AFSCME West Virginia
Retiree Chapter 77

Friday Alert - July 3
Senate Panel Questions Private Insurers' Credibility, Shows Need for a Public Plan

 AFSCME WV Retiree News, Winter 2009 (pdf)

West Virginia Retiree Chapter ON THE MOVE!

To contact Retiree Chapter President Ernest "Spud" Terry, Secretary-Treasurer Rachel Craddock, Legislative Chair Pat Tyree or any other Retiree Officer or to get information or a membership application, contact the Council office below.

Other Retiree Officers:

Eddie Harmon - Vice-Pres.
Eloise Jack - Recording Sec.
Mary Johnson - Ex. Bd., Delores Teel - Ex. Bd.
Joanne Taylor - Ex. Bd., Juanita Auer - Trustee
Janice Rogers - Trustee

To read about AFSCME's successful nationwide Retiree Program, go to: RETIREES

Friday Alert - July 3, 2009
(Previous Friday Alerts in this archive list)

Senate Panel Questions Private Insurers' Credibility, Shows Need for a Public Plan
As the public health plan option, adamantly opposed by insurers, is considered in the Senate, the Senate Commerce Committee released a report last week exposing greedy and dishonest acts by insurance companies.  The report showed the industry's obvious motives to profiteer at the expense of sick people.  Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller IV (D-WV) released the findings as part of a multi-pronged assault on the credibility of private insurers and as evidence of the need for a public plan.  The Committee also heard testimonials last week from three health care specialists, including the former vice president of communications at big insurer Cigna.  Witnesses stated that insurers sell "junk" policies that do not cover needed care.  Moreover, insurers have deliberately instilled confusion upon consumers by using Ingenix, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth, in order to systematically underpay for out-of-network care, placing an additional burden on many patients who pay higher premiums in order to use doctors and hospitals outside their insurer's network.  As a result, consumers have paid billions of dollars in medical bills that were supposed to be paid by insurers.  "We must create a public plan.  Private insurers cannot be allowed to continue turning their backs on the sick costumers who need them most desperately," said Barbara J. Easterling, President of the Alliance.

Alliance Leaders Attend Obama Health Care Event
Ms. Easterling and Alliance executive board member Rev. Louis B. Jones, II attended a town hall meeting hosted by President Obama on Wednesday at the Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, VA.  The President used the event to rally the public behind his health care agenda. The school and the White House Office of Public Engagement chose the approximately 200 people included in the audience, who consisted of students, administrators, professors and members of the local community.  "I told the President that the Alliance's 3.5 million members are mobilized and have been educating seniors about his health care reform effort, and he was deeply appreciative," said Ms. Easterling.

Additional Health Care Reform Financing Details Emerge
Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) announced last Thursday that his committee has pared the cost of its health care package, although Republicans on the panel remain skeptical. According to Roll Call, Baucus told reporters that the Congressional Budget Office had scored a package of health care reform policy options at under $1 trillion and deficit neutral.  The package is expected to include just over $300 billion in new taxes on health insurance benefits that millions get from their employers.  The leading proposal would tax as income any premiums exceeding about $17,000 a year, starting in 2013.  "Studies show that putting a cap on tax-free health benefits will disproportionately hit workers in small firms and firms with older workers and retirees.  That's because insurance companies regularly charge higher rates for coverage for these workers," said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance.  A final major element of the financing package is a new penalty for employers who do not offer health insurance.  One option under discussion is a "free rider" provision that would require businesses to help finance coverage for workers who receive it elsewhere, such as through Medicaid or other government programs.  The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee is in the midst of marking up a more liberal bill, with the process calling for the two committees' legislation to be merged. The Finance Committee is set to mark up its bill after Congress returns from the July Fourth recess.

Al Franken Ruled the Winner in Minnesota Senate Race
After nearly eight months of waiting, Democrat Al Franken has emerged as the next U.S. senator from Minnesota, ending a drawn-out election recount battle.  The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in favor of Franken on Tuesday, and his opponent, former Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN), conceded after the ruling.  Mr. Franken, 58, a former comedian and author, could now be seated in the Senate as early as Monday.  In the Senate, where 60 votes (including those of two independents) are aligned with the Democrats, the party now has the potential to avoid filibusters on key issues.  However, two veteran senators, Robert Byrd (D-WV) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA), are ill and have been unable to cast votes recently.  In addition, a handful of moderate to conservative Democrats have shown a willingness to break from the party, and liberals are expected to do so on some issues, making health care reform still a major challenge.

Age Survey Looks at "How Old People Feel"
The older people become, the younger they feel and the more likely they are to see "old age" as a time occurring later in life, according to a national study.  The New York Times reported on the survey on Wednesday.  The Pew Research Center surveyed approximately 3,000 adults 18 and older via land and cellular telephone lines in February and March of this year.  The study found that most adults over age 50 feel at least 10 years younger than their actual age.  One-third of those between 65 and 74 said they felt 10 to 19 years younger, and one-sixth of people 75 and older said they felt 20 years younger.  On average, survey respondents said old age begins at 68.  However, few people over 65 agreed; they said that old age begins at 75.  Respondents under 30 said that 60 marks the beginning of old age.  The researchers also asked young adults what they expect aging to be like and older Americans how it really is.  Younger people tend to think growing old will be worse than seniors report, the researchers found.  Older adults said they had experienced the negative aspects of aging - including illness, loneliness and financial difficulty - far less often than younger people anticipated. But older participants also said they found less time for family and leisure activities than younger adults expected they would when they reach old age.

Greenlee Confirmed as Assistant Secretary for Aging at HHS
Kathy Greenlee was confirmed as Assistant Secretary for Aging in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) last week.  She is a longtime ally of HHS Secretary and former Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius.  Greenlee previously served as Secretary of the Kansas Department of Aging.

This message is being sent to you as a member of the Alliance for Retired Americans.  The Alliance is a nationwide membership organization organized under Internal Revenue Code 501 (c) (4) and dedicated to educating all Americans about and advocating on behalf of retirees and seniors.  The Alliance is responsible for the content and has paid all costs associated with the preparation and distribution of this message.

Become part of a progressive grassroots movement!

Join the Alliance

Alliance for Retired Americans 815 16th St, NW Washington, DC 20006 www.retiredamericans.org