AARP: Voters Favor Candidates Who Support a Plan For National Health Care

[cal04]

AARP: Voters Favor Candidates Who Support a Plan For National Health Care Coverage
More than three quarters (77 percent) of those likely to go to polls in November say they are likely to vote for a candidate who supports a plan for national health care coverage, finds a new election poll commissioned by AARP.

As the mid-term election nears, AARP has been polling baby boomer-age and older voters on the issues its members have indicated they want to hear about in national and state political debate.

"Health care has become less affordable and less accessible," explained David Sloane, senior managing director of government relations for AARP. "The voter anxiety reflected in this poll is the result of a system that is inefficient, at the mercy of uncontrollable costs and is leaving tens of millions of people without health insurance."

The AARP poll measured opinions of likely voters age 42 and above. It found that nearly eight in 10 (78 percent) agree that the federal government should see that everyone has at least minimum health insurance benefits. The greatest numbers of respondents who support minimum benefits are boomer voters (ages 51 to 60). That same age cohort remains largely undecided with 61 percent saying they have yet to decide who they will vote for.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=73963

[rock]

1. That would be the Democrats

Doncha think?

[bread_and_roses]

24. Well, where are the Ds loudly calling for National Health Care?

I'm sure there are some out there, but it's hardly on the lips enough to qualify as a campaign, from my limited perspective. Would be happy to find out that I am wrong, and have simply missed the pertinent stories.

My recollection is that Big Pharma and Big Insurance cover the $$ bases with the Ds, even if they give less than to the Rs. Making it unlikely we'll see any system that doesn't put Pharm/Insurance profits FIRST until we have public funding of elections and make the Pols accountable to US instead of to THEM.

[Tellurian]

31. Bush's Medicare/Medicaid on Hiatus...

My mother, Upon receiving a boiler plate notice from Medicare (she is not a subscriber)stating
Temporarily, she would no longer be able to purchase her prescriptions through them.
And to make other plans to purchase her prescriptions.

She was happy she had not depended on them to take care of her blood pressure medication.
Her exact words were: "They can hang for all I care!"

Yup, this is definitely a sore sport with seniors..If we want their vote..
Gotta take care of GrandMa and GrandPa..

[napi21]

2. I'm not sure if AARP is just trying to get supporters back after

they supported Shrub's Plan D drug program, or if they really have changed their mind. My gut tells meit's a business decision only!

[eShirl]

3. I'm not sure...

Wouldn't that cut into their business as a Medicare Part D insurer?
I'm not sure what to think.

[napi21]

12. That's the thing. AARP has lost people who are willing the buy

insurance through them! If they mend the fences, so to speak, and get people back on their side, they will sell MORE insurance they will be able to sell.

What I think they need to do more than support Dems, is to sponsor ads to repeal the stupid portion of the Med. Pt. D. that prevents Medicare from negotiating script prices!

Then maybe they'll begin tomend the fence with ME!

[cosmicdot]

19. AARP piggy-backs United Health's program

I can't imagine that yielding too much profit, but who knows, it might.

"United HealthCare Insurance Company (United) manages AARP Pharmacy Services through its subsidiary United HealthCare Products, LLC and contracts with licensed pharmacy vendors..." from AARP's website


just a little side story:

When I signed up Medicare's 'system' spit out 3 'top' choices:

United Health
AARP (United Health)
PacifiCare (which United Health recently bought)

(of course, United Health merged with Humana in 1998)

so much for choices, eh?


another side note: Clinton's Secretary of the Dept. of Health and Human Services (where Medicare is part of), Donna Shalala, sits on United Health's Board of Directors (since 2001 - revolving door).

[allisonthegreat]

21. yeah it does

not that consumer friendly either re: pricing!

[reprobate]

10. I read tht over 1/3 of their income is from insurance.

[napi21]

13. At LEAST 1/3! I thought I read it was even a higher % than that! n/t

[stepnw1f]

4. Did the AARP Figure This Before or After Supporting Bush?

What they did, was a disgusting slap in the face when they came out in support for Bush....

[endarkenment]

5. They endorsed BUSH for president?

I didn't know that. Do you have a link? I thought they gave luke-warm support to the awful perscription plan, which was stupid but not intolerable.

[stepnw1f]

11. supported "awful perscription plan"

and I don't think it was "lukewarm" support.

[endarkenment]

17. No I think it was lukewarm - but it still pissed me off.

Typical delusional thinking, like Ted Kennedy getting in bed with the republics over No Child's Behind Left, with similar results.

AARPs actions convinced me not to join them. I think they have sort of figured that out as I was not the only one.

[endarkenment]

6. No Democratic presidential candidate

that passes muster with the leadership is allowed to advocate UHC.

[Joe Bacon]

7. Just wait, Harry and Louise will be trotted out again

And you'll see the same ads...

"Louise, do you know that Canadian s wait for over a year for medical care"

"Harry, look at that busload of Canadians coming across the border to get the health care they can't get in Canada"

"Louise, do we really need GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRATS rationing health care"?

Just wait. Harry and Louise will soon make another appearance and any serious attempt to enact any kind of national health insurance will be thwarted. Then the churches will get in line and oppose national health care because they don't want abortions or gays and lesbians covered.

The United States will NEVER have national health insurance because people are too selfish.

[fooj]

8. I guess Arnold is COMPLETELY screwed then.

He just vetoed a health care bill that was passed by the state legislature in CA. I KNEW that would haunt him. Yippee.

[diamidue]

14. Why didn't Angelides bring this up in debate?

He mentioned he was for universal health a couple of days earlier on the radio, but didn't bother to bring it up during the debate. If this AARP poll is correct, then Angelides blew a golden opportunity.

[Joe Bacon]

16. Angelides opposed single payer

his own website says he opposes it!

http://www.angelides.com/news/philinthenews/2006_0725_sacbee.html

Angelides on Monday staked out several positions in direct opposition to Schwarzenegger, saying he would work to pass legislation covering all children and requiring large employers to provide insurance.

According to Single Payer websites, Angelides OPPOSES single payer. Now I really have to hold my nose to vote for him. But I still will. I hate Arnold so much I would crawl over ground glass to get to the ballot box to vote against that Nazi.

[diamidue]

18. You are right...

What he said was that he says he favors "moving California toward universal health care".

Translation: forgetaboutit

What a sneaky jerk.

I'll be holding my nose, too, I guess.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=14&entry_id=8519

[rinsd]

26. Single payer vs. universal care

Look at the question as asked.

Ask people if they want everyone covered and you'll get one answer.

Ask everyone if they would want a state run program to replace the current system and you will get a different answer.

Ahnuld vetoed that Angelides was not a supporter of Kuehl's bill. This will likely not hurt him.

[0rganism]

9. Of course this is *before* the insurance industry runs its campaign ads

I've seen this happen time and time again. Given a perfectly reasonable idea represented on a ballot, whether by candidate or referendum, with ostensibly solid public support, and then the big players come along to outspend on the issue by 3-to-1 or more. By the time elections come along, the tables have turned, and half the people who were at one time fervent supporters of the concept wouldn't dare admit it in public.

All Big Insurance has to do is play on people's greed ("nice idea, but I don't want to pay for it") and fear of government regulation ("they'll pick my doctor for me!"), and public opinion swings around like a flag on a windy day.

[Joe Bacon]

15. I still remember Prop 104 in California going down in 1994

Prop 104 would have created Single Payer in California. It was supported by a majority of voters UNTIL Harry and Louise appeared and their Insurance masters poured 100 MILLION dollars of YOUR HEALTH PREMIUMS into defeating it. The propostion went down 3-1.

Just think of all the health care that 100 million would have provided...

[0rganism]

32. Yep, classic case right there

We've seen it happen over and over again, with everything from health care to ultility re-regulation to environmental protection. The people support these positions until they are filled with righteous propaganda from their corporate masters, and then they turn aside, thinking things like, "well maybe I was wrong, things aren't so bad the way they are now," or, "sure, it's a great idea but this legislation does it the wrong way," and go back to pretending that everything's okay in the world, government regulations are unnecessary, and polluters really do care about the public good.

This should be textbook stuff for progressive candidates and issue advocates, cos it is definitely part of basic training for the other side.

[w4rma]

20. Sounds about right to me. Everyone is worried now about health care.

One wrong misstep and you, and your family, are in debt to the big banks, forever.

[Joe Bacon]

22. And you have NO debt shielding thanks to "bankruptcy reform"

You can thank Joe Backstabbing Biden for that. Thanks to Joe and his pals, you'll be a slave for the rest of your life to the banks.

[sandnsea]

23. A national plan doesn't automatically mean single payer

I wish people on the left would understand that.

[bread_and_roses]

25. Technically true - but

that does seem to be what people MEAN when they talk about "National Health Insurance." A Medicare/Medicaid type program for everyone. I rather doubt that too many people are clammoring for a mess like Hillary put forward, that attempted to provide National "coverage" while protecting profits for Insurers.

[rinsd]

28. "A Medicare/Medicaid type program for everyone."

Well look at the question asked, "do you feel that everyone should have a minimum level of coverage". This is like one of those question where pople are asked if they are racist and you have 90% say no.

If you said would you want a nationalized healthcare system , you may get another answer.

[sandnsea]

29. It's not a choice between the two

They likey MEAN a sliding scale subsidized insurance, because people don't trust government directed heath care. That's why they rejected Hillary care, they were convinced the government was going to control the whole thing. The American nightmare is heath care disintegrating into county hospitals and public clinics. The only way to assure people that won't happen is a plan that keeps private care and private insurance to pay for it. We will never get from here to single payer without going through that loop. And if it's fully funded, it works. It's what we have in Oregon.

[lovuian]

27. Pretty Soon Voters are going to DEMAND Universal Health

Congress will not be able to stop it...

ITS TIME!!!

[Tellurian]

33. Dem mantra: "We're Tired of Being Treated Like A Third World Country."

Sort and Sweet!

Because it's TRUE!

[Joe Bacon]

35. Harry and Louise will come to the rescue of the insurance companies.

Twice in my lifetime I worked my ass off for national health insurance. We were just on the edge of getting something passed in 1974 with the Kennedy-Mills bill, only to see hopes dashed by Watergate. We came VERY CLOSE to having it passed under Nixon, then it stalled with impeachment.

In 1994, I worked my ass off for Prop 104 in California, which would have established single payer. Day after day, I handed out sample health insurance cards and talked to people one on one. Sadly, too many of them were brainwashed by Harry and Louise. They bought the bullshit about government rationed care, even though I explained to them time and time again that American health care is rationed by the amount of money you have. It wouldn't sink in. Then in the last 2 weeks ALL the Fundy churches and Cahtolics came out against single payer because it would allow abortion and they also didn't want gays and lesbians to have access to health care.

Too many times I have seen idiots manipulated by Jesus into voting against their own interests. Even now, people are falling into the Medicare D donut hole and they STILL don't want any help.

This country will NEVER pass universal health insurance. Ever since Reagan asked in 1980 "Are YOU better off", people are only interested in themselves. There is NO social conscience, NO desire to better others. We're all too busy looking out for #1. That is what will destroy America.

[Rene]

30. Can you imagine how many more jobs there would be if everyone

had the Medical, Dental and Mental Health coverage they deserve. Full use of the Healthcare facilities should bring prices down.
We had better begin a massive education of Health Care professionals....start training them right now.

[JoFerret]

34. Single payer system

Medicare for all.
(About time.)