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Friday Alert
Friday, November 6, 2009(Alliance for Retired Americans)
Alliance Formally Endorses House
Health Care Bill
On Tuesday, the
Alliance sent a letter supporting the
Affordable Health Care for America Act, H.R.
3962, to all members of the U.S. House.
The letter urges prompt passage of the health
reform legislation, saying it makes important,
positive changes in the health care needs of
older Americans - none more important than
Medicare improvements. "The bill closes
the Part D doughnut hole coverage gap beginning
in 2010," said Edward F.
Coyle, Executive Director of the
Alliance. "Medicare beneficiaries will
immediately see that gap closed by $500, in
addition to 50% price discounts for name brand
drugs for seniors in the gap until it is fully
closed. The elimination of co-payments
for Medicare preventive services is also a
major improvement." In addition, the bill
requires the Secretary of Health and Human
Services (HHS) to negotiate drug prices on
behalf of Medicare beneficiaries, a position
long advocated by the Alliance.
Eliminating Medicare Advantage overpayments
will extend the life of the Medicare Trust
Fund. Companion legislation to H.R. 3962
will improve how physicians receive Medicare
reimbursements, allowing older Americans the
ability to keep their choice of doctor.
Many Alliance members are not yet Medicare
eligible, and H.R. 3962 helps them as
well. The provisions creating a
reinsurance fund for retirees ages 55-64 and
insurance reforms on age rating, the
elimination of pre-existing conditions as a
basis for denial of coverage, and the creation
of an insurance exchange, as well as a public
option, will all benefit pre-Medicare eligible
retirees.
Alliance members had the chance to speak with HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius about health insurance reform on a conference call on Thursday. In her remarks, Secretary Sebelius mentioned the Alliance's work in support of health care reform and gave her thanks. That same day was a national call-in day for Alliance activists to contact Congress about health reform priorities.
Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) said she expects the House to consider H.R. 3962 during a rare Saturday session on November 7. She predicted a final vote would come about 6 p.m. All of the votes will have to come from Democratic ranks, since Republicans are expected to unite in opposition to the bill. In an analysis released Wednesday, the Congressional Budget Office said a separate GOP plan would reduce the number of uninsured by 3 million, compared with the Democratic bill that would reduce the number by 36 million.
Focus Turns from 2009 Elections to
2010
Democrats lost the governors'
mansions in New Jersey and Virginia on Tuesday
night. In the special election in New
York's 23rd Congressional District, Democrat
Bill Owens captured the House
seat vacated by Republican John
McHugh. California Lt. Governor
John Garamendi won the
election to replace former U.S. Rep.
Ellen Tauscher in California's
10th Congressional District, keeping that seat
Democratic. "We must realize that the
2010 elections have already started," said
Barbara J. Easterling,
President of the Alliance. "Next fall,
older Americans will make up over one-third of
the turnout in key states and congressional
districts. That is why we have been the
object of a lot of attention – and a lot of
misinformation. It is more important than
ever that we know the issues and where the
candidates stand."
GOP Fear Mongering
Continues
Rep. Virginia
Foxx (R-NC) said on Monday on the
House floor that a health reform bill is a
greater threat to our country than any
terrorist organization (watch it here: http://bit.ly/31ZRDM). In
spite of fear mongering regarding health
reform, there is a popular support for reform
efforts among the American public.
Ruben Burks,
Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance, said,
"Despite efforts by conservatives to derail
health insurance reform, seniors know better,
and we are finally moving forward in our
efforts to reform the broken health insurance
system in this country."
Humana Profits Rise 65% in Third
Quarter
Health insurer Humana
posted a 65% jump in third-quarter profit on
Monday, due largely to a bulging membership and
to premiums from Medicare Advantage.
Humana has faced the wrath of Alliance members
across the country after falsely warning its
members that their benefits are at risk due to
health reform. Many senior advocates see
the gigantic rise in profits as further proof
of Medicare Advantage subsidies being an
unnecessary corporate giveaway from the
government to private insurers at the expense
of seniors.
Alliance Chapters State by State:
Florida, Maryland-DC, Indiana
State
by state, seniors are standing up and getting
creative around health insurance reform.
Last Friday in Florida, the Grim Reaper "Trick
or Treated" at Republican Headquarters in
Tallahassee to ask why Republicans are standing
in the way of real reform efforts.
Barbara DeVane, Secretary for
the Florida Alliance, said health reform will
"rein in the high costs of health care for our
families, our businesses and our government." [
http://bit.ly/1T65VQ ]
Last Saturday, the Maryland-DC Alliance held
their annual convention. Mr. Coyle
attended and spoke about separating fact from
fiction in health reform [ http://bit.ly/2QTh7j ].
Indiana retirees made news last week when they
protested Federal Mogul, a company that is
proposing cutting health benefits for workers
and retirees in a new contract
negotiation.
Las Vegas Convention Sign-up Details
Now Available!
Mark your calendars
for April 5-8, 2010 for the Alliance's National
Convention in Las Vegas, where we will kick off
our grassroots efforts for the 2010
elections. We will have workshops and
training sessions to strengthen our organizing
and advocacy skills, and hear from leading
experts in public policy, health care and
aging, and the media. Convention
attendees will also be electing officers for
the Alliance. Alliance members will elect
a president and secretary-treasurer, and
community members will elect six
community-based board members. Register
for the convention by calling 1-888-373-6497,
or by visiting http://tiny.cc/gkItc.
Hotel reservations must be made by contacting
Bally's Las Vegas directly at
1-800-358-8777. To vote in the Alliance
elections, conference attendees must be members
of the Alliance by December 5, 2009.