Forum | Possible Suit Against AARP

Hi I am Ralph Reyes: I am just a concerned senior looking to assure that the organization that claims to represent us is doing just that. To me representation means a few things: 1) understand our needs, 2) provides a way to have our needs met and 3) represent us as actions – legislative or legal are to be addressed. It is my opinion that AARP violated our trust and simply looked for a way to boost the bottom line. I believe that a lawsuit is the only way to get back on track as a group and an organization. I know that we can get 200,000 of us to get this lawsuit started and once the truth of the AARP real interests are revealed we will get more behind us. thoughts?

I had to think about this a bit and then thought of other possibilities.  I reminded myself that nothing is impossible.  So, here is my "what if" senerio.  First I called ACLU this morning to see what Information I could get from them, I'm thinking in terms of a "Class Action Law Suit".  They gave me several referral numbers but at least she didn't laugh at me:^)

Then I decided to write a few letters and I started with Mark Levin.  Remember, unless you happen to have their personal email addresses they email goes thought screeners, and he may never even see the email.  But I'm going to make a list later today of people to send request to and see if anybody would be interested in taking up our cause.   Here is the letter I sent to Mark Levin:

Dear Mark, I represent a group of Seniors, mostly those unhappy with our memberships with AARP. I'm not an attorney, just a concerned senior citizen looking for information. I have been asked  to follow up and find more information on our rights.

 

In light that the endorsement of AARP was instrumental in helping Obama and Pelosi pass the Health Care Reform this past weekend. We are discussing the possibility of Filing a Class Action Suit Against AARP. I don't know if this would come under consumer protection laws, Anit-Trust laws, elder abuse or any other existing laws… or even a complete waste of time to explore. However I won't know until I ask!

 

There are millions of us that are angry with AARP for misrepresenting the views of their membership when we had no input into the decision to support Health Care Reform. The majority of Senior Citizens do not even know that AARP is not solely NON-Profit organization. We believe they have committed elder abuse by not clearly informing the members that their efforts to lobby as a Non-Profit group will have a direct benefit to their financial interests, not ours as members.

 

AARP has not asked for a poll of members, for our input of any kind. They have only kept us informed and asked us to send email from their site with "their" information, to support health care reform. We were not given the option to send these same pre-scripted emails to object to the passage of Health Care Reform.

 

My sense of right and wrong is offended, needless to say that most Seniors I know are so angry and frustrated with the abuse of our membership dollars. You must also know that AARP has made it clear that they really don't care what we think, that those of us who are verbal in being against their support have been referred to AARP, as a few members that lack the understanding to know what's in their best interest and they will come around once the bill is passed. That they are more than confident they will have plenty of new business that those of us that leave will have financial impact on their bottom line.

 

In many states restrictions limit us to few choices for Medicare Medigap/Advantage plan insurance policy available to us. We find ourselves in a position with no options available other than to purchase a Medicare supplement plan from United Health Care which uses the AARP brand name. AARP ends making a profit from us even though we do not wish to work with them.

 

Something is fundamentally wrong when a Billion Dollar Corporation has been able to corner a targeted market of Senior Citizens and then "represent" us in a manner that is against our best interest for their financial gain. This is also taking advantage of people that do not have access nor have received "Full Disclosure" on AARP;'s financial interests.

 

We are looking for direction and advice. As a starting point, I did call the local ACLU and waiting a return call with reference information for organizations they may be interested in representing us, although I'm not very optimistic. I would have a better change if I were an illegal immigrant who murdered a few people, or If I were a terrorist and want to be given the protection under the law guaranteed to the American Citizen!!

 

After reading you latest book "Liberty and Tyranny" and recognizing you a constitutional Scholar, I thought I would take a chance to see if I could contact you directly. I realize that email goes through screeners but I hope some one recognizes the uniqueness of this request and the potential for David to go after Goliath, and perhaps get some real justice!

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this email, I hope you can find an opportunity to send back a response. We are just ordinary Senior Citizens trying to find a way to stand up for our rights.

If anyboy has any ideas, suggestions or email address where we can send a request for information let us know.  I realize none of us have the extra money to actually hire and pay the cost of legal actions, but there are law firms wo take on probono Class Action suites.  This is one that would have to go to Federal courts, do not know if they can buypass States and go straight to federal or if an action has be be filed in individual states and then requested  the case be move to Federal court.  I'm not looking for money but would sure like to bring to the attention of the public what kind of SKUM AARP is and anything to break their monolopy in selling seniors Medigap policies.

Any suggestions for better content in a letter?  What do you all think?