AARP Bulletin - May 2010

Your Health ; In the News
4,525 Number of lobbyists hired by companies and organizations to influence health reform bills in 2009.
; The Poll
Pet Ownership
; Leroy Bridges
is shocked by
premium hikes.
Health Insurance:
The Hike Is in the Mail
Leroy Bridges, 52, a semiretired lobsterman from Deer Isle, Maine, pays for individual health in-
surance that has a high deductible, hoping to keep
his premiums affordable. So when he got word from
Anthem Blue Cross that his $450 bill would rise al-
most $100 per month—a 22 percent spike—he “had
total astonishment,” Bridges says, especially after
the company won a rate boost as high as 32 percent
last year. “The hogs have come back to the trough to
feed again.” ; Across California, tens of thousands
of self-insured clients age 50 and older covered by
Anthem Blue Cross were told their rates will go up
as much as 39 percent. And a survey by the Center
for American Progress, a Washington-based think
tank, found that double-digit hikes have been
implemented or are pending in at least 11 other
states, including Virginia, Wisconsin and Georgia.
; Consumer Watchdog, an advocacy group, has
filed a class action lawsuit against Anthem accus-
ing the company of violating state law by forcing
policyholders into high-deductible, lower-benefit
plans. Many Anthem customers believe that the company—anticipating limits on fu-
ture increases—raced to impose higher fees before Congress passed health care reform.
; The company defends its proposed hikes, saying the recession forced many young,
healthier customers to cancel their policies, leaving older customers to shoulder more
of the financial burden. In any case, America’s five largest private health insurance firms
had record profits last year. —Michael Zielenziger

; What type of pet do you own?

Ages 50-64 65-plus

Dog

45 27%

Cat

27 19%

Bird

4 2%

Reptile

2 1%

Other

6 1%

Don’t own a pet

37 60%

; What was the major reason for acquiring a pet?

‘Money’ Is the Name of the Game
York Fund. ; Launched by
the city’s Department for the
Aging, It’s My Money! is dis-
tributed to senior and com-
munity centers and libraries
on CD-ROM. It’s available
in Spanish and can also be
downloaded from www.nyc
.gov/aging. —Blair S. Walker
New York City has cre- ated a game to help
older adults learn how to
protect themselves from fi-
nancial fraud. ; “Fraud and
ID theft typically rise in dif-
ficult economic times,” says
Ali Hodin-Baier, executive
director of the Aging in New

Survey of 1,062 adults age 50 and older conducted by SSRS Feb. 24-March 7, 2010. Security/protection

10 6%

Companionship

56 71%

Child’s playmate

13 8%

Other

31 22%

AARP Bulletin May 2010, Volume 51, No. 4 (USPS Number 002-900; ISSN 1044-1123) is published monthly except February and August by AARP, 601 E St. N.W., Washington, DC 20049 (telephone: 1-888-687-2277). Internet site: bulletin.aarp.org, “The Newspaper of 50-Plus America.” Sales and Marketing Offices: AARP Publications, 780 3rd Avenue, 41st Floor, New York, NY 10017. One membership includes spouse/partner. Annual membership dues are $16.00, including $4.03 for an annual subscription to AARP THE MAGAZINE and $3.09 for an annual subscription to the AARP Bulletin. A three-year membership is $43; a two-year membership is $30. Dues outside domestic US mail limits: $17 a year for Canada/Mexico; $28 for other international countries. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. Canadian Publications Mail Agreement Number: 40030163 Return undeliverable addresses to AARP, 2835 Kew Drive, Windsor, ON N8T 3B7. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to AARP Bulletin, c/o AARP, P.O. Box 199, Long Beach, CA. 90801. AARP Bulletin is a registered trademark of AARP. Entire contents copyright © 2010 by AARP. Printed in the USA. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent policies of AARP and should not be construed as endorsements. The mention of a product or service herein is solely for information to our readers and may not be used for any commercial purpose. AARP, which was established in 1958, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with more than 40 million members ages 50 and older. State offices are located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.