Great newsletter, covers AARP very thoroughly....sample page.

I have been very impressed with this newsletter. The site is fairly new, but getting a lot of attention for its thorough Medicare coverage.

Newsletter from Center from American Progress

SNIP...."MEDICARE
Dead Canadians?

"The Republican-led conference committee finally released the text of the Medicare legislation yesterday (read it yourself HERE) and there were no pleasant surprises. The legislation is still a " big sloppy kiss to the pharmaceutical and insurance industries , it makes no attempt to hold down rising drug costs, it starts down the path toward dismantling of Medicare." The LA Times writes that there's a big expectations gap, as "analysts say many seniors will find that the plan fails the what's-in-it-for-me test...."more at site.

AND about those Canadian drug imports:

SHOW ME THE DEAD CANADIANS: Leaders in Congress so far are ignoring the wishes of average Americans by refusing to back down to the powerful drug lobbyists and allow reimportation of inexpensive drugs from Canada . While versions of the reimportation bill have passed both the House and Senate, the conference report leaves it out. That has many conservative lawmakers threatening to withhold their votes and some state lawmakers threatening to buck the federal government. Saying, "There's a difference between paying a premium and being a chump ," Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) announced plans yesterday to offer state assistance to help Minnesotans buy prescription drugs from Canada . He is hoping to have a website up and running by year's end which would "give residents information on how to order less expensive medications from reputable, licensed Canadian pharmacies." Drug companies have tried to play the safety card, claiming reimportation is risky, that the drugs are unsafe. Pawlenty called their bluff yesterday: "My first response to that is show me the dead Canadians . Where are the dead Canadians?"

********QUOTE*******
Thank you for contacting AARP about our position in the current debate on Medicare coverage of prescription drugs. As you may know, AARP has endorsed the bipartisan Medicare bill offered by the conference committee, which includes a voluntary prescription drug benefit for everyone in Medicare.

We believe that millions of older Americans and their families will be helped by this legislation. The bill is not perfect, but the
legislation represents an historic breakthrough and important
milestone in the nation's commitment to strengthen and expand health
security for its citizens at a time when it is sorely needed.

The bill will provide the following:

- Prescription drug coverage at little cost to those who need it most: people with low incomes, including those who depend on Social Security for all or most of their income;
- Substantial relief for those with very high drug costs, and modest
relief for millions more;
- A substantial increase in protections for retiree benefits; and
- New mechanisms to push down prescription drug prices.

An unprecedented $88 billion will encourage employers to maintain
existing health retiree benefits. The legislation will also help speed generic drugs to market and add important new preventive and chronic care management services. This legislation helps to protect poor seniors from future soaring prescription drug costs.

AARP is a strong advocate for expanding Medicare to cover prescription drugs, but your help can make us even stronger. We encourage you to call and to write your elected representatives immediately, to let him or her know that you support measures that add an adequate, affordable prescription drug benefit to Medicare.

Addresses for written correspondence are:

The Honorable (name) The Honorable (name)
U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20515

I hope this information is helpful to you. If AARP staff can assist
you in the future with any issue, product or service, please do not
hesitate to contact us.


Patricia
Member Service
Member@aarp.org

*********UNQUOTE********

"bipartisan Medicare bill", not according to Nancy Pelosi just on C span 3..They got the eleven hundred pages last night and are expected to vote on it today.
Lots of fireworks on this medicare bill..........the gop are changing the rules as they go . Dems are finally fighting back.

what I wrote them about. I wrote them to tell them as a member I didn't back the legislation and neither should they. Members wishes don't count to them it appears.

Oh by the way, CNBC had an item this morning about PacifiCare and how the stock was going to go up because of the new Medicare legislation. Let me tell you I once had PacifiCare for both my husband and myself. They have to be the worst HMO on the planet. No doctors want to take them because of their poor reimbursement record, often stiffing the health care professionals in the process.

They are also liars and excel at bait and switch techniques and this is what the neo-cons are trying to push senior citizens into. Once that happens seniors really won't have any choice and probably no health care, but those Medicare deductions will keep coming out of people's paychecks to make the stockholders rich with taxpayer's money. Now we know who the real welfare queens are, the corporations who profit from taxpayers dollars.

They have the worst, worst customer service I have ever had to deal with. Our rates just went up again too. I can't even tell the story because it's making me so angry just thinking about it.

They have commercials on PBS now, about how much they care. How about not sponsoring TV shows, and putting the money into medical care and customer service?

:puke::puke::puke:

all that a person with $3600 of drug bills would get -

You get more than that just by buying from Canada.

I've had it bookmarked for a awhile because of it's analysis of the PNAC and other conservative institutions.

money back...that will $7.30 according to the lady I spoke with. She asked for the reason I was cancelling and said that the leadership would be advised. I think they hired a bunch of temps to take the phone calls pouring in, because it only took me 3 minutes on hold.

I told her I hoped that a million or two members also cancelled and they wouldn't have the $7million to pay for their ad campaign.

:kick:

I love the picture.

insurance industries, corporations...vouchers...

AARP 800 424-3410...tell you KNOW it's complete bullshit!