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Friday Alert October 5, 2007
Alliance for Retired Americans
888 16th Street, N.W. - Washington DC, 20006 - (202)
974-8222 - www.retiredamericans.or
President Bush Vetoes Health
Insurance for Children
On Wednesday morning,
President Bush vetoed a bill to expand the
State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), H.R.
976, which would have added $35 billion to the program over five
years and covered an additional four million children. The
move sent Congressional Democrats searching for the 15 to 20
additional votes they will need to achieve a two-thirds majority
in the House of Representatives and override the
president’s veto. Because the legislation originated
in the House, the lower chamber will be first to attempt the
override, with the vote currently scheduled for Thursday,
October 18. There is already enough of a majority in the
Senate, which passed the bill with 67 votes, to override a
presidential veto. The Congressional Budget Office
estimates that at current funding levels, there is not enough
money to maintain coverage for all of the children already in
the program, leaving millions of kids at risk of losing their
health insurance. “Over the next two weeks, the
Alliance will be disseminating suggested letters for contacting
members of Congress directly, as well as sample letters to the
editor,” said Ruben Burks,
Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. “Alliance
members will have the opportunity to tell their elected
officials, through e-mails and a toll-free number, to renew and
expand SCHIP and to protect the healthcare of future
generations.”
New Report Explores Extent,
Effect of Drug Company Price Gouging
A new
report by Dianna Porter, Director for Policy
with the Alliance’s Department of Government and Political
Affairs, details the shocking extent of price gouging by
pharmaceutical companies. Paid for by the Alliance for
Retired Americans Educational Fund (ARAEF), the report concludes
that for millions of Americans, high drug prices are a major
barrier to maintaining an acceptable quality of life.
Outrageous
Fortune: How the Drug Industry Profits from Pills shows
that retirees are struggling more that ever to afford the
medications they need to live comfortably and even
survive. The report demonstrates how the drug industry
continues to profit at the expense of seniors, as higher and
higher prescription prices and more stringent restrictions on
generics force retirees into the Medicare Part D “doughnut
hole.” Copies of the report can be found on the
ARAEF website, at www.retiredamericansfund.org.
As Medicare Part D Premiums
Rise, Multiple Consequences Ensue
Increases
in monthly premiums by Medicare's top prescription-drug plans
next year will force as many as 1.6 million low-income
beneficiaries to switch plans, according to an analysis of
government data. The Wall Street Journal, citing
a report made available last Friday by the Washington consulting
firm Avalere Health LLC, said that most popular Part D plans
will raise their premiums in 2008. Under the law, plans
that cost more than the government-set benchmark cannot
automatically offer coverage to low-income beneficiaries.
Increases for plans run by Humana Inc. and UnitedHealth Group
Inc., the two top players by enrollment - with more than 40% of
the market - will therefore have an enormous impact beyond
higher prices. UnitedHealth alone insures 650,000
beneficiaries who will have to switch plans, since its offerings
next year priced it out of 18 regions. Low-income
beneficiaries will not be the only losers, however. Health
insurers have taken note that seniors do not like to change
plans if they do not have to, even if it costs a little more,
and are hoping older Americans who are not low-income will pay
their higher premiums. “Humana lured seniors with
low, $9.51 average premiums during the first year it offered
these plans,” said Edward Coyle,
Executive Director of the Alliance. “Now Humana is
raising that amount to $25.56 in 2008, and is deviously hoping
vulnerable seniors will not want to go through the hassle of
switching.” In addition, a recent government audit
raises concerns that Humana has not done enough to eliminate
misleading sales practices to the elderly and disabled.
The six-week enrollment season for 2008 starts Nov. 15.
Due to the changes, Medicare advocates expect hassles beginning
in January, when many enrollees will find themselves dealing
with new preferred lists of medicines, or formularies.
Are You Registered to
Vote?
With the first primaries and caucuses
for the 2008 primaries just three months away, fair elections
are again a major issue. Check out the National Campaign
for Fair Elections’ web site, www.nationalcampaignforfairelections.org,
which features a U.S. map with information for each individual
state, including guidelines for registering to vote.
Colorado Alliance Re-Elects
Officers
Edward Coyle flew
to Denver last week to address the Colorado Alliance’s
state convention. In his remarks, Mr. Coyle focused on the
senior vote in 2008 and on encouraging candidates to talk about
retiree issues. Re-elected to their positions with the
Colorado Alliance were: Frank Lay, President;
Fern Osborne, Vice President; Bob
Knapp, Secretary; and Bob Young,
Treasurer.
Alliance Mourns Claude
“Blackie” Evans
It is with deep
regret that we report the death of longtime activist
Claude “Blackie” Evans, who played
a critical role in bringing seniors together and creating the
Nevada Alliance for Retired Americans. Mr. Evans passed
away September 28. He was a former member of the General
Executive Board of the National AFL-CIO and Labor Commissioner
of the Nevada Industrial Commission, and he held prominent
positions with many other labor, safety and consumer
organizations. “Blackie Evans was a passionate
advocate for seniors and a leader in the labor community,”
said Alliance President George J. Kourpias.
“We will greatly miss his advice and his
friendship.” His life and works will be honored at
the Nevada Alliance for Retired Americans convention later this
month.
Did You Know
...
About 7.4% of Americans aged 75 and older
lived in nursing homes in 2006, compared with 8.1% in 2000 and
10.2% in 1990, according to U.S. Census figures released last
week. The downturn reflects the improved health of seniors
and more choices of care for the elderly.
Become part of a progressive grassroots movement!
Join the Alliance
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Alliance for Retired Americans 815 16th
St, NW Washington, DC 20006 www.retiredamericans.org
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