I'd really appreciate some guidance....

[OneGrassRoot]

My mom recently went on Medicare and receives viral emails daily that are scaring the crap out of her, often from the same person mentioned in my post below.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7025111&mesg_id=7025111


If you could offer anything factual to alleviate fears as seniors are concerned in this HCR mess, I'd be most grateful. :)

Thanks in advance. :hi:

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Hook her/yourself up with AARP. They're actively battled the myths.

http://aarp.convio.net/site/PageNavigator/Myths_vs_Facts

http://www.aarpmagazine.org/health/8_myths_about_health_care_reform.html

http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/policy/articles/health_care_reform2.html

[OneGrassRoot]

2. Thank you very much. :)

I admit, as a skeptic of all things corporate nowadays, hearing that AARP has a vested interest via their own insurance plan has me holding my breath a bit.

But perhaps that is addressed in your links. I'll be sure to check them out and pass them on.

Thanks again! :)

[OneGrassRoot]

3. Actually, maybe this is a more pointed question that just came to mind:

What are the feelings of those here regarding AARP? I always assumed it was THE go-to organization for seniors, and that they could be trusted.

In your opinion, is there any reason for skepticism of AARP's position as it pertains to healthcare reform?

If I could feel 100% confident in their position, I could then wholeheartedly tell my mom to pay attention to what they're saying and forget the rest.

If it's simply a matter of progressive positions versus conservative positions (in that right wingers just don't like AARP for some reason), I can handle that. If there is something else at play in that AARP is morphing beyond advocacy, I'd like to learn more. But I can't find info beyond the typical right-wing stuff that's spouted which clouds everything.

I hope that makes sense. Sorry if not.

Edit to include this link, which I just found:

http://aarp.org/community/groups/displayTopic.bt?pageNum=1&groupId=21052&topicId=5322322

I sure hope I find AARP disputing these claims in a solid way. If I do, I'll return. :)

[trof]

4. I don't like AARP's choice of United Healthcare

as the provider of policies they sell.
They've spent millions on TV commercials against health care reform and their CEO is paid obscene amounts of money.
I changed to Mutual of Omaha for my Medicare supplemental.

[sandyd921]

5. The fact that AARP lobbied for the Part D ripoff

by big pharma sours me and many others on AARP. Combine that with their using United Healthcare for their supplemental insurance and I have no use for them. Other than their discounts (which can be had from other organizations) I don't see any reason to join them and I refuse to do so.