AARP Endorses House Dem Health Care Bill on KMOT-TV North Dakota's NBC News Leader

AARP Endorses House Dem Health Care Bill

11/5/2009

The AARP has officially endorsed the House Democratic health care bill. It gives a major boost to the legislation two days before a historic vote.

AARP Senior Policy Adviser John Rother says the measure closes the coverage gap in Medicare prescription benefits, puts strict limits on what health insurers can charge older workers too young for Medicare and creates a voluntary, long-term care insurance
program.

AARP North Dakota State Director Janis Cheney says the proposal improves benefits for people with Medicare and helps make health coverage affordable for all Americans.

Cheney says North Dakota has an estimated 84,000 Medicare beneficiaries. She says 13,000 North Dakotans in the 50-to-64 age group are uninsured and 24,000 people in that age group buy coverage in the individual market.

AARP has about 40 million members nationwide. Officials with the seniors lobby said the organization lost 150,000 members since July 1 because of the group`s support for health overhaul. But in that time, it also registered 2.7 million new members and renewals. Officials said they were confident their members would see the
bill`s benefits.

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