AARP Tears Apart New GOP Obamacare Replacement Plan

[DonViejo]

Source: Talking Points Memo



By CAITLIN MACNEAL Published MARCH 8, 2017, 10:43 AM EDT

In a letter to Republican House leaders on Tuesday, the AARP voiced staunch opposition to House Republicans' bill to repeal and replace Obamacare, warning that the bill could dramatically increase costs for seniors and harm other vulnerable Americans.

"This bill would weaken Medicare’s fiscal sustainability, dramatically increase health care costs for Americans aged 50-64, and put at risk the health care of millions of children and adults with disabilities, and poor seniors who depend on the Medicaid program for long-term services and supports and other benefits," Joyce Rogers, the senior vice president for governmental affairs at AARP, wrote in the letter.

Rogers wrote that the AARP is very concerned about a provision in the bill that would let insurers charge older Americans five times more than younger Americans. Obamacare had restricted companies to charging older Americans just three times more.

The AARP warned that age rating, paired with a reduction in subsidies made available to offset the cost of health care, could cause costs to spike drastically for Americans aged 50-64.

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/aarp-opposes-gop-obamacare-replacement

[samnsara]

1. you dont mess with intel or aarp!

[Merlot]

3. aarp lost me during the prescrption drug fiasco a couple years ago

My guess is that this new plan would cause them to payout more with their supplimental insurance plans, which means less profit for them.

[mpcamb]

13. Right. They acted like what they actually are: an insurance company.

It was disgusting... Pretending to be an advocacy group while raking it in.

[Wounded Bear]

2. It seems AARP is getting back to actually fighting for seniors again...

maybe I'll think about joining.

[dem4decades]

6. I've considered that this morning too.

[DavidDvorkin]

12. Yes

We've been members for years, and they do fight the good fight.

[Wounded Bear]

14. Seems to me they spent a number of years...

as not much more than insurance agents for Humana.

[DavidDvorkin]

15. I've read that accusation

The Medicare supplement insurance they sell is from United Healthcare. I'm not crazy about it, but it's the one our doctors prefer. To me, the real problem is the need for a supplement at all, as opposed to having Medicare cover all costs (and all Americans, but that's another problem).

My experience with AARP has been not much insurance hawking and lots of good advocacy -- primarily for older people, but also for other groups.

[Greensix1]

4. AARP had better watch out

AARP had better watch out. The Trump team is also going to reduce the coverage of Medicare, increase the yearly costs to those covered, and reduce senior's Social Security checks. BUT, that's what their Members Voted for in November when the majority of white older voters supported Trump. They are only getting what the ASKED FOR, to get screwed over by the Republican Party.

[alarimer]

5. Where are the Democrats on this?

Have they even provided a denunciation themselves? I've heard a few on Twitter or Facebook, but there appears to be no unified message.

They need to come out swinging on this. Let the people know just what the GOP has in store.

[Demsrule86]

8. They have come out swinging...perhaps you could save your criticism's...unjustified at that for

the true enemy Trump and the Republicans.

[Hortensis]

16. Good swinging. Maybe hang a sign over our desks

as needed to remind ourselves, "It's the Republicans, Stupid!"

[Demsrule86]

10. The Democrats are unified on blocking this...this will pass without one Democratic vote according to

the media...but the reality is that those who voted for Trump, the libertarian, Stein, a gorilla or stayed home...and not all of these people mentioned above are conservatives either, left the Democrats powerless to stop the GOP if they stick together...this will be done under reconciliation...a simple majority will suffice. Thus we have to pray the GOP get hammered by voters and don't stick together. Trump's presidency will cost us much... the environment, better health-care, Medicare, Social Security,the courts, LGTBQ, women's rights etc. and will send the undocumented to 'work' camps...private prisons... Americans have voted for those who fully intend to practice a new form of slavery.it is a disaster so before you condemn Dems...consider they are the only ones who can stop Trump...lets not weaken them with unfair criticism.

[Aristus]

7. Good luck getting re-elected without AARP, repubs!

Don't you get it? They're old! They have a lifetime of experience fucking people over for revenge, and they've got nothing to lose!

[herding cats]

9. I saw their new ad.

It's good, and even has a a squirrel in it.

I'm glad they're educating their members as to how this bill will impact them adversely.

Call Congress 844-617-2688 and tell them to Give the Age Tax the Ax!

#NoAgeTax

[Liberalagogo]

11. Stop calling it Obamacare replacement.

Call it what it is....Trumpcare.
Make THEM own it.