AARP: Traitor to its members
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The AARP has endorsed a bill that would make two fundamental changes in Medicare:
1. First, it would force people to make a stark choice: either pay sharply increased premiums to stay in traditional Medicare, where they can choose their doctor; or be forced out, into an HMO. Newt Gingrich, the former House Republican leader, said in 1995 that he wanted to let Medicare to "wither on the vine." This change would lead to that result, with cost incentives driving people out. (Not coincidentally, AARP CEO William Novelli recently wrote the forward to Gingrich's book. [2])
2. Second, it offers a prescription drug benefit, but requires people who want this coverage to buy it from private insurance plans. This part of the bill also bars the government from doing the one thing it could do to actually reduce the cost of these drugs -- negotiate for lower prices, using the size of the Medicare program as leverage. Drug prices are soaring now, and unless they're brought under control, they will eventually bankrupt Medicare.
AARP itself sells insurance and also sells prescription drugs, so the group stands to reap huge financial gains from this change. The bill has been opposed by a host of liberal groups [3] as well as by major conservative groups, including the Club for Growth, The Heritage Foundation, the American Conservative Union, The Cato
Institute, and the National Taxpayers Union. It's also been assailed by virtually every one of the Democratic presidential candidates. [4]
In endorsing this bill, the AARP has broken faith with its members. In a recent poll, 65% of AARP members said they're opposed to it. [5]
The group has also violated its own written principles. In July, CEO William Novelli wrote to Congress stating the requirements for AARP's support of a Medicare bill. [6] Yet the bill AARP has just endorsed fails to meet nine separate requirements stated in that letter. [7]
We need to hold the AARP responsible for selling out its members. If the organization sees sufficient backlash from its members and prospective members, it could still change course and effect the outcome of this legislation. Please call your local AARP branch today.
Sincerely,
--Carrie, Eli, James, Joan, Noah, Peter, Wes, and Zack
The MoveOn.org Team
November 20th, 2003
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[1] 85 Representatives wrote to Novelli, canceling their memberships:
moveon.org
[2] From the foreword by Novelli to Gingrich's new book, "Saving Lives
and Saving Dollars".
[3] See moveon.org for a complete list of organizations.
[4] See:
washingtonpost.com
[5] Poll: a majority of AARP members oppose the Medicare bill:
moveon.org
[6] AARP July letter on minimum acceptable standards
aarp.org
[7] How AARP goes back on its word
house.gov
[8] aarp.org |
