AARP

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

November 05, 2009 -- THE PRESIDENT: Hey! Hello, everybody. Please sit down. Good afternoon, everybody. I wanted to come down and just talk a little bit about health care before Robert gives his regular briefing.

I am extraordinarily pleased and grateful to learn that the AARP and the American Medical Association are both supporting the health insurance reform bill that will soon come up to a vote in the House of Representatives.    » read more »

Introduces amendment to grandfather in current Medicare Advantage beneficiaries

11/04/09 -- Washington, DC – Congressman Ron Klein (FL-22) today introduced an amendment to the health care reform bill currently pending in the U.S. House, the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962). Klein’s amendment grandfathers in current enrollees in private Medicare Advantage plans to ensure that any future changes to the program do not impact the care they receive. This amendment marks another step in Klein’s fight to strengthen and protect Medicare for our seniors.    » read more »

October 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond issued this statement following today’s introduction of the Affordable Health Care for America Act in the House of Representatives:

“Today, the House brings us one step closer to a decades-long goal of repairing America’s broken health care system. AARP commends the leadership of Speaker Pelosi and the committee chairs for making progress on an issue that has ended in failure too many times before.    » read more »

October 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON— Today, AARP and the American Medical Association (AMA) sent a letter to the Senate, urging Senators to pass S. 1776, the Medicare Physician Fairness Act, which lays the foundation for a new payment system to help ensure seniors' access to and choice of physicians.

If left unchecked, physicians face an unprecedented 21.5 percent cut in Medicare payment rates in 2010, with additional cuts in future years. These cuts will hurt older Americans who rely on Medicare and baby boomers who soon will.

Uncertainty about whether Congress will prevent the cuts has contributed to the decision of some physicians to stop taking Medicare patients, making finding a doctor increasingly difficult for millions of seniors in Medicare.    » read more »

Millions on Social Security to Receive No Increase for First Time Since 1975

October 15, 2009 -- Washington, DC – AARP Chief Operating Officer Tom Nelson offered the following statement in reaction to the Social Security Administration’s announcement this morning that 41 million older Americans will not receive a Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA) in 2010. Since automatic Social Security adjustments went into effect in 1975, there has never been a year without a COLA.

“For over three decades, millions of Americans have counted on annual increases to help make ends meet. In this economy, having this protection is even more critical for the financial security of all older Americans.    » read more »

Urges Congress to Act Quickly in Light of Anticipated No COLA for 2010

Washington, DC – AARP CEO A. Barry Rand offered the following statement in reaction to the White House’s announcement this afternoon, calling on Congress to extend previous $250 economic relief provided for older Americans, veterans and persons with disabilities for 2010.    » read more »

Legislation passed today is yet another milestone in the long journey to health care reform

October 13, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond released this statement following the Senate Finance Committee’s passage of the Affordable Health Choices Act:

“We applaud the Senate Finance Committee for taking another important step toward fixing what’s wrong with our health care system. Under the leadership of Chairman Baucus, the legislation reported today moves us even closer to providing much-needed relief to millions of older Americans who still face challenges accessing affordable, quality health care services.    » read more »

Urges Congress to Pass Legislation Immediately to Address Lack of Social Security COLA

October 1, 2009 -- Washington, DC –With an expected announcement of no Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA) in 2010, AARP CEO Barry Rand called on House and Senate leaders to provide $250 in emergency relief to millions of older Americans who are struggling in this economic climate.

AARP will work with members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to urge quick passage of legislation that will help combat rising health care and prescription drug costs that consume an increasing amount of seniors’ income each year.    » read more »

Data Shows Job Loss, Delaying Retirement, Sleep Deprivation and Paying for Necessities Weigh Heavy on Population

September 30, 2009 -- Washington, DC – AARP released a new survey today which shows that Americans age 45 and older are still struggling financially and are forced to make hard decisions about their economic security despite recent positive changes in the marketplace.    » read more »

Boomers Skipping Care, Likely Driving Up Future Costs; 1 in 5 People in Medicare Have Experienced Waste, Fraud or Abuse

September 30, 2009 -- WASHINGTON—As AARP continues to fight for health care reforms that will reduce costs and improve access to coverage, new survey data released today find many older Americans—particularly baby boomers—need help more than ever.

The AARP Closer LookSM survey finds more than one-third of boomers (36 percent) and nearly a quarter of people 65-plus (23 percent) are not confident their insurance and savings would cover the costs of a major illness.    » read more »

September, 2009 -- More than a full year after gas prices peaked above $4.00 a gallon, Americans still report changing driving habits and worrying about gas costs.

In AARP’s Closer Look poll, the first of a series of quarterly polls of boomers and older Americans planned for regular release by AARP, half (51%) of all Americans age 45+ reported having had trouble paying for gas or driving less to cut costs in the past year. In fact, more people age 45+ reported problems with gas prices than reported problems paying their medical bills or experiencing losses in the financial markets.    » read more »

September 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- AARP Executive Vice President John Rother released this statement following today’s introduction of health care reform legislation in the Senate Finance Committee:

“Today’s legislation moves the process forward and we hope the Chairman and his colleagues on both sides of the aisle can continue to have a rational, informed debate about its provisions as the committee’s markup process begins.    » read more »

Health reform can improve Medicare, limit insurance company subsidies

September 15, 2009 -- WASHINGTON—AARP Executive Vice President John Rother today responded to a report on hospital readmissions in the Medicare Advantage program by America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). Rother’s statement follows:

“AARP has long been a champion of improving care coordination, chronic disease management and prevention. That’s why we’re fighting for the kinds of health care reforms that this study advocates—like reducing avoidable hospital readmissions and providing better access to preventive care.    » read more »

New AARP Survey Shows Support For Increased Consumer Protections in Financial Industry

September 14, 2009 -- Washington, DC – AARP Executive Vice President, Nancy LeaMond released the following statement in response to President Obama’s speech today on Wall Street:

“Older Americans saw their retirement savings decimated by the economic crisis. AARP has long maintained that consumers must be armed with as much information as possible so that they can make sound financial decisions. In a world where individuals must plan for their own financial futures, information is imperative and greater protections are needed in the marketplace.    » read more »

June 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON—By the end of this summer, more than one million older Americans will have fallen into the “doughnut hole”—a coverage gap in Medicare’s prescription drug program that leaves individuals on the hook for all of their own drug costs while still paying premiums. AARP is launching a new online resource to help older Americans avoid this dreaded coverage gap.    » read more »