AARP endorses plan for health care reform
Nevada Appeal, November 8th, 2009
After a lifetime of hard work, no older American deserves to spend
their later years struggling with medical bills, foregoing or cutting
prescription drugs to make them last or avoiding preventative or basic
care because they can't afford the out-of-pocket costs. That is why
AARP has been fighting so hard to ensure older Americans are getting
the health care coverage they deserve.
After carefully reading
both the Affordable Health Care for America Act and the Medicare
Physician Payment Reform Act (HR 3962 and HR 3961), AARP's
all-volunteer national board has endorsed these bills because they meet
the critical needs of older Americans and future generations.
For
the more than 45 million Americans in Medicare — 320,000 in Nevada —
the House plan makes prescription drugs more affordable by completely
closing the dangerous gap in prescription drug coverage known as the
doughnut hole, and allowing Medicare to negotiate with drug companies
to reduce prescription drug costs.
Right now, the law does not
allow Medicare to negotiate prices, and the program must accept the
prices given by the pharmaceutical manufacturers. The House bill
changes that.
The bill also adds preventive benefits like free
cancer screenings, cracks down on waste and fraud, protects the
traditional Medicare benefits people in the program rely on and ensures
seniors get access to the doctor of their choice or can find a new
doctor when they need one.
For all Americans — including more
than 70,000 uninsured Nevadans age 50 to 64 who often struggle to find
affordable insurance — the House plan makes coverage more affordable by
strictly limiting how much more insurance companies can charge based on
age.
The House plan guarantees that you'll never be denied
affordable coverage because of your health or age. AARP has fought to
prevent anyone from coming between you and your doctor; and we've
fought to make sure your health care does not take a back seat to
insurance company profits.
Read more of this article.Supplemental Medicare Insurance: work with a pre-screened insurer
to find the right Medicare Advantage program for you and your medical
needs.About Reverse Mortgages: Learn all about reverse mortgages at NewRetirement.com
Professional Financial Advisers: Find out what a financial adviser can do for you at NewRetirement.com.