AARP

Extensions would assist the unemployed and ensure access to physicians in Medicare

March 10, 2010 -- WASHINGTON -- AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond issued the following statement today, commending the Senate for passing legislation that would extend critical benefits to help millions of Americans who are struggling with unemployment and a lack of health insurance.    » read more »

AARP Analysis Shows Number of Unemployed Among Workers 55+ Skyrocketed 331% from 2000-2009

Washington, DC -- Older workers endured a staggering 331% increase in unemployment over the last 10 years, a new analysis conducted by the AARP Public Policy Institute shows. This dramatic rise in older unemployed workers has resulted in declining financial and retirement security for millions of Americans who have little time to make up the losses.    » read more »

Washington, DC –AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond today commended Senator Bernie Sanders for introducing an amendment to H.R. 4213, which would provide $250 in economic relief for millions of older Americans, veterans and persons with disabilities who continue to struggle through these difficult economic times. LeaMond’s statement follows:

“For first time in over 30 years, the benefits 57 million retirees, veterans and people with disabilities count on to make ends meet have been frozen. What this means for many is even though they will have to spend more because of the rising cost of prescription drugs and health care, their Social Security checks will remain flat.    » read more »

Extensions would assist the unemployed and ensure access to physicians in Medicare

March 2, 2010 --
WASHINGTON -- Today, the Senate continues to debate legislation that would extend critical benefits to help millions of Americans who are struggling with unemployment and a lack of health insurance. The legislation would also protect access to physicians for people in Medicare. A statement from AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond follows:    » read more »

January 28, 2010 -- WASHINGTON -- Today, AARP CEO A. Barry Rand sent a letter on behalf of the Association’s approximately 40 million members to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, urging Congress to enact comprehensive health care reform legislation this year. Rand’s letter to congressional leadership follows:    » read more »

January 20, 2010 -- WASHINGTON, DC – AARP continues to urge the Senate to create the strongest possible financial regulatory reform and fight for an independent Consumer Financial Protection Agency. Ads appearing today in Capitol Hill news outlets will remind Senators that older Americans are counting on them to pass financial reforms that will protect their retirement security.

“Older Americans were among the groups hit hardest by the financial downturn,” said Nancy LeaMond, Executive Vice President at AARP. “The Senate now has the ability to protect investors through greater transparency and strengthen enforcement of banking laws so that Americans’ retirement dreams can remain intact.”    » read more »

Changes Proposed in Health Reform Could Make Care More Affordable for Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries

January 15, 2010 -- WASHINGTON -- A newly released report, conducted by independent researcher Mark Merlis and commissioned by the AARP Public Policy Institute, examines the effect of resource (or asset) testing on four federal programs for low-income families, finding that higher resource limits would increase the number of people eligible for the Medicare Savings Programs (MSP) and the Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy (LIS).    » read more »

Foundation Establishes Relief Fund for Older Victims of Haiti Disaster; AARP to match contributions dollar for dollar up to $500,000

Jan. 14, 2010 -- WASHINGTON, DC – The AARP Foundation today announced it has established the AARP Foundation Haiti Relief Fund (www.aarp.org/foundation) to aid relief efforts aimed at older earthquake victims in Haiti. One hundred percent of contributions will go directly to help those most in need and AARP CEO Barry Rand announced today that the organization will match donations up to $500,000.    » read more »

Association makes importation amendment a Key Vote

December 3, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- AARP today announced its endorsement of a Senate amendment to make prescription drugs more affordable by allowing for their safe and legal importation from abroad.

The bipartisan amendment, sponsored by Sens. Dorgan, Snowe, McCain, Grassley and Stabenow, will be an AARP Key Vote. A statement from AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond follows:    » read more »

December 2, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- Today AARP CEO A. Barry Rand sent a letter urging senators to oppose Sen. John McCain’s amendment to recommit the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Excerpts from Rand’s letter follow. For a complete copy, please contact AARP Media Relations.

“AARP supports moving forward on health care reform, and we remain committed to enacting legislation this year that protects and strengthens Medicare, improves the delivery of health care and provides affordable insurance for all. Accordingly, we oppose the amendment offered by Senator McCain to recommit H.R. 3590 to the Senate Finance Committee.    » read more »

"Bill Must Be Strengthened, Not Stopped"

December 2, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- AARP today sent a letter to senators in opposition to Sen. John McCain’s amendment to recommit the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Association noted that, while the bill must be improved to make health care and prescription drugs more affordable, the McCain amendment ignores the need to strengthen Medicare. A statement from AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond follows:    » read more »

Vote Expected This Week; Bill Repeals Broken Physician Payment Formula That Hurts Access to Care for Seniors and Military Families

Nov. 17, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. –Today, leading advocates for seniors, military families and physicians joined together to call for passage of legislation in the House that will preserve access to care for seniors, baby boomers and military families through repeal of the broken Medicare physician payment formula.

A vote on H.R. 3961, the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009, is expected this week, and the American Medical Association (AMA), AARP and the Military Officers of America (MOAA) call on members of Congress to honor the federal government's obligations to seniors and military families and pass the bill.    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON—A new poll of AARP members released today finds strong support across party and ideological lines for elements of health care reform included in the Affordable Health Care for America Act, which recently passed the House of Representatives. The bill, which strictly limits how much more insurance companies can charge based on age and closes the Medicare prescription drug doughnut hole, was endorsed by AARP.    » read more »

Reminds Americans Medicare Open Enrollment Begins This Week; Open enrollment period is the best opportunity to choose Medicare drug and health plans for 2010

November 12, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- With Sunday marking the beginning of Medicare’s open enrollment period, AARP is reminding its members and all older Americans to compare their current Medicare drug and health plans with others that are available and choose the one that best fits their needs. People in Medicare have until December 31 to add, drop or change prescription drug and health care plans for 2010. Each year, AARP encourages its members and everyone in Medicare to carefully consider their options for the coming year.    » read more »

November 12, 2009 -- Washington, DC – More than three-quarters of older Americans are concerned that financial scams will damage their retirement nest eggs or those of someone they know, AARP and North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) said today.

In a survey released today by AARP, entitled Protecting Older Investors: 2009 Free Lunch Seminar Report, 78 percent of Americans age 55 and over surveyed indicated that they are very or somewhat concerned about financial scams affecting them or someone they know. A common setting for fraudsters to engage with their victims is by offering a free lunch or dinner, by which an older individual near retirement age is solicited to attend and learn more about investing in retirement.    » read more »