Help! Need info/sites AARP and the Rx sellout re: BushCo/Repugs

[Whoa_Nelly]

Have a friend that wants to know WHY joining AARP is not really a good thing. This friend is a Dem, but not always up on the news. As for me, I know I read many articles prior to the new Medicare/AARP deal making and that it was a total sham sellout on seniors, but am having probs with googling the right words to get the info.

Much thanks in advance for any and all links, leads and info! :hi:

[acmejack]

1. Here's the first and main one, explains a lot!

snip>
AARP MedicareRx Plan is a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan ("PDP") insured by United HealthCare Insurance Company or United HealthCare Insurance Company of New York for New York residents (together with their affiliates called "UnitedHealthcare").

http://www.aarpmedicarerx.com/
snip>
On December 2, 2003, the AARP began running advertisements in national newspapers citing eight benefits of the final Medicare legislation that the President signed into law on December 8. The ad’s headline states that the ad contains “no sound bites... no spin.... no politics... just the facts.”

The following is an analysis of the ad’s claims.<1> It should be noted that some of the problematic aspects of the legislation that relate to low-income Medicare beneficiaries and the premium support demonstration, which are described below, would have been more problematic without AARP’s use of its influence to soften the adverse effects of those provisions.

http://www.cbpp.org/12-11-03health.htm
snip>
OW President Kim Gandy called the recently passed and erroneously titled Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (H.R. 1) "a cruel deception that George W. Bush and the right-wing leadership in Congress have played on older women." "Because older women utilize more prescription medications and, on average, have less retirement income, they will face a new hardship when this legislation takes effect in 2006," Gandy charged.

http://www.now.org/issues/health/120503medicare.html

[Whoa_Nelly]

3. Mucho Grasses, acmejack!

Will forward the direct links to my friend! :hi:

[Jayhawk Lib]

5. I do not like AARP

I do not like AARP. I do not belong because all they are is just a big insurance marketer. They are really not on the side of senior citizens. They are on the side of their greedy executives..... imho

[Justitia]

2. Here ya go - w/history too.

http://todaysseniorsnetwork.com/aarp_sellout.htm

CEO of AARP (Novelli) is very friendly w/Gingrich. He wrote the forward in Newt's book, saying he is shaping policy around Gingrich's ideas on Medicare.

Needless to say, I was one of those that dropped them like a hot potato when all this went down.

[Whoa_Nelly]

4. Thanks, Justitia!

The more info the better! And with the info from you and acmejack, I can re-edjumacate myself about the HUGH!!1! and series effect on our seniors...of which I am almost of age...oh my!

[Roland99]

6. Bingo!