AARP sells out on its member

[Guest guest]

Dear MoveOn member,

For years, Democratic lawmakers have been working to make sure that

seniors have access to prescription drugs and reasonable healthcare.

Now, in an attempt to score political points, the Republican

Congressional leadership is pushing through a bill that appears to

offer a solution. Actually, the bill undermines the entire Medicare

program, pushing people into the very HMOs which contribute heavily to

Republican lawmakers and barring the government from negotiating for

lower drug prices.

Given the danger to seniors, one might expect that the millions-strong

American Association of Retired People (AARP) to be on the case.

But after huge contributions from pharmaceutical companies and HMOs,

and pressure from Republican lawmakers, the AARP is selling out its

membership and backing the bill.

In response, 85 members of Congress (so far) have canceled their AARP

memberships, or announced that they will never join (if they're not

yet old enough to be eligible). [1] Today, we urge you to do the

same. If the AARP won't stand up for the elderly when it comes to

health care, what good is it? You can reach the AARP at:

NY Branch: 212-758-1411

National hotline: 1-800-424-3410

If you're a member, tell them you're quitting.

If you're too young to be eligible, tell them you'll never join.

You also may want to let your Representative and Senators know that

you're keeping the AARP accountable. You could also tell them

that you expect them to demand real health care reform -- not this

industry-backed bill.

Please let us know how you feel about this -- we're collecting

individual comments to share with the media, at:

http://moveon.org/aarp.html?id=2136-2908283-6mWwbl.nb1AkcvJAHSoDIg

The AARP has endorsed a bill that would make two fundamental changes

in Medicare:

1. First, it would force people to make a stark choice: either pay

sharply increased premiums to stay in traditional Medicare, where

they can choose their doctor; or be forced out, into an HMO.

Newt Gingrich, the former House Republican leader, said in 1995

that he wanted to let Medicare to " wither on the vine. " This

change would lead to that result, with cost incentives driving

people out. (Not coincidentally, AARP CEO Novelli

recently wrote the forward to Gingrich's book. [2])

2. Second, it offers a prescription drug benefit, but requires people

who want this coverage to buy it from private insurance plans.

This part of the bill also bars the government from doing the one

thing it could do to actually reduce the cost of these drugs --

negotiate for lower prices, using the size of the Medicare program

as leverage. Drug prices are soaring now, and unless they're

brought under control, they will eventually bankrupt Medicare.

AARP itself sells insurance and also sells prescription drugs, so

the group stands to reap huge financial gains from this change.

The bill has been opposed by a host of liberal groups [3] as well as

by major conservative groups, including the Club for Growth, The

Heritage Foundation, the American Conservative Union, The Cato

Institute, and the National Taxpayers Union. It's also been assailed

by virtually every one of the Democratic presidential candidates. [4]

In endorsing this bill, the AARP has broken faith with its members. In

a recent poll, 65% of AARP members said they're opposed to it. [5]

The group has also violated its own written principles. In July, CEO

Novelli wrote to Congress stating the requirements for AARP's

support of a Medicare bill. [6] Yet the bill AARP has just endorsed

fails to meet nine separate requirements stated in that letter. [7]

We need to hold the AARP responsible for selling out its members. If

the organization sees sufficient backlash from its members and

prospective members, it could still change course and effect the

outcome of this legislation. Please call your local AARP branch

today.

Sincerely,

--, Eli, , Joan, Noah, , Wes, and Zack

The MoveOn.org Team

November 20th, 2003

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[1] 85 Representatives wrote to Novelli, canceling their memberships:

http://www.moveon.org/HouseAARPletter.pdf

[2] From the foreword by Novelli to Gingrich's new book, " Saving Lives

and Saving Dollars " .

[3] See http://www.moveon.org/medicare.html for a complete list of

organizations.

[4] See:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54358-2003Nov17.html

[5] Poll: a majority of AARP members oppose the Medicare bill:

http://www.moveon.org/Medicaresurveypr.pdf

[6] AARP July letter on minimum acceptable standards

http://www.aarp.org/Articles/a2003-08-18-drugbenefitinmedicare.html

[7] How AARP goes back on its word

http://www.house.gov/schakowsky/Document_AARP_Priorities_11_17_03.html

[8] http://www.aarp.org/leadership/Articles/a2002-12-18-aarpfactsheet.html