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FACT #1: Medicare will not be ended, and no benefits or services will be cut.
Your services will not be ended, nor will your benefits be cut. AARP's position on this could not be clearer. And we have sent this message loud and clear to Congress. While the current proposals include savings in Medicare by cutting out fraud, abuse, waste, and inefficiency, we're standing up and making sure benefits for Medicare recipients are not only fully protected, but are improved.1
FACT #2: No legislation currently in Congress would mandate the rationing of care. Period.
Our staff has read all of the legislation circulating in Congress and there are no provisions in these bills that would ration care for our members. None. If any ever did, we would vigorously fight to stop that legislation.2
FACT #3: There is no provision of any piece of legislation that would promote euthanasia of any kind.
The rumors out there are flat out lies. Right now Medicare does not cover counseling for end-of-life care. The portion of the bill in question would simply provide coverage for optional end-of-life consultations with doctors, so that the patient can be aware of all of the treatment options on the table. It is not mandatory and it has nothing to do with euthanasia. 3
FACT #4: We have not endorsed President Obama's plan.
In fact, we haven't endorsed any plan.
We are supporting reform of our health care system, something that has been pushed for many years.
We're working closely with Republican and Democratic members of Congress to lower health care costs and to ensure quality affordable coverage for older Americans – and we want reform legislation passed and signed by the president this year.4
So what are people fighting for in health reform?
1. Stopping insurance companies from charging older Americans unaffordable premiums because of their age.
2. Ending the practice of excluding people from insurance because of pre-existing conditions.
3. Holding down health costs and making insurance coverage more affordable for all Americans.
4. Making prescription drugs more affordable by narrowing the Medicare doughnut hole, bringing generics to market faster, and allowing Medicare to negotiate better drug prices.
Find out more and take action at HealthActionNow.org.
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Having argued with many already and trying to set people straight more than a few times, I have decided to put this info here for y'all.
In a nutshell, I do not want everyone elses opinions on the matter. Those emails are ONLY hearsay anyway and mean nothing)!
Not sure of you all, but as a voter, I want ONLY the facts.
And so here is the 1038 page bill for you to read.
I haven't received but 4 emails that have actually "QUOTED" the bill itself.
Rather my inbox reeks of fear- only a few peoples sadly uninformed and ignorant renditions of that bill before us.
http://edlabor.house.gov/documents/111/pdf/publications/AAHCA-BillText-071409.pdf
Read it and weep.
As small children, supposedly we were taught not to spread rumors or malicious lies.
UM, weren't we?
XOXO
Anne
1. "AARP to Congress: Don’t Make Medicare More Expensive," AARP, July 30, 2009 http://www.aarp.org/aarp/presscenter/pressrelease/articles/rand_medicare_statement.html
2. "Debunked: Health Reform Means Rationed Care For Seniors," AARP, August 4, 2009 http://blog.aarp.org/shaarpsession/2009/08/debunked_health_reform_means_r.html
3. "AARP Responds to Health Reform Scare Tactics," AARP, July 24, 2009 http://www.aarp.org/aarp/presscenter/pressrelease/articles/mccaughey_statement.html
4. "Obama Vows No Cuts To Medicare Benefits," AARP, July 29, 2009 http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/policy/articles/
obama_fields_tough_questions_on_health_care_reforms_at_aarp_tele_town_hall.html
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