulletin.

I am writing to tell you how disappointed I am in the AARP organization. I cannot believe that AARP would support decreasing Medicare services to seniors and to tax those who do not choose to buy health insurance. There is little choice in this bill and it is all about control. I also do not believe that you have read the House 1900 plus page bill nor the recently released Senate 2000 plus bill (it gets bigger and more confusing every time it is written). I would imagine that you have met the White House staff or others in the administration and Congress and they have assured you that it meets your expectations. But, those in Congress and the administration are not going to be covered by the bill and will not be included in the public option. So, why would even think that this bill is in your or the membership you represent best interest? The public option and this bill will ELIMINATE ALL health insurance companies eventually because they CANNOT compete with the unlimitless debt ridden pockets of the federal government! So your precious medi-gap insurance program will be GONE!! Until Congress and the administration IS INCLUDED in this health care bill and people have a choice to buy or not buy health care insurance without a fine or a penalty, I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS HEALTH CARE BILL(S). And, unless every person that gets any free health care MUST PROVE THEIR CITIZENSHIP with a certified copy of their birth certificate, a passport, or some other fool-proof means, this program WILL provide free medical services for ILLEGAL persons in this country. I have NO problem with LEGAL residents who work and pay taxes here but I DO have a problem with those who are here ILLEGALLY and continue to get free medical care at hospitals, clinics, etc. IT IS NOT RIGHT! THIS IS ANOTHER REASON OUR COUNTRY IS GOING BANKRUPT! No one could go to their country and get free medical care so why should the United States (we taxpayers) pay for these people who are here ILLEGALLY? Therefore, I will be cancelling my AARP membership and will ensure that everyone I know realizes that AARP is backstabbing the membership that has supported them all these years. I am very disappointed to have to do this, but it is a matter of principle!