On March 24, the Washington Examiner ran a column by Tim Carney headlined, “AARP opposes Medicare bill which reduces its profits.”
AARP Executive Vice President Nancy A. LeaMond has offered the following response:
Approximately 50 million Americans rely on Medicare for their health security. The average person in Medicare earns an income of $23,500 and spends an average of $4,000 for their out-of-pocket health care costs. Despite that strain, leaders in Congress are asking these seniors to largely foot the bill for legislation that asks for no similar sacrifice by drug makers, insurance companies or physicians.
We appreciate and support Congressional leaders’ efforts to provide a permanent solution to stabilize payment measures for doctors who see Medicare patients.
However, and contrary to Tim Carney’s opinions (“AARP opposes Medicare bill which reduces its profits,” March 25), AARP is pushing to improve the bill solely on behalf of seniors. We continue to advocate for a solution that is fair to all stakeholders — not one that just shifts costs onto the backs of beneficiaries.
The legislation passed today by the House of Representatives is offset primarily out of the pockets of seniors. This doesn’t even account for the additional cost to seniors by virtue of the bill’s increased physician spending, of which one-quarter is paid for through higher Medicare premiums.
AARP, along with other senior advocacy groups, is asking Congress to give seniors a fairer deal.
As for our motivations in this debate, AARP’s policy positions drive everything we do, including our work to move providers of goods and services to better meet the needs and wants of Americans 50-plus. We lend the AARP brand to certain providers for consumer-friendly options, in line with our policy positions. For example, AARP brands Medigap products offered by UnitedHealth Care that accept around 99 percent of applicants — by far the highest acceptance rate in the marketplace.
The royalties AARP receives from branded products allow us to keep membership dues low and are directed toward achieving our mission to serve Americans 50-plus.
To correct perhaps the biggest fallacy in Mr. Carney’s piece, AARP knows exactly where our “bread is buttered.” Our work to help all Americans live with dignity and purpose is only possible due to the nearly 38 million people who form AARP’s membership.
