Friday Alert

(Alliance for Retired Americans)

Alliance Members Refute Lies and Myths at Town Halls
Although town hall meetings are intended for constituents of congressional members' districts, many attendees seem to have come from farther away.  According to the Huffington Post web site, sign-in sheets are increasingly lending credence to the accusation that the protests at town hall meetings this August recess have been the product of Washington-based "Astroturf" organizations, rather than evidence of a groundswell of popular resistance to health care reform.  An Alliance member at one town hall this week reported that while she was in line, she talked to the person behind her, who said that their group had been bussed in from a surrounding state, fed lunch, given a T-shirt and script and paid $100 to be at the town hall.  Groups with connections to the GOP, insurance companies and other opponents of the health insurance reform effort, including FreedomWorks, headed by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX), have organized many of the protests.  Alliance members went to town hall events in Arizona, California, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin this week to fight back against angry mobs.  "Alliance members are doing a great job of refuting lies and myths about health insurance reform," said Barbara J. Easterling, the Alliance's President.  "The truth is that Medicare will benefit from cost-containment across the entire health care system."

Seniors, Health Insurance Reform, and the White House
A mailing from the 60 Plus Association, which bills itself as a "conservative alternative to AARP," warns - falsely - that proposed Medicare changes will mean "longer wait times at hospitals and doctors offices, less money for new treatments, restrictions on care, prescriptions and what's best for you -- the patient!"  Partly as a result of incorrect claims such as these, barely one-third of seniors support a health-care overhaul, several polls have found.  White House officials said on Saturday that they are considering several options for reaching out to skeptical seniors.  They have launched a "myth-busting" web site, http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck, and scheduled several public appearances by the President.  At his Tuesday town hall event in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, President Obama stated that his plan for reform holds concrete benefits for people who already have health insurance as well as for those who do not.  Obama is talking about finding hundreds of billions in savings from Medicare - cuts supporters say will trim fat from the program - including slashing $156 billion in subsidies to private insurers under Medicare Advantage.  Many seniors wonder how it is possible to cut hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicare without affecting medical care.  However, Congress has been careful not to meddle with Medicare essentials in the House bill.  There is no attempt to limit basic services covered in the bill.  The bills under consideration are intended to help more seniors on Medicare afford drugs and provide some people who are not yet Medicare eligible with subsidies to pay for private insurance.

White House officials last week assured drug makers that the administration stood by a deal to block any Congressional effort to extract cost savings from them beyond an agreed-upon $80 billion.  In return, The New York Times reports that the White House assented to decisions to move away from ideas like the government negotiation of prices or the importation of cheaper drugs from Canada.  "The best way to help seniors is to close the doughnut hole and allow Medicare to negotiate prices with the drug companies," said Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance.  For an updated comparison of the various health reform bills in the House and Senate, go to http://araorchid.orchidsuites.net/ and click on "Health Care Reform."  

Couple Dropped from Medicare Advantage Plan Due to Travel
A story shared by an older couple from Pittsburgh epitomizes the belief and the frustrations that many Americans face when dealing with their health insurance companies.  The couple, the Zihmers, were on a Medicare Advantage plan that enabled them to use out-of-network care for up to six months, a perfect plan for them since they reside in Florida for four months each year.  They informed Highmark, Inc, their provider, of their travels and said they would return well before the six-month limit.  However, they did not notify the company when they returned and were subsequently dropped from their plan.  The insurance company refused to rectify their mistake and explained that they discontinued the account because they were unaware the couple had returned, even after the Zihmers took action by sending in a grievance and proof that they were only gone for four months.  "This story resonates with many seniors who feel that their insurance plans have 'gotchas' and loopholes to avoid responsibility for their consumers," commented Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance.  "Health reform must force insurers to be more honest."

Alliance Leadership Activity
Mr. Coyle was in Reno this week for the Nevada Alliance convention on Wednesday and Thursday.  While there, he spoke to reporters on a press call, along with Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and others, about 55-64 year-olds buying into Medicare.  On Wednesday, Ms. Easterling spoke on the "America's Work Force," radio program, which is heard in Cleveland.  On Thursday, she appeared at a Hazelwood, Missouri town hall with Rep. William "Lacy" Clay (D-MO) and 400 attendees.

Write Stuff Winners
Alliance members have been writing letters to the editor in droves!  The health care reform debate has been a topic for many, but not all, of the letters.  Writers who have had their point of view published in their communities recently include: Bruce Bostick, John Campbell, Barb Davis, Jim DiUlio, Tony Fransetta, Shirley Gauger, John Guevarra, Julie Harbin, Mary Lou James, Ellen Kadransky, Dr. Stephen Keister, Jennifer Kenny, Elizabeth Knauf, Herbert Miller, Charles Pervo, Don Rowen, Vivian Silbiger, Arthur Valdez, Monty Williams, and Chuck Yarter.  Thank you to all!  If you have had your letter published, but are not on this list, please mail us a copy, or e-mail a copy to letters@retiredamericans.org.  We will send you a pen that says "Retirees with the Write Stuff" as a prize for helping us to amplify our message.

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