AARP NOW MAKES ME BARF

I have been a member of AARP for more than 25 years. Other than some motel discounts, I can’t really tell what benefits I’ve received from that organization for us old geezers. They’re supposed to represent us before Congress but lately they’ve supported the Democratic health reform proposals that will hurt all of us burn-outs.

I am fully aware that our health system is woefully inadequate for a lot of folks and that health care costs have spiraled out of control. That needs correcting! What the Democrats are proposing and AARP is supporting may help some folks, but it will likely hurt those of us who are Medicare recipients.

From the beginning of the health care debate, the Democrats proposed to pay for the reforms with the savings gained from cutting out the waste and fraud in Medicare and Medicaid. By “waste” they mean, for the most part, “unnecessary” procedures. Well, one man’s unnecessary procedure is another man’s necessary procedure. So what they’re really doing is cutting down Medicare benefits.

Now, in place of the controversial public option, the Democrats have proposed to let people join Medicare starting at age 55 rather than 65. That will only drive up the cost of Medicare, a program that is already approaching bankruptcy. That means they will have to raise the Medicare premiums. And that will hurt all of us, most especially those of us on fixed incomes.

Because of their support for the Democratic health reform proposals, AARP now makes me barf. I will not renew my membership in an organization that misrepresents us and I urge all my fellow AARP members to do likewise. There are a number of groups out there that truly represent the interests of seniors. Besides, stop to think about it: AARP is really in the business of selling insurance, not representing our best interests.