AARP's John Rother: What happens if you lose coverage?

[romanmel1]

This is the A-Hole who said in the WSJ article of 6/17/11 that AARP could consider taking away some benefits from it's members. Like a mother eating her babies. My AARP membership will not be renewed.

[jihadsuitcase]

Well, you can hope this doesnt happen...I bet its not covered.

youtube.com/watch?v=3RoPWg0QhM­U

[anyusmoon1]

It's about SOCIALISM and AARP should be ASHAMED of themselves for absconding with their membership dollars and become lobbyists for socialist agenda's. I have witnessed your handling of message boards on AARP's website, you STIFFLE dissenting opinion and only allow pretext as email letters to congress supporting your abomination.

LIAR- what kind of CHOICE is NO CHOICE? How about we put YOU in JAIL or YOU pay the fines associated for NOT CHOOSING public dole.

[sashamanda1]

There are relatively easy fixes to our health care system that would provide cost-effective coverage: open the system up to competition across state lines, allow HSAs for anyone, equalize tax deductions for healthcare for all Americans, and curtail outrageous law suits. The health care bills proposed by Congress and supported by AARP do nothing to contain costs. Seniors will be hurt the most with nearly have a trillion dollars directly cut from Medicare and Medicaid. Shame on AARP!

[blackjet2news]

G O P=GREED OVER PEOPLE

[blackjet2news]

G O P=GREED OVER PEOPLE

[jerdew]

AARP use to represent us older people now they sale supplemental insurance and if you end up with the Public Option then you would need to buy one of these policies like AARP sales.

The Public Option is not a single payer plan which means it will not cover everything and that includes medications and will not cover 100% like many people believe,

You will find out just like many older people have about Medicare and Obama himslef said the Public Option was like Medicare

[Railroadertwo]

we would settle for 80 precent

[Railroadertwo]

It Happened to us, my wife lost her insurance when I retired from the Union Pacific RR Co, and reached age 65 and became eligible for medicare. She has been unable to get any affordable health insurance because of preexisting conditions. Premiums went from $160 per month to $800 per month with no prescription coverage. We need to fire the HMO's. We went from paying the doctor and or hospital and their staff to paying them and the HMO Staff. Where is the savings?

[Railroadertwo]

My wife is 5 years younger than me, Everything would have been OK, if the company (that is worth millions), would have continued the coverage until she reached 65. Health insurance companies do not want to insure someone that is 60 years old. We do not believe we need free health insurance, just the option to buy affordable insurance that has a low deductible, and actually pays the bills. That's my 2c worth.

[Railroadertwo]

Additionally, we did not know this was going to happen until, one month before I reached 65. You can imagine the shock.

[anyusmoon1]

'fixes' to prevent what you describe r 1 thing, but the 2000 + pgs (which r easily trebled a search of existing codes CFR and USC 4 changes/amendments/strikes) is wholly unacceptable.

Youve no idea the burden placed on future generations of the US 4 a % like your wife. Additionally u have no idea the immediate burden on individual freedoms of EVERYONE! This is NOT the American way, but I don't expect a railway worker to get that, whole codes/laws were rewritten for that gov scam operation.

[jimparks415]

CFS, what kind of tool are you to chastise me for speaking from my heart? 8 posts? If you're a YouTube person, you can criticize me, (or censor me) but if you're an Obama tool, keep it to yourself. If you have worked hard all your life and have provided well for yourself and your family, you wouldn't be making 8 posts in favor of AARP's support of the bill. If, however, you're on the dole, then that all speaks for itself. Of course you want the rest of us hard-working citizens to pay your way.

[CountryFolkSoap]

PART 2: The cost for us to purchase medical insurance would cost an annual $9,600 premium & come with a $10,000 deductable, so just 1 occurrence would run us $19,600. We are in our mid 50s, started our own business & cannot afford this w/o a public alternative.

[CountryFolkSoap]

Medical providers take advantage by over-ordering tests, writing scripts for premium drugs & offer cheaper alternatives when asked, reques repeated often unnecessary follow up visit after visit if they cant get to all your problems in the 5 min you actually see the doctor, by suggesting elective & major surgery as a 1st option instead of seeking therapy, diet or lifestyle changes. Believe me when they have a client with great coverage they see $ signs and get the most for themselves out of it.

[CountryFolkSoap]

Meet the people that are desperate for reform; dry the tears of the Moms who are crying because their child is dying & yet the medical expenses have more than exceeded their live earnings; dry the tears of a husband as he has to sell his home & use his lifes savings to give his wife a few more months on this earth; look into the teary eyes of people in pain because they cannot afford the prescriptions they need; these people need help.

[bobcu2]

Yes, We all feel sorry for all of these individuals that have fallen into bad times.... But we all should be careful in what should be done... If the our corupt government takes over Healthcare, we all will suffer.... I believe the answer is in abolishing all Special Interest groups and corupt lobbiests.... Corupt lawyers and insurance companys have caused our rates to go up ,while they get rich..... Don't be fooled by thinking the corupt government has all of the answers.....

[CountryFolkSoap]

I agree with a lot of your points, but even your comments points out that insurance companies have a huge role in the rising costs & our gov is the only entity that can step in. They do not want to take over, they want to create establish guidelines, competition & offer alt plans to me, one of the misfortunates that have been a responsible do-bee for 53 yrs & risk losing my life savings with a medical problem.

[dretz2]

Try "bipartisanship" by listening to the other side, like: a) reduce costs via tort reform; b) no single-payer system; c) eliminate the costly sales ads for drugs on tv; d) Congress agree to same system as taxpayers. Oh, and read before voting; there should be a quiz.

VERY disappointed in AARP for being such a blatant tin horn for the admin.

[CountryFolkSoap]

Agree with you on Tort reform but another bill; the gov stopping drug ads, just means more in the drug co coffers unless controls are placed on them, which is not a bad idea, just like it's not a bad idea to place controls on insurance companies.

[bobcu2]

You are right on. We need to rid this country of ALL special interest groups. They are destroying this country. Of course all of our polititions are against this with all of the payola they recieve from these groups. We are paying for this in the long run. I propose eliminating these groups . Even if we were to all be taxed to pay for QUALIFIED persons running for office.Stiff fines,ANYONE caught taking money from special interest groups. This would be cheaper than what we pay for gouged prices.

[kgarvey2147]

continued...

5. You last point about health reform allowing more choice and greater quality in coverage is not supported by the content of the current bills. Many experts believe just the opposite will occur.

[kgarvey2147]

continued..

4. You say, in the event of changing health coverage that private insurance may increase one's premium or refuse coverage altogether. Again, the only recourse in the current bills is the public option. But, what if Congress did something really creative, like allowing private insurers to compete across state lines? Competition is the better answer, not state mandated health coverage.

[kgarvey2147]

continued...

3. Losing one's insurance due to job change or job loss is only protected against by the public option. But, you fail to address the unintended consequences of such a public option, which by the way is what most of the opponents are strongly against.

[kgarvey2147]

John, in response to your several points. Since I'm limited to 500 characters here, I'll make several posts to counter your arguments.

1. There's is nothing in HR3200 or the respective Senate bill that will prevent premiums from rising any faster or slower than they are rising now.

2. There are no specifics in the bills regarding what will be covered or not covered. So, your point about finding out too late that some major illnesses are not covered in one's existing plan is misleading.

[IrishTenorFan]

AARP is right on target. Stop listening to scare tactics and get on board.

[CountryFolkSoap]

Agreed! Keep posting! I am on Twitter & FB going straight to the declared neigh sayers with factual human stories & facts why this needs to happen. I will be at my second public event with my states representatives voicing facts, not just opinions to make this happen. Keep it going Irish Tenor Fan

[1111flores]

Clearly, 450cfrx and jimparks415 don't represent AARP membership because they can't even phrase a grammatically correct sentence. From their lack of syntax, I peg them at about 19 years.

So I guess we can't expect them to be able to understand what is being proposed with the Health Care Reform bill. Ironically, they are just the type that would benefit the most from it.

[jimparks415]

I'm 58 and worried about my future. You obviously have been on the dole all of your life and want to stay on that gravy train. My syntax was perfect, unless you are offended by parentheses.

[CountryFolkSoap]

Blog content should be respectful, no need for name calling. Please read the AARP public statements, they definately do represent seniors. How many AARP community events have you attended lately. I am active in my local chapter & find them to be knowledgeable and caring for our group.

[jimparks415]

What kind of moron are you? You don't (none of us do) know what shape this bill will take? Why are you endorsing it before you know? AARP definitely doesn't represent us seniors. You are definitely being paid off. Sorry bud, your cover is blown.

[450cfrx]

Cansel my membership in aarp, read the bill and compare with Canada.

[CountryFolkSoap]

Medicare as we know connot sustain the demands coming unless reform happens. Fraud & waste in the system must stop to keep up with the growing numbers of seniors & longevity. Ignoring will not fix it, the system is facing predicatable failure leaving status quo.