Health Action Now!
Make sure our leaders make meaningful health reform a top priority this year. Tell Congress that NOW is the time for health reform!
AARP: Health Reform and You
AARP: Where We Stand
Updates From Washington
- Read health care reform legislation pending in Congress
- Read CBO cost estimates for health care legislation
- June 2009 MedPac report to Congress
- Independent Analyses: Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan research organization, compares health-reform proposals pending in Congress.
Myths VS. Facts
- Politifact, an independent, Pulitzer Prize-winning fact-checking Web site, evaluates claims made about the impact of health care reform
- Factcheck.org, a project of the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center
- Health Care Reform: The Assault on Truth
As Congress nears the end of its debate over health care reform, AARP has chosen a side – yours.
Watch new AARP-AMA protecting seniors’ access to doctors.
Where We Stand: How Health Reform Will Help You and Your Family
Since the beginning of the health care reform debate, AARP has been fighting for legislation that will protect guaranteed Medicare benefits, lower drug costs for seniors, crack down on insurance company abuses like denying affordable coverage because of age or medical history, and prevent anyone from coming between a patient and their doctor.
As Congress moves closer to passing a final health care reform bill, we have made it clear to the President and Congress that to receive AARP’s support, the legislation must ensure today’s seniors and future generations can get the health care they need by:
Strengthening Medicare: Health care reform must strengthen and improve Medicare so today’s seniors and future generations have the health care they need by protecting guaranteed Medicare benefits and closing the Medicare Part D coverage gap or “doughnut hole.”
Making Insurance Affordable: Health care reform must make insurance more affordable for older Americans by putting a limit on premiums and how much individuals have to spend out of their own pockets and providing extra help to those who can’t afford to pay their premiums. AARP also supports the creation of a national “Exchange” where people who can’t afford health care – regardless of medical history – and small businesses would be able to find quality plans. A national Exchange would provide access to standardized, transparent information to help them people make decisions about their health plan choices.
Holding Insurers Accountable: Health care reform must stop abusive and discriminatory practices by insurance companies so they can no longer charge exorbitant, age-based premiums to older Americans, deny coverage because of a pre-existing condition or deny promised benefits because someone gets sick. AARP is also fighting to eliminate annual and lifetime limits on how much care insurance companies are required to cover.
Living Independently: Health reform must improve long-term care so all Americans can live independently in their homes and communities by improving long-term care services and supports by establishing the voluntary Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program and expanding access to the services and supports people need to live in their homes and communities as they age or become disabled by increasing federal funding, eligibility and options under Medicaid.
On Your Side
As Washington edges closer to a final health care reform bill, AARP looks forward to working with Members of Congress from both parties to ensure any final health care reform bill meets the needs of older Americans.
Get the Facts
Older Americans are asking important questions about how they would be affected by health reform. As the process moves forward, AARP will continue to provide information you need to decide for yourself about what health care reform means for you. You can count on this site for the most up to date about health care reform will impact older Americans, and where AARP stands on important provisions. If your questions aren't answered on this site, please feel welcome to contact us at 1-866-AARP-449 (1-866-227-7449). And if you want to join AARP's efforts to fix our health-care system, please visit healthactionnow.org.
AARP in the News
12/24: AARP Thanks Senate for Passing Health Care Reform
12/21: AARP Applauds Senate for Moving Health Care Reform Forward
12/16: AARP Commends Extension of Unemployment and Health Benefits for Struggling Americans
12/15: AARP Applauds Senators’ Promise to Close Medicare Doughnut Hole
12/4: AARP Statement on the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Program
12/3: AARP Urges Passage of Bennet Amendment to Protect Medicare Benefits
11/18: AARP Applauds Senate for Progress on Health Care Reform
