; Health Care Reform
Health Care Reform Marches On Where We Stand
By A. Barry Rand, CEO
AARP has been a strong advocate for health
care reform for over 50 years—ever since our
founder discovered a fellow retired teacher living in a chicken coop, eking out an existence on a
meager pension, with no health care and no access
to health care.
From that moment, AARP has fought for health care reform and
health security for all of its members. This fall, we endorsed the
House Affordable Health Care for America Act, HR 3962, because it
advances these goals. And with its passage in the House, we are closer to achieving real health care reform than we have ever been.
We must now turn our attention to the Senate, and then to the con-
ference committee, to ensure that the measures we supported in the
House plan end up in the bill that goes to the president to sign.
The plan approved by the House includes comprehensive health
care reform. It expands and protects benefits in the traditional
Medicare program and ensures that people under age 65 will have
affordable health care.
It also ensures that health decisions are made by a patient and
his or her doctor, not by an insurance company, and not by the
government. And it protects the right of all Americans to see the
doctor of their choice.
The House plan achieves many of the goals we have been focused
on since we began our latest fight for health care reform more than
two years ago:
; It protects and strengthens Medicare.
; It provides affordable coverage for people under 65.
; And it begins to improve long-term care services
and support.
This bill meets critical priorities for AARP members. It would ensure quality, affordable health coverage options for all Americans.
