AARP speaks out on Obamacare replacement bill & how it affects Medicare subscribers.

[napi21]

http://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/aarp-speaks-out-on-obamacare-replacement-bill/article_79f92b14-055f-11e7-84d8-333ce8baa87c.html

Most of what I've heard about the replacement ACA bill has been about younger people who have to buy their own insurance. I wanted to know how it affects Medicare.

Certner said prescription drug costs are among AARP constituents’ biggest concerns regarding health-care reform. And while President Trump has vowed to bring drug prices down, Certner said nothing in the AHCA appears to help with the cost of prescription drugs.

“This does nothing to reduce drug costs, or really health-care costs in general,” Certner said. “In fact, there’s currently a fee on drug manufacturers that goes to the Medicare program that would be repealed.”

The fate of Medicare is of particular concern to AARP. While the AHCA doesn’t do anything to the program itself, it does propose repealing taxes and fees that help pay for the program, which insures Americans age 65 and older. LeaMond said that, in turn, will reduce the number of years until Medicare is expected to become insolvent, which she worries will give political cover for Congress to consider further changes to the program.

“To have Medicare become less solvent earlier, we think it’s going to open the political discussion on Medicare earlier, rather than later,” she said.

“Our view is that this may well move up on the agenda a real debate about Medicare and vouchers.”

The AARP opposes eliminating Medicare coverage and replacing it with vouchers, which would allow seniors to buy their own health insurance from the private sector, but potentially without the coverage guarantees Medicare currently provides.

LeaMond said AARP has been vigorously lobbying Congress to reconsider the AHCA, and those efforts will continue as the House of Representatives continues to work on the bill.

I'm going to call & email my Rep. & Sens. to express my deisre that they vote AGAINST this bill as written. Please do the same in your district!

[flamingdem]

1. So what? If the repukes come together because Rump tells them to they'll vote for AHCA

They have to do it or they'll look like fools

[napi21]

2. I'm not too sure about that. There are a lot of people who voted for the Con but now are hammering

their Reps & Sens about this ACA bill. If BIG crowds of constituents protest town halls and get media coverage because THEIR congressman refuses to meet with them, I think they'll vote no on the bill because they're afraid of losing their office.