American Morning
Lobbying for Your Health: 150,000 seniors in revolt
Editor's Note: Lobbyists have spent hundreds of millions of dollars trying to influence the health care debate in this country. By some counts, there were six health care lobbyists for every member of Congress. In part three of the American Morning original series, "Lobbying for Your Health," Carol Costello looks at the AARP's contentious role in the debate.
By Bob Ruff and Carol Costello
November 5, 2009. That's the day the AARP endorsed the House health care bill. With nearly 40 million members, it's not surprising that the president quickly came before cameras in the White House to thank the AARP for its endorsement.
That AARP endorsement wasn't universally applauded by all of the organization's millions of members. The organization admits it has lost 150,000 members since the endorsement but says that's been offset by more than 2-million new or renewed memberships.
Some, like Robert Tice, feel the AARP is out of touch with its members by focusing so much on selling insurance. He says he will let his AARP membership lapse without renewal because he doesn't like what they're up to.
"The letters don't mean American Association of Retired Persons," he told CNN's Carol Costello. "It just means AARP. It's just a name. ... The AARP is about insurance. People need to know that. AARP is not out there to help you."
In fact, the AARP brands several types of insurance, including health policies with United Healthcare. By endorsing so many insurance policies the organization brought in around $650 million dollars last year in premiums. That's almost three times what it took in from membership dues.
Republicans say the AARP's endorsement of the House health bill is more about supporting its insurance business than anything else. They point to the organization's acquiescence to billions of dollars in cuts to the Medicare Advantage Plans, which AARP and other insurers offer as private alternatives to Medicare that often includes extra medical coverage like dental and vision care.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, some suggested cuts in the program might make it so unattractive that millions of Americans could be forced out because the plan's benefits would shrink. It is also possible that some insurance companies would stop offering Medicare Advantage policies altogether because it would be far less profitable.
So, why would the AARP support cuts to Medicare Advantage? Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) thinks he knows what the AARP is up to. Gingrey says the organization hopes that millions of seniors will move from Medicare Advantage to AARP's branded Medigap plan, which has far higher profit margins.
"The fewer people, seniors, that are on Medicare Advantage and back into Medicare fee for service (Medigap)," Gingrey says, "the more opportunity AARP has to get royalty from the sale of Medigap policies." The AARP, says Gingrey, is the market leader in selling Medigap policies.
Carol Costello asked the AARP if any of this is true. The AARP's director of legislative policy, David Certner, says "it's not an issue we have lobbied on at all."
Certner says his organization supported cuts to Medicare Advantage to "trim the fat" so Medicare itself survives. "We understand there are financial issues with Medicare, and we need to save money for the Medicare program."
He adds that the AARP has fought to make sure the health care bill closes the gap in Medicare drug coverage, known as the "donut hole," an important issue for many seniors. But Robert Tice isn't convinced that the AARP won't put making profits ahead of its members.
"The AARP has a moral responsibility," he says, "to be more clear that they are an insurance broker primarily, and that's where they make the majority of their money."
About this Show
Welcome to the American Morning blog where you can get daily news updates from American Morning's reporters and producers. Join us for "the most news in the morning," weekdays from 6-9 a.m. ET, only on CNN.
On Twitter
All, its 2 million new or renewed, not new. That could be 1 new and 1,999,999 renewals, which would mean AARP is down 149,000 – if even that is the truth. BTW new and renewed kind of sounds like saved or created.......
But dont worry, healthcare "reform" is not going to pass.
I have always thought about joining AARP but when they promoted Obamacare I have elected not to join. Reason, is very simple that some of these posters don't realize when they make claim that we need government run health care. First when has the government ran anything without screwing it up and it going virtually bankrupt with our hard earned tax dollars. Our social security system is basically bankrupt as is Medicare. Once the government gets this passed (against the will of the majority of the people) those who have supported this rush from Obama, Reid & Pelosi will be screaming about rationed health care, higher payments etc. etc. I ask those who favor this if this is so great why are the elected officials, congress, senate and staff members and all the administration staff including Obama (exempt from this)? SImple question I wait for a commson sense response. As far as AARP they can go straight to hell with the same bunch of politicians who are raming this down are thoats. Wake up America your freedosm are being taken away on a daily basis.
I love reading these comments on here where people state that health care reform is what the people of the united states want, and without it millions are going to die. First of all, read your poll numbers before you make a statement that the "majority want it" if 34% of the poplulation is a majority, I can conclude that you were educated in a public school. Second, I have not noticed an increase in the mortality rate over the last year, so where are all of these dead people who have no insurance. Its all a scam, and a plan to drive us towards a socialist, and progressive ajenda. Wake up people before its too late to turn back.
I support the healthcare reform bill because it is far more just than our current system, but likewise have let my AARP membership elapse ... my reason is that AARP endorsed Bush's support of Big Pharma.
Lowering healthcare costs isn't about ensuring that people can better afford to take meds for the long term ... lowering costs entails empowering people to be responsible for their own health. AARP should spend their time encouraging healthy diets and exercise. Don't sell car insurance, sell bicycles. Don't sell pharmaceuticals, sell health coaching. The diseases that take the heaviest toll on healthcare are self-caused diseases, brought on by modern western lifestyle ... arthritis, heart disease, CPOD, diabetes, many types of cancer ... prevention is 100% of the cure. What we don't want is a better way to let doctors perpetuate the economic drain of lifetime control of symptoms.
My husband and I also stopped our membership in AARP (which we had for over 8 years) because they backed Obama's health care plan. They do not have the best interests of seniors, they are more concerned with lining their pockets and are greedy! They keep send us information and renewal forms and they go in the trash without being open. We will never rejoin!
My husband and I are among the 150,000 that quit, and we cancelled our insurance with them as well. We believe they stopped representing us a long time ago, and their endorsement of this truly dreadful health care bill was the last straw. We can think of better ways to spend the money we would have paid to renew our membership and to maintain the insurance policies.
hey mary in toronto and others,
your socialized medicine is being supported by our US military. Canada, if attacked, could not defend itself, and so should spend more tax dollars on defense, but Canada knows the US will come to its aid. This then frees up lots of monies in the Canadian budget that can be used for health care. Same for Europe. Ironically, once the US gets 'poorer' from its adaptation of European style socialism, our military will shrink and Europe will have to spend more to defend itself, thus ending their social programs!!
Funny really!
This guy is just typical of the "grumpy old seniors" I see everyday. Nothing makes them happy and they are continually trying to rock the boat. Come on, lighten up. Things aren't quite as bad as you'd like us to believe, except that the hate you're spreading is going to be our downfall.
I don't know what the correct answer is, but I do know that the current system is broken, so I'm willing to try it.
I am 50 years old and my number one fear heading into an uncertain economic future is healthcare. While my company's healthcare benefits decreased and our contributions increased over the past decade, public employees have given back virtually nothing.
There was a time public employees were paid less, so they got better benefits. But today they get paid more than their private sector equivalent, and the generous healthcare is a burden that taxpayers like me can't afford anymore. (I live in NJ where retired public employees get free healthcare for life.)
You might say that giving the private sector tax supported health benefits will make it worse. I disagree. I need help while public employees are generally well taken care of. The only thing that will make the system more fair is if I start getting some of the benefits from the tax dollars I and everyone pays. In other words, I've been paying for public employee's healthcare for years. Now I need them to help pay for some of mine.
Let me see if I can recall my middle school math.. yes, is over of, percent over 100.. simplify the zeros...
0.375% of AARP members have quit from their total member base.
That's only three-eighths of one percent.
And this is a story why? Gotta fish for ratings?
How about the turn over of people at AARP who, like my elderly mother, are leaving because they are tired of being spammed with advertisements for supplemental insurance, car insurance and other bogus insurance "plans"? I bet you more than 150K people quit per year simply because they are tired of AARP begging for a dollar.
OMG Parrish Jones..what a complete non eductaed person you are.
I get more junk mail and spam from AARP than support or good info.
I left AARP many years ago telling them, "I'm tired of you pimping out my name to insurance companies." I did not learn until much later that AARP was formed to sell insurance.
15% of AARP members quit over the health care endorsement, but far more oppose it. Why doesn't AARP poll it's members before taking sides on an issue this big? Could be done at low cost via internet. I am a member, but they rarely represent my views, I just use them for the hotel discounts.
I didn't have to quit AARP, I never joined them to begin with. They are completely out of touch with the seniors that need them the most.
There are other senior organizations out their that are not politically aligned nor obligated.
Carson
AARP is in the business of selling insurance. I dropped them because I knew they had no interest in helping seniors – why would they fight against their own profits?
Jason, I think the world is confused if it thinks we are behind. We are actually in very good shape, and that is probably why changing it could be a very bad thing. If health care were in shambles, it would have my full support. And of the 30 millions Americans that don't have health care, how many of those can actually afford it but choose not to have it, so they can live at a different life style. I know of a few young people that choose to not pay for insurance. They are healthy, and use the money they would spend on premiums to go on extended vacations, etc. Thats their choice, and I don't see a problem with that, and I am sure there are millions out there that have the same lifestyle.
P.S.S.
I forgot to mention that AARP is also in the investment business, you know, Wall Street, stocks and bonds that is. Imagine, seniors hold the greatest amount of wealth in this country and AARP funnels them into investments and gets yet another piece of their money. I wonder what else they are up to that maybe we don't even know about.
I am really tired of the name calling (right wing nuts/left wing nuts). I believe that each of us can agree that we do need some kind of health care reform. Do we have serious flaws with the system and cost of it all? Sure but how can anyone say that we don't have the best quality of care in the world? When 80% of people who have insurance are happy with it, then why do changes have to be made to those who are fortunate enough to have good and affordable insurance? Of course, we do have a large population that is without or are paying way to much for health insurance so why not focus on that population rather then the 80% that is happy.
I am fortunate enough to be a teacher who sacrificed a good salary for one of the so-called "cadillac plans". If the school district is taxed 40% in order to pay for someone else's healthcare (which the senate has passed), then that cost is then sent to myself and my family. How is that lowering costs and making health care better?
Having friends from Canada, England, and France; I can say that a single payer system is not the answer.
Now this country was founded for the states to run themselves, if they want to offer insurance exchanges such as Connecticut's Husky program, then so be it.
Our congress needs to start over so this can be done right, not quickly to get it on our president's desk before the State of the Union.
Got to say, there's a disconnect here: so many people angry about AARP making money from insurance - something I've found fishy for a while - but then rejecting this deal because it's "socialized medicine." Well, friends on the right, if capitalism is the best way to organize medical care, and socialism is wrong, then you'll have to put up with conflicts of interest like the AARP all over the place. Is that doctor offering you medicine because it's good for you, or does he get a cut? Is the insurance company rejecting that treatment because it's no good, or it's too expensive for them to pay for? Is the CEO taking tens of millions in compensation this year by cutting off three or four hundred cancer patients? See? Actually, single-payer and paying for health care with taxes - you pay what you can afford - is the way to go. In the meantime, this is definitely not the "socialist" alternative.
The same people who opposed Medicare in 1965.... are the ones who love this socialist Medicare today..And they love the Advantage program to medicare cause the USA government subsidizes the premiums partly... Oh Yes.. they love balanced budgets also.. the last one the Republicans gave the USA was in 1930 during the Great Depression... Oh well maybe they are just socialists at heart and do not know it...HUH? . Or they just like the subsidies from the USA government...You never hear any Republican ever talk about the millions of people who have NO health Insurance do you?
As soon as AARP shifted its stance from advocating for seniors to profiting off insurance sales I dumped them. Now, nearly every time I go to my post box I get junk mail from them trying to persuade, threaten, and frighten me into reinstating my membership. And if they don’t get in my face there they confront me with broadcast ads. Clearly they make enough money to support a massive advertising budget, not a penny of which goes to anything supporting senors. AARP’s marketing campaigns increase their sales, which in turn increases their profits, and that’s that. Sanjay – you are right on about the health care system in France. That’s exactly what we need in this country, the best on earth.
What people generally tend to forget about the AARP is that they are a LOBBYING organization the same way that AAA and the NAACP are. Their point is to represent like-minded seniors and advocate on their behalf.
Just because the AARP takes a particular stance on an issue does not mean that they are just in it for the money. We may not truly understand why they took the position they did (and I agree with some of the comments on here that the AARP has been too conservative in the past), but they believe they did it in the best interest of their members, and losing 150,000 to gain over 2 MILLION is certainly a risk I would be willing to take.
CNN, you can try all day to try and make things look good for the president and that dinosaur AARP. The people know the truth. AARP is like a flowershop owned by the mafia: It's apparent purpose is not what it really is. I am not willing to save sell my future just to save 10 bucks at the Holiday Inn. You said 2 million new OR RENEWED memberships. 150000 is a very significant number. CNN, you're no longer the only game in town. You can't fool us that easily any more. Nice try.
When Blue Cross Advantage dropped the coverage effective Jan. 1, 2010, my wife enrolled in the AARP Medigap policy. We made applications over 45 days ago and have not received notifiction that coverage is in effect. After a number of phone calls to United Health all I am told that the application is in "process" We have not received confirmation of coverage or any written assurance that she is covered. She is now postponing dr. visits until we hear if she is covered.
If I knew that this would have happened, I would have taken coverage with another company that process applications in a profession fasion.
I hope they don't pay claims in the same fashion
I quit AARP a while back as they turned from being a representative of retired people into a lobbyist for the insurance industry. They are more focused on what is financially good for the AARP organization and its employees than on what is good for their members.
Has anyone ever voted for AARP officers? No, and you never will. AARP is a business passing itself off as an advocacy group. Nearly as I can tell, all it advocates are ways to reap big profits from its many insurance plans. AARP was largely responsible for the passing of the legislation establishing the very confusing alphabet soup of policies for Medicare supplements. Even with most of my brain still intact, I found it hard to sort through all the options and costs, and my aged mother (many over-65's have parents still alive) never could have. And that, I think, was AARP's nefarious plan all along. Make the legislation hopelessly complex, and many folks will give up trying to figure it out, and simply sign up for a plan with a familiar name. Thus AARP, while pretending to do good, actually does very, very well.
This is simple . . . AARP is just another "union" like organization trying to corner the market on healthcare plans. People should dump them like a hot potato. Enough of AARP.
The public does not want this Health Plan. Obama wants it. Congress wants it so they can add their "Give Me This". "Give Me This is most often called PORK!!! Seems AARP has joined the ranks. May God take me before America becomes an ????? nation. Lazy people depend on the working class to supply their food, lodging, health centers, drugs, clothes and money. Congress has made this America!!!
Jack's comment at 1:08 pm (a former insurance executive and general counsel) is RIGHT ON! I too have over 25 years experience with one of the nation's largest insurance companies. There is absolutely no reason why everyone US citizen should not have access to good efficient health care at reasonable costs. Everything in this country gets politicized and lobbied to death and they count on us to pick sides and pick each other apart. They count on us fighting like playground school kids to drag things out and muddy the waters. They expect us to be an "either-or" society. You are to the point where you believe you can either have this one thing or you cannot based on groundless reasons. The real truth is you can have more than one solution, more than one thing. Everything is not good, bad, black, white. Grow up – get smart!
Back in about 1982 my mother's AARP hospitalization policy, which cost her something like $5 a month, paid a LOT - sorry my memory is so faulty, but I think it was as much as $250 a day. Remembering this I paid my dues for many years for what I thought was the same thing. But my premium in California rose to $17.00 a month and then $20. I still thought it was great insurance. Then in Philadelphia, the cost came to $35 a month. I did not know that the benefit had fallen to practically nothing by comparison. A few piddling dollars a day, which I found out the first time I had to use it. I was not only shocked - I felt betrayed, and I did see that AARP was in it for the money and not my welfare. I cancelled the so-called insurance and quit AARP. I second everything Mr. Tice and others have said about them. Fooey!!!
AARP, PHARMA (Pharmceutical organization pills,prescriptions), Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shied – none of them are fighting to stop health care reform. Why? They ar big business. PHARMA paid $150million in advertizing for Obama's health care. Why, These companies pay lobbyists company in Washington DC to meet and talk with the President and Congress and actually help write bills. The goal if government mandated health care reform will force more people to buy health ins, in turn more prescriptions are written, and more insurance and pills are sold. The bill will get written so that only large insurance companies will be able to afford any new insurancew regulations. Consequently smaller insurance companies will go out of business. So the bigger companies will pick those people previously insured by smaller insurance companies and the pharmacies will sell more pills and they all get richer and become more monopolies. There are no government mandated programs that are not going broke. And remember this. Somebody ALWAYS gets rich under goverment programs and it's not the government. Its the big business. So Democrats and Republicans all play the game. Obama is nothing different than Bush and they both did nothing different than any other president except Ronald Regan who got us back to running the country right and cut back our deficit. Remember also, government has no money of their own. That money comes from the working people who pay the taxes including big business. So unless we get people aback to work there will no money in the treasury. Work is what makes America great. Not give away programs. Health Care needs to be done right and what is being done now is wrong. Everyone needs to look at reality and find out who we can get in office, both President and Congreass and start again and do it right!!!
As long as Medicare or private medical "insurance" is used to pay for all routine medical care, health care costs will continue to rise. No "reform" will work until health "insurance" becomes a true insurance against unexpected, catastrophic costs. Everyone wants to get their "money's worth" – getting benefits equal to their premium payments. If everyone does that, where is the pool for catastrophic payments?
So much noise and so little substance. Look at the article in this month's National Geographic simply comparing the $ spent per citizen vs life expectancy. The US is by far the biggest per capita spender for health care, but unbelievably far from the top in terms of better health. Neither government nor private sector healthcare = effenciency, but when profit drives the equation, nothing else really matters.
Hooray for the AARP – why are conservatists so quick to disagree with everything that's going on in the government.
If any of you voted for the idiot we just got rid of – keep your stupid mouths shut!!! He took us down a slippery slide that it's going to take years to fix.
Medicade=Bankrupt
Social Security=Bankrupt
Post Office=Bankrupt
Medicare=Bankrupt
VA=Dehumanizing
Humanity=Overated
With all of the history of government failure, now people actually want government to take over your health, life and death situations with total control. How about we just launch our entire nuclear arsenal straight up and let gravity do the rest. I would much prefer a quicker demise than this form of slow torture.
read my previous post please. I would be interested in hearing opinions – pro and con. I think it is a good plan.
AARP has not been focusing on retiree or US interests for a long time. If they have they would not been suporting government and corporate retirement programs ran like PONSI schemes. Any program that takes money from one group today, in hopes of someone else paying you back tomorrow.... Is fatally flawed. Bernie M. did it and it was illegal, US and State Gov does it and it is policy... Corporations do it and eventially go bankrupt (GM for example). The best insurance is saving early in life, and not being a burdon on other later in life. AARP is completely against those behaviors... Since there is no profit in those behaviours for AARP; AARP only looks to fatten the pockets of those who do the finacial manupulation (Corporate, and Governmental). Stop lying to yourselves about anyone being there to help... Its your responsibility to own your helth care, retirement, and happy life. If you don't you will be unhappy... for that I am sorry but you did it to yourself. I see vast numbers of people who spend their money on over priced homes, cars, vacations, big screen TVs, etc... and did not save for their future. Now they want thier childern to bear the burden... Shame on them!!! If you do not prepare for your future you will not have one... Stop counting on others to do things for you that you were not willing to do for yourself. AARP cannot and does not want to help you, they only want your money. And if you give it to them then you fall under the saying "A fool and their money are soon parted."
150000 AARP quitters mostly represents the least smart "keep your government hands off my medicare" GOPers in AARP. good riddens. hope they all go out and buy private plans of their dream!
not that the current bill is worth a spit i would like to see on it.
I have belonged to AARP for around 35 years. I also feel they are more interested in the money they make from insurance, health, car, home, than members. I recall all too well the push they made for Catrosphic Health coverage wherein I would have to pay a 10% premium on my income tax to the Federal governemnt to pay for the coverage for others.
AARP shoul get out of the insurance business.
AARP is an insurance company plain and simple and my membership just expired and will not be renewed again. See you AARP. You'll get nothing but bad publicity out of me from now on. You're a sell out so you can sell gap insurance to seniors. Bye bye.
AARP has stooped to a new low to get new members. A while back, we received a notice in the mail that contained a bill for a "renewal." I later found out that several people received similar "bills" when they never were members in the first place. IIt looked like the receipient was past due on something. This was clearly a ploy to get unwitting seniors to pay a bill only to find out that they had now joined. The bills were small amounts, around $13, so I bet many seniors did not think twice about paying it, thinking they were somehow overdue on something.
AAPR lost some dignity points with that one!
Most here are typically missing the point entirely. What's the alternative to the democrats who are on the take? Republicans who are on the take. It's the campaign finance system that's causing shams like the present bill. Open your eyes! Fix the money or fix nothing!!! Look at how some of the other western democracies regulate campaign money and take a clue.
I was about to join when the AARP endorsed the monstrosity that is Medicare Part D. On the other hand, I took the Part D when I turned 65. It's better than nothing, and I hope the doughnut hole will disappear or lessen when the final bill emerges. Did I hear from any of these crazy retirees then? No, they follow the GOP like sheep.
The reason they cut Medicare Advantage is because it is a massive subsidy to the insurance companies. They tried that setup first in the '90s, with insurance being cocky and presuming they could give people more services if they used the magic HMO cost controls - and user controls. Well, they kicked people off after they started getting sick as they aged. Too expensive. So then, they took a huge gift from Congress to run it again.
For what it costs to give the extra benefits to some seniors, we could give much the same to all, or close the doughnut hole. People are just not thinking about this. Low information and paranoia: the GOP, and the Tea Party, runs on misinformation and panic.
To Mary in Toronto
Many people in the US choose to NOT carry healthcare, especially the 20-30 year olds without kids. It's a CHOICE. Very few people in the US actually don't have healthcare because they can't afford it. If you are poor enought to get welfare, you have the best healthcare you can get, NO Deductable! What Obama is doing is criminalzing CHOICE. You get fined if you don't buy Health Insurance...if you resist long enough, they'll even throw you in jail over it.
US a Third World Country? I thought that was what Canada was. Please don't tick us off too much or will make you the 51st State! 😉
I already cancelled my membership when I heard the AARP was endorsing the plan before the Senate arm twisting, buying off people's vote. I made sure the lady knew why I was cancelling my membership also....very sternly and loudly and ask that she relay my comments exactly to her superiors.
AARP has a serious problem with Seniors believing in the organization . Their website includes partnering with the SEIU, which tells us alot. Many members , have yet to noticed as lost by them , because our membership dues aren't up yet. CNN , for a change , reported both sides .
I think that it's a little bit like watching a train wreck... you have Senior Citizens that are on Government programs; Social Security, Veteran's benefits etc., seemingly protesting something that they do not understand. They have been so riled up by the media and right wing Christian Extremists that they are incapable of thinking clearly. All the while the wealthy, the church, and politicians are laughing all the way to the bank.
I want health care reform as much as anyone. With family members without coverage, anything more than a minor ailment could mean bankruptcy for them and me, as I will do my best to take care of family.
However, the plan in congress does not do it, not at all. If they were serious they would simply make all currently uncovered people eligible for medicaid (based on their income) and charge those who can afford it a proper premium as a surcharge on income tax. To pay for the plan, increase income taxes proportionally leaning to a higher per cent from our higher earners.
Considering the outlandish salaries of some of our financial leaders, taking a health portion of those salaries and bonuses would help solve many of our problems.
What they neglected to tell you is that the 150k members that quit AARP were the ones that died this year. GOP sensationalism and fear mongering in our media is so obvious to anyone not wearing a fluffy wool coat.
some people just don't get it – the aarp is out to make money not protect seniors. i would never join them and i don't believe their numbers – i bet their losing a lot more people than they say. how can anyone reason to support this healthcare bill. obama and his cronies draft it up behind closed doors and give millions in perks to buy senators votes – nebraskins will never ever pay medicare tax to buy their senators vote – and now obama wants the dems to push it thru without debate with the republicans. oh and guess what... they do want to offer healthcare to the illegal aliens... hey senator joe wilson you told it true!!
There is a dirty little secret attached to the AARP's Medicare Advantage policy offered by Secure Horizons, a united Healthcare company. As of Jan 1, 2010 AARP's Medicare Advantage Plan 1 from Secure horizons went from NO premium to $25 per month premium, the co-pays all went up, the co-pay on tier two drugs from THEIR mail order prescription drug service went up 22%, and from the double talk in their on-line materials it appears that coverage has gone down. THE WORST PART OF THIS IS: THERE WAS NO ADVANCE NOTICE SENT TO THOSE INSURED! Many seniors will be in for a very unpleasant surprise this month.
With Medicare part 'B' increasing premiums by 15% and AARP Mediare Advantage ADDING a premium, my health insurance cost rose 41% per month over last year's cost. And that does not include the addition co-pays and drug cost.
I am still working so this is not as critical for me as for those who are on only Social Security. AARP should have been howling about this blatant abuse of our senior population. It appear pretty obvious that the insurance companies see changes coming and laws restricting how much they can gouge, so just like the credit card companies, they wanted to get their increases in before the law passes.
I am completely against AARPs stance on the Health coverage proposals. The only reason I, as well as many other members, cannot drop AARP membership is because we have a life insurance plan through their organization and if we drop our membership we also lose our life insurance policy that we have long paid for. I did not know this until a long time after purchasing it. Oterwise bye, bye AARP.
All of my friends have either dropped or never opted in to the AARP “system”. I believe that the numbers are truly reversed; with only 150,000 “new” members and 2-million ‘lost” memberships. Don't believe the AARP "hype" and PR.
The 150,000 who have quit are only a small number compared to those, like me, who will NEVER JOIN the AARP.
They are a front for their own insurance business interests, and consistently support only statist, socialist policies.
To all of you blindly giving them your money... who runs AARP ? with what aims?
You will find they do not represent you - in any sense of the word.
I canceled our membership in AARP over a month ago for the same reasons. It's obvious that the so-called "health plan" is NOT what the politicos want us to believe. Do they think we're absolute morons? I adopt the comments made Timmy and the others who feel as I do about this newest sham the government is trying to pull. We're looking forward to the next elections . . . .
AARP is a sham, always has been
The AARP does not speak for me reguarding health care. As of the day they endorsed the "health care bill" – I quit the AARP.
To those who call progress – any movement toward socialism – if you know your history, you are speaking of slaves and masters. If it your intention to be either, you are totally despicable.
Another DESPERATE ATTEMPT BY THE REPUBLICANS to stop the Health Care Bill!!! Why are these people "revolting" at this point in time??? If they are and were so dissatisfied with AARP why didn't they "revolt" a long time ago??? Let us think about our country first...WE NEED HEALTH CARE REFORM!!
So will CNN please publish a statistic on how many members quit AARP during the Bush years because of AARP's support of Bush's fiasco of a prescription drug plan, as compared to how many members have resigned in the last few months since the AARP came out in support of the House version of health care reform?
I suspect I know the answer, but the statistic would be interesting. AARP knows which side its bread is buttered on. It's actually both sides; they just have to decide with each national issue which side of the bread gives them MORE butter.
Tice is right on the money. AARP is joke. I joined to get health insurance figuring they had found good deals what with their jillions of memebers. But No! I am probably healthier than 95% of people in their early 60's but was turned down for a little arthritis in my ankle and a thyroid level that is down just a hair and cured by a pill that costs $6 a month. Turned down! what a joke. I wrote the president of AARP and received zippo as far as a response.
That they feel like membership numbers are a affirmation of their political work for seniors is way off base. Most people join so that they can get that little card that gives you all the discounts. They do nothing for seniors as far as legislation is concerned that might really impact the lives of seniors.
AARP is a good business and a joke when it comes to making the lives of seniors better.
The AARP is full of crap! They not only endorse a health care bill that will bankrupt the country and negatively impact senior citizens, they endorsed the pharmacuetical companies in the Bush admin and ripped off poor senior citizens with the full-of-BS drug support! I am now eligible to be a senior citizen, but I sure as heck will NEVER be a member of the AARP-with groups like this, who needs enemies?
Hmm is there anyone in favor of this health care bill? Why would our congressmen vote for somethng that a majority of Americans do not want?
For all the Liberals out there who think that anything passed by obama is golden WAKE UP.
If your paying extra for any Medicare Advantage plan your crazy.It Pays no more than Regular Medicare. The Dental and Eye they offer as a plus is a sham. 100 bucks on a pair of glasses, Free cleaning and xrays on dental. Whoopee ! And maybe a free membership to a gym in North Dakota. Plus no one will take the insurance you have to pay up front and hope you get some money back with in a year. The Government pays the Insuance company $700.00 plus a month for them to take over your medical.Plus they take out even more on some plans over and above what they take out for part A&B based on where you live, which the insurance gets also. The Broker gets a small chunk.
Why in the world should someone going with an HMO be given more tax dollar support than some who chooses a Medigap plan. I think the whole Medicare Advantage program was a political move to reward the Kaiser's of the world over everone else. The tax dollar support, per person, should be the same for everyone.
I got to know some in the AARP leadership a short time ago, and was surprised and disappointed by their collective arrogance. They seem frightfully self-serving, to say the least, and oblivious to the real desires and needs of the AARP membership. Looks like a shakeup at the top is completely warranted.
The AARP for the past number of years has become nothing but a big money maker like an insurance company and nothing more. They go along with what ever Washington wants. I droped themk a few years ago after the prescription drug bill the said was a good idea. Wevall know how that turned out.
I quit subsribing to these sell outs and warn every senior I can about their greedy betrail.
I agree completely with Sanjay. My AARP medigap premium increased signifigantly – far more than the "10% over 5 years" they quoted. AARP is a marketing organization affiliated with United Healthcare, and you can bet that both organizations profit mightily from premiums. Conflict of interest? Misrepresented interest? You bet – the only interest of seniors that matters to them is getting us to part with our hard-earned money. Needless to say, I dumped United Healthcare and will do the same with the AARP membership.
I'm with others who dropped my membership in AARP after it endorsed the prescription drug bill with a no-government-negotiation provision and started offering United Healthcare insurance. I see nothing in the organization's endorsement of the current woefully inadequate healthcare bill to change my mind. The offers to rejoin get ripped up and go straight into the trash can. As a senior, I don't need that kind of "support."
It's so easy for the politicians to be against health care reform. They get the best health insurance on the planet. Anyone who believes that any politician cares about citizens well-being is totally delusional. Politicians only care about their own power and the lobbyists (including AARP) lining their pockets. What we need is an end to lobbyists and the beginning of term limits in the House and Senate.
I am not happy with the AARP and that is why I have not renewed my membership. I honestly don't know what good they are doing for us in DC.
Single payer is the answer. Since the majority of Seniors are on Medicare I dont see why they are complaining. I will continue to renew my membership.
It is all about the money, people. AARP is an organization that I will never join. They are not a non-profit advocacy group for seniors, they are a very profitable insurance company hiding under their non-profit status. In return for their endorsement of the Democratic/Socialist health care program, changes will be made to normal Medigap requirements that will cause the relatively inexpensive Medicare Parts A + B insurance to go way up in price. Then the AARP insurance will look like a real deal. If you don't believe it, just wait and see. Once again, it is all about the money and AARP has sold out for future insurance profits.
The American people are not stupid. The mid-term elections are going to be a huge wake-up call for the Democrats as they loose many seats in both the Congress and the State Governorships. Americans have always wanted a government that stays in the center. When the party in control drifts too far to the right or the left, corrections are made in subsequent elections to bring government back to where Americans are comfortable. Obama is incapable of governing from the center, which is why he will be a one term President. Bill Clinton did understand. The perception by most Americans is that Clinton governed from the center which is why he was a two term President.
Several years ago i wrote the AARP and informed them that i believed they were only interested in their business...and not SENIORS .....i canceled my membership then and will NEVER renew it again.
66 yo retired male from Cape Cod, Mass
I am not renewing my AARP member ship either–I will not support AARP when they are taking out memberships and supporting Obama's health care plan and cutting benefits for seniors. I wrote AARP after my membership dues jumped $4.+ dollars a year and also all the info I have received from the internet stating how AARP is letting seniors down. Enough with their memberships. Stand up and revolt against AARP.
Hey! I honestly didn't expect to see my comment on your page!!!
This country can save billions of dollars by making ENGLISH the only language used. The extra costs of 3 or more lanuages are not necessary.
Folks who worked life times to put money into Social Security have nothing to show for it because the U.S.A. is a welfare country catering to immigrants who NEVER worked a day but get health benefits, etc.
Wake up America! It is already almost too late and it is not only because AARP is a "phony" organization!!!
Hey Mary in Toronto, fyi that our Health Care is the best in the world, despite what are liberal media coverage presents. In fact, it's much better than Canada's, you all up there should be concerned that with this new reform/disaster, that Canadians denied coverage or on waiting lists won't be able to pay for operations in the U.S. anymore!
People are just ignorant. AARP is fighting to help all Americans and a small group of old misers are leaving the organization and most complaining about a couple of dollars. Good riddance, let the Republican that care soooo much for Seniors take care of you. Over 2 million have joined AARP, and more are coming. Hopefully they will not reinstate the ignorants that left.
Can anyone tell me what is in this great health care bill?
Was an AARPmember for a while. Looked at it's policies and actions closely and cancelled membership. Seniors are being sold a bill of goods and taken for a ride in the mistaken belief that this organization cares and is for them - what a load of hooey!
I wish I had health care coverage. Fact is if I were injured I would refuse transport to a hospital. I also would refuse help from EMT and the Fire Department. It is cheaper to just die. I told my family when I pass on to get the cheapest cremation service possible and have a big BBQ in my honor at the river. Should cost about $300.00.
Why not Hospital reform. Hospitals charge $150.00 for a dose of aspirin. Why doesn't Congress govern pricing so America doesn't have sky-rocketing over the counter medications that hospitals offer at a 3000 percent mark-up. I bet suppositories are free.
We need a plan with a good public option to compete with the insurance companies. There are only about five companies who own all of the health insurance companies. Much like the oil companies, they manipulate the price. Too many companies in all fields have the mentality that they can just pass increased costs on to the consumer. Why don't they use their clout to force prices down?
I have a better plan. Expand the VA system, improve the quality of care and make the system available to all american citizens. Eliminate all federal and state money going to medicare, medicaid, champus etc. and use it to finance the new system and get the private insurers and their profit margins out of it. People could still buy private insurance and go to private (or so called non profit) hospitals if they choose. This would create real competition, increase efficiency and quality, and lower costs across the board.
I would also tax political contributions with a 50% sales tax to help finance the system as well as add a 70% tax to all but grass roots lobbying organizations, even if they claim to be nonprofit like AARP.
Advantage plans charge a monthly fee AND the medicare recipient pays $110 to medicare. They bundle medigap w/Part D and creat a donut hole where one may not have existed. The cuts to medicare are to the SUBSIDIES congress pays to the carriers who sell advantage plans. Advantage plans were encouraged to take the billing away from medicare and have a great boom to the insurance companies. I refuse to sell them. My clients are better off with a medsup part F and there own Part D fitted to their needs. Michigan dumped all state retirees on an advantage paln but now are looking at going back to previous plans. $142 billion per year will be cut in subsidies. Wouldn't it be nice if it were not against the law for medicare to negotiate the price of meds?
These people are either very ingnorent or have some form of dimentia.
PS – You tools.... The Medicare plan you are railing about being cut to is a public insurance option that you think is the great satan of the 21st century.
Why is anyone surprised, there are literally MILLIONS of people out there that think this health care bill is going to give them free or virtually free medical insurance. These bills have been written by the health care industry, pharmaceutical industry and lawyers, none of which is in any way willing to give up what they have now, in fact they are trying to open even more loop holes. Remember folks, 2000 pages, the only thing that rivals it is the yearly budget.
I was about to join, but decided not to because the AARP is out of touch with its members by focusing so much on selling it's own insurance. That's obvious. It would be interesting to conduct a poll by it's members.
"Have you all forgotten that the US is a Capitalistic Country? Everything that we do/did, that we acquired is base on the "mighty dollar"."
People...as long as our health care is a "for Profit" institution we will never have good health care of all. I have yet to understand those that are against govt. run insurance??? Why? You don't think anything about the govt. running your police enforcement, fire department, etc. Good Grief we even have govt. run Postal Service!! But we don't think we should have socialized medicine..Come on Folks..wake up!!
I love how this Corporate Propoganda hit job in the last seconds quietly and quickly mention that AARP actually GAINED .... TWO MILLION .... NEW Members during the Health Care Debate.
But they kept saying and showing 150,000 members left.
Which I have heard is the same disenrollment number as usual year to year.
PURE HIT JOB ... we need real news and not this fake cable corporate propoganda.
CNN is joke.
Just the ligher propoganda channel - but still fake and conservative.
And where was the opposing view point from a member who agreed with AARP ... that is right there was none.
Pure cable garbage.
That's the very reason I quit the AARP. They are cutting our throats!!
Every time they send me a renewal in the mail..I toss it in the trash....
People like Timmy at the top make me sick. His classic conservative diatribe betrays the right-wing position that children of poor people deserve to die just so he can save a couple of dollars on his tax return. Pathetic!
Also, the other thing that amuses me to no end are the people who rant endlessly about Capitalism as if it was written on the Ten Commandments, but in the same sentence whine about lobbyists and their money overriding the interests of the common people. If only your pea-brain could understand the irony...
Health care issues aside, AARP has demonstrated a singular lack of conscience toward those they claim to be helping. AARP is a one way organization; totally unresponsive to seniors and completely receptive to any method of increasing its cash flow. Alas another pillar of America is being eroded by the fetid waters of greed and dissipation.
Any statistic on the partky affiliation/preference of tbe 150,000?
I get so tired of hearing people talk about handouots to those less fortunate. Do you know that the Federal Government subsidizes drug studies for the billionaire drug companies? Then they get to keep the profits from the sale of those same drugs! Just keep in mind that when you hear Republicans talk about handouts for the poor and socialism.....they are the same people handing billions to big corporations who already have billiions.....and pay their CEO's 300x more than other employees!
$$$$$$$ is what AARP is all about. They just lost my membership also and I doubt they'll ever get me back. My money is going elsewhere and I'm letting my insurance go to another place also.
Goodbye and good riddance!
The AARP provides a huge ready-made market of targets for insurance companies and credit card companies, yet Chase Visa, sponsored by AARP, recently increased my rate over 50% despite an excellent credit rating and history, changing a fixed rate into a variable one.
When I complained to the AARP, they indicated they planned to take no action against Chase Visa. Indeed, they still advertise for Chase Visa in the AARP newsletter.
Apparently AARP has just become a service organization for rich corporations, not an advocay organization for seniors.
I terminated my membership with AARP years ago because of an uneasy feeling.
At age 65 I just became a new member of Medicare, with Mutual of Omaha for a supplement and United/AARP for Part D coverage. I am now throughly disgusted with what I have learned AARP is all about. Unfortunately I will have to wait a year to sign on with another RX provider. Make no mistake about it, AARP is in the insurance business, they are not an advocacy group for seniors. How they manage to maintain non-profit status is simply a function of government corruption. I was told by a high level federal government employee that United just recently bought a large piece of AARP- that piece undoubtedly consists of member names to solicit for insurance purposes. I think that AARP is one of the biggest shams ever perpetrated against seniors. They are big business in the American way, lobbying and buying their way at the federal level. The solution is to create a true non-profit advocacy group for seniors, not corrupted by insurance or any other business. This isn't about left or right, this is about issues concerning all seniors. P.S. I discovered United/AARP perpetrating fraud against its new members for RX coverage. I have taken this to the highest levels of Medicare (CMS), and Congress. I think we have all been lulled into complacency regarding AARP and finding them in bed with the insurance industry is the most grievous affront of all. As we know the insurance industry is one of the largest if not the largest industries in the U.S. as such, there is so much money available that they undoubtedly saw AARP as ripe for the picking and AARP without any morals or ethics sold out.
My husband and are two of the people who turned in their AARP cards because of their endorsement of Obama Care. AARP is only interested in it's bottom line: selling insurance. Their insurance is expensive. They have to pay the big bucks to their executives. They have bombarded us with pleas to renew our membership, but they should save their postage because that's not going to happen. People should use their brains before signing up with AARP, because they can find a better deal, at a lower cost, elsewhere.