Friday Alert
Friday, November 13, 2009(Alliance for Retired Americans)
House Passes Historic Health Care
Reform Bill
On Saturday, the U.S
House voted to pass H.R. 3962, the Affordable
Health Care for America Act, a bill that will
help retirees and all Americans with their
access to quality health care. The
historic 220-215 vote was close - all except 39
Democrats voted for the bill, and all
Republicans except Rep. Anh "Joseph"
Cao of Louisiana voted against
it. For a complete tally of the vote,
click here: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll887.xml.
The bill will help retirees right away.
For example, in 2010, Medicare beneficiaries
will no long have to pay co-payments for
screenings for cancer, diabetes, and
osteoporosis. The Medicare Part D
doughnut hole coverage gap will immediately
close by $500 and will be phased out. In
addition, early retirees, who are not old
enough for Medicare, will get help keeping or
finding affordable health insurance. More
than 500 Alliance members sent thank you notes
to their Members of Congress who voted to pass
the bill. Three videos on the Alliance's
YouTube station give more details about how the
bill helps seniors: "Stick to the Facts: Reform
Good for Seniors," at http://bit.ly/1eF8Y8;
"Facts: Health Care Reform & Seniors," at
http://bit.ly/1lENy; and "New
Hope That Every American Will Have Decent,
Quality Health Care," at http://bit.ly/1LUae3.
"The insurance and drug industries threw
everything they had to stop the bill," said
Barbara J. Easterling,
President of the Alliance. "I want to
thank the 220 members of the House who voted to
stand up for the seniors and all Americans
across the nation who will benefit from
reform."
Alliance Leaders
Join First Lady as Part of Health Reform
Effort
Several Alliance leaders are
scheduled to be with First Lady
Michelle Obama this afternoon
at a White House health reform event focused on
senior women. Ms. Easterling, Alliance
Executive Vice President Judy
Cato and Executive Board member
Barbara Matteson of Tucson,
Arizona, are planning to attend the event,
which will shine a light on the difficulties
older women face getting insurance and how
health reform will help them.
Senate Works to Pass Its Own Health
Care Bill
The narrow margin in the
House vote suggests enormous challenges in the
Senate, where Majority Leader Harry
Reid (D-NV) is struggling to hold on
to all 58 Democrats and two independents in his
caucus. Sen. Reid has merged two bills
into one. The fine print is not public,
but according to The New York Times,
the broad outlines are known. Unlike the
House bill, which pays to extend coverage by
taxing individuals who earn more than $500,000
a year and couples who earn more than $1
million, the Senate bill would impose a tax on
higher-end insurance policies, which could have
a detrimental effect on coverage for retirees
and older workers. And unlike the House
bill, which includes a national public plan,
the Senate measure would allow states to opt
out. White House officials realize that
the closer the final vote comes to the November
2010 midterm Congressional elections, the more
difficult it will be to pass legislation.
"Senators must remember that many workers gave
up other benefits in order to maintain their
right to good health care benefits," said
Ruben Burks,
Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. "To
tax those workers' health benefits now would be
unfair."
California and the
Carolinas
On Tuesday, the
California Alliance (CARA) called on the health
insurance industry giant Humana to stop scare
tactics and misinformation aimed at seniors
about health insurance reform. The rally
and letter delivery at Humana's Walnut Creek
office (in the Bay area) came on the heels of
Humana's reporting a 65% jump in 3Q profits as
soaring Medicare Advantage premiums and
membership overcame the company's slumping
commercial business. CARA Vice President
Hene Kelly said, "Seniors like
myself know the truth about health insurance
reform and are working hard to cut wasteful
government subsidies to insurance companies and
big business. Right now there's too much profit
and not enough care." More here: http://bit.ly/j6uiR.
Yesterday's roundtable discussion in South Carolina, titled "At Risk - the Health of South Carolina Seniors," was a hit when seniors and community leaders came together to discuss health issues with a distinguished panel. The forum, sponsored by the South Carolina Alliance, hosted representatives from Doctors for America, the League of Women Voters, the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control, the Coastal Conservation League and others. In addition to an update on health care legislation from Alliance national board member Bill Cea, presenters also discussed environmental and other quality of life issues. Today in North Carolina, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) attended a senior round table in West Pilot Mountain. The NC Alliance's Jack Marion moderated the roundtable discussion with the 5th District Representative, focusing on Social Security, Medicare/Medicare Part D and her stance on health insurance reform. Stay tuned to http://ara.typepad.com/ for a full report of this event.
Alliance for Retired Americans on
Facebook
Are you on Facebook?
The Alliance for Retired Americans now has a
"fan page" on Facebook that allows retirees to
see the latest news and action from across the
country and to talk with other retirees about
the issues that matter to them. During
these critical health reform discussions, we
need as many forums as possible to share
information and build capacity in your
respective states. Please join us on Facebook
by first signing up (go to: http://www.facebook.com/ and
set up an account - it's free and easy!) and
then by searching "Alliance for Retired
Americans" and becoming a "fan" of our
organization. Spread the word to your
friends and neighbors, so that they can see the
great work you are involved in.