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Monday, September 28, 2009

AARP Keeping Eye on Health Reform

By Stan Cooper
State Director, AARP New Mexico
          As the health care debate continues across the country, many seniors are becoming increasingly confused by charges and counter-charges on how they would be affected by reforms.
        AARP wants to ensure seniors in New Mexico and throughout the country that it is fighting to protect Medicare and will fight to make certain future generations have the health care coverage they need when they retire.
        You have earned Medicare benefits and we will battle any proposals to cut your benefits or increase your out of pocket costs.
        No one should stand in the way between you and your health care. No one, insurance companies or the government, should tell you which doctors or what treatments you should receive.
        AARP also wants seniors who get sick to get the benefits you were promised under your insurance coverage. Insurers should not renege on your benefits. AARP is fighting to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate drug prices which can lower your prescription costs. You should no longer be denied insurance coverage because of your health or your age. Pre-existing conditions are a huge barrier to access to health care. AARP is fighting to eliminate using pre-existing conditions to deny coverage.
        When it comes to waste, AARP feels your taxpayer dollars should go for your care. The government needs to crack down on those who fraudulently bill Medicare and to reduce over-billing by providers and cut out duplicative paperwork and tests.
        AARP is working to protect seniors so that you get all the benefits you have earned. AARP wants to lower drug costs for millions of seniors by closing the Part D coverage gap or doughnut hole.
        And finally AARP is working to ensure seniors have the freedom to choose the doctors and specialists they need. Medical doctors should be paid fairly so seniors can keep the doctor of their choice or more easily find a doctor if they do not have one.