USA Today 9.2 AARP Raises Voice in Health Care Debate, Mimi Hall

AARP has failed in being that neutral fount of senior's advice on the administration's healthcare reform proposal. Please, AARP, instead of worrying about your membership exodus, at least read the house bill 3200. The house bill currently is all we have for studying, analysis and dispensing of information. Your associate, Mr. Rand, Mr. Certner identified several concerns of the seniors in his effort at analysis, namely the fear that there will be "rationing of treatments." Why shouldn't seniors be concerned when one of the three apparent main goals of the house plan is to control costs. Controlling costs is simply code, meaning fewer funds available for medical treatment!

Other goals appear to be the broadening of coverage and inclusion of those who currently cannot afford private health insurance. These goals again are cost related items and less funding means restricted coverage and required supplemental payments for those they cannot afford a private plan. Why not meet with all private insurers and ascertain if this category cannot be covered within the present system.
Then the article states that we will soon be subjected to a multi-million dollar media and mail campaign. This approach does not feature prudence or discipline anywhere near the effort. At a time when seniors will receive no Social Security COLA’s for the next two years, making it harder to pay their bills, purchase prescribed medications, visit grandchildren, their self appointed advocate, the AARP is planning to spend millions for a campaign to provide "truthful" information to bring the erring ones back into the fold!
Mr. Rand, please realize that as serious an issue as healthcare reform , requires careful study, not knee jerk passive approval simply because its coming from Washington, D.C. Also, isn't it time that AARP examine its assumption that the most important issue concerning seniors at the moment is the healthcare reform proposal.

I believe Americans, look forward to retirement in this great country because they value this nation, its freedoms, and our of life promised by the Constitutional founders. Seniors have paid their taxes, given philanthropically, sacrificed themselves and their children in wars, given their all for a strong love of America. Perhaps senior’s real concerns center around the possibility of losing a way of life and guaranteed freedoms, they have enjoyed for years, through government incompetence and wrong priorities!

Dr. Phillips