Nice to know someone’s keeping score:
In its press release, the AARP also pointed to how the bill would weaken the Medicare trust fund and the tax breaks it offers insurance and drugs companies as other areas of concern.
Some Republicans, particularly those representing older communities, have pointed to the effect the bill has on older consumers as a reason they are balking at the legislation. GOP senators are working on an amendment to make the tax credit scheme less burdensome for older consumers.
Read LeaMond’s full statement below:
“AARP recognizes the magnitude of the upcoming vote on this harmful legislation that creates an Age Tax, cuts the life of Medicare, and gives sweetheart deals to big drug and insurance companies while doing nothing to lower the cost of health care or prescriptions. We intend on letting all 38 million of our members know exactly how their Representative voted. Our members care deeply about their health care and have told us repeatedly that they want to know where their elected officials stand. We will communicate the results of the House vote to our members and the public through The Bulletin, a print publication that goes to all of our members, as well as through emails, social media, and other communications channels.
“This bill, if passed in its current form, will disproportionately hurt older adults between the ages of 50 and 64 by dramatically increasing insurance premiums to unaffordable rates. Allowing insurance companies to charge older adults an Age Tax 5 times or more than others for health insurance, and reducing tax credits to help pay for it, is quite simply unfair.”AARP is also concerned that this bill weakens the fiscal sustainability of Medicare, reduces cost-sharing help for out-of-pocket costs for 50- to 64-year-olds purchasing coverage on the individual insurance market, increases the number of uninsured Americans, and puts at risk the health and well-being of millions of poor seniors and disabled adults and children by capping funding for much needed services that allow individuals to live independently in their homes and communities.
“We are also profoundly disappointed that the big drug and insurance companies were given sweetheart deals while nothing was done to lower the cost of health care or prescriptions. Congress must do more to bring down the unsustainably high health care and prescription drug costs for consumers and taxpayers.”
I have misgivings about AARP’s product shilling and executive compensation profile, but this may Trump that.
I have misgivings about AARP’s early support for Obama’s efforts to sell SS cuts (chained CPI, etc) to Republicans. Membership revolt changed their minds. The executive staff appeared to be denizens of the beltway “grownups” cocktail circuit crowd who just know that neo-lib austerity is precisely the ticket to “save” Dem signature social programs.
The only thing that saved us was Republican intransigence on minor quid pro quo tax increase and inability to support anything proposed by Obama.