Has AARP been given an unfair advantage by the Federal Government to corner the Senior Citizens market? Is there a conflict of interest between being a Non-Profit and a For-Profit, while lobbying for Seniors and at the same time for their own financial gain?
I received an email on September 26th, 2009, from Organizing for America, a project of the Democrat National Committee. The first sentence really hit home and in my opinion, says it all:
In many ways, the fight for health insurance reform comes down to a battle over information.
From the lips of the Democrats … It’s all about information and who controls what information we receive!!!
This statement, which came the same week that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont. launched an investigation of Humana Inc., for sending information to their Medicare Advantage policy holders telling them of the potential negative consequences of Baucus bill. After Baucus demanded an investigation, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid sent a notice to all companies that sell private Medicare coverage saying at least one insurer was misleading those customers about the proposed legislation, it told the companies “to immediately discontinue all such mailings to beneficiaries and to remove any related materials directed to Medicare enrollees from your Web sites.”
Baucus was upset because Humana told the truth! Here in part is what Humana sent in their letter to seniors:
“If the proposed funding cut levels [in the current health care legislation] become law, millions of seniors and disabled individuals could lose many of the important benefits and services that make Medicare Advantage health plans so valuable.”
Is the President, Senate and Congress misleading us and withholding information? According to the Congressional Chief Budget Officer, the information Humana sent out was pretty accurate.
As reported at googlenews.com, in part:
“WASHINGTON — Congress’ chief budget officer is contradicting President Barack Obama’s oft-stated claim that seniors wouldn’t see their Medicare benefits cut under a health care overhaul.
“The head of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, Douglas Elmendorf, told senators Tuesday that seniors in Medicare’s managed care plans would see reduced benefits under a bill in the Finance Committee.
“The bill would cut payments to the Medicare Advantage plans by more than $100 billion over 10 years.
“Elmendorf said the changes would reduce the extra benefits that would be made available to beneficiaries.
There appears to be a nice cozy relationship between Baucus and Mr. Blum … According to an article in the Wall Street Journal:
“Mr. Blum has also banned all Advantage contractors from telling their customers what Mr. Elmendorf has just told Congress. Mr. Blum happens to be a former senior aide to Mr. Baucus and a health adviser on the Obama transition team.”
Not only do we have the head of the Congressional Budget Office confirming the truth in Humama’s mailing, others are speaking out:
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich told Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren “that the cuts to Medicare Advantage, senior citizens would lose over 50 percent of their added value on Medicare under the Baucus plan.”
Join the New "Our GOP Senior Citizens Group"
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
This was a very well researched and thoughtful piece.
I did not know lots of the things about AARP that you brought to light. I learned a lot from reading this blog!
I too hope that this information can be brought more into the light of day.
Good job Sandy!
Follow the money. This is just another example of how far reaching the Obama administrations “spread the wealth” campaign is. This is nothing short of defrauding our senior ctizens at a time when they are most in need. We should not allow this crooked organization (not unlike acorn) to destroy those that cannot defend themselves. Remember, one day you will be a senior citizen to. God willing.
The more we look at things, the more crooked it gets. AARP does not need the seniors – we are (were) a front for them along with easy money. In addition to trying to get ready for surgery tomorrow, I had a death in the family and had to travel to North Carolina. When making a hotel reservation, I asked if the hotel gave a discount for AAA or AARP ( I had canceled my membership, but my husband is letting his lapse) I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised when the Marriott desk clerk answered “they did not give discounts to those organizations but if we produced identification showing we were seniors, we would receive a discount. The reason (given to me) AARP has dropped the age to 50, we don’t really consider that a senior. I was given a nice discount just by showing my drivers license.
AARP dropping the age is just giving them a larger group to appeal to for membership money, and, if more companies adapted Marriott’s outlook, that could hurt AARP membership or their play money as I call it. Don’t forget, when AARP sends you mail with a prepaid envelope, cut everything up they sent you, put it back in the prepaid envelope they furnished and mail it back to them. They have to pay that postage. One way or the other, we will get their attention. I am convinced they are tied in with ACORN, can’t prove it, but they are tied in with SEIU and SEIU and ACORN are certainly in bed together, it only stands to reason AARP is in it up to their necks with those two. So instead of twins – ACORN and SEIU, we now have triplets – ACORN, SEIU and AARP.