AARP Bulletin - January 2011

Your AARP ;

Sharing the
Magic of Poetry
; BOOKS
AARP’s new book Great Po-
ems for Grand Children leads
readers down a path of en-
richment and enchantment,
as they explore treasures by
such writers as Mark Twain
and Maya Angelou. ; The
book costs $24.95. For details,
go to aarp.org/books.
After AARP members dispatched more than 100,000 letters and
e-mails to their Washington representa-
tives, Congress approved, in December, a
one-year freeze on Medicare physician payments, thus avoiding a 25 percent
rate reduction scheduled for Jan. 1. The prospect of the large rate cut had again
raised the possibility that more doctors would turn away a number of Medicare’s
46 million patients. And that made many older patients nervous. ; AARP CEO
A. Barry Rand thanked Congress for the vote, especially the bipartisan support
the measure received. “We’re encouraged that lawmakers worked across the
aisle to find this yearlong, bipartisan solution, but their work cannot stop now,”
he said. ; Physician groups also hailed the one-year, $19 billion deal. “Stopping
the steep 25 percent Medicare cut for one year was vital to preserve seniors’
access to physician care in 2011,” said Cecil B. Wilson, president of the American
Medical Association. The first boomers are turning 65
this year, “adding urgency to the need for a long-term
solution before this demographic tsunami swamps the
Medicare program,” he said. ; “Seniors and the doctors
who care for them deserve the stability of a Medicare
system that does not require Band-Aid fixes each year,”
Rand said. “We look forward to working with the new
Congress to put an end to the annual patches and give
seniors the peace of mind they deserve.”
; WASHINGTON WATCH
Fix for
Doctor
Pay Rates
Is Hailed

DISCOUNTS

; Dental
Insurance
Delta Dental Insur-
ance Co. adminis-
ters a plan for AARP
members that cov-
ers most common
procedures and
allows you to keep
your own dentist or
choose a network
provider. For details,
go to deltadental
ins.com/aarp or call
1-866-583-2093
toll-free.
; VOLUNTEERING Make It a Day to Serve Jan. 17 marks the 25th anniversary of the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday, which Congress designated as a national day of volunteer service in 1994. Many Americans honor the civil rights leader’s legacy by engaging in activities such as delivering meals. ; To find local ways to get involved, go to createthegood.org.

The AARP Women’s Scholarship Program changes lives
by funding opportunities for women age 40 and older.
; Women who are seeking new job skills, training or educa-
tional opportunities but have limited financial resources
are encouraged to apply. To learn more, visit aarp.org/wom
ensscholarship or call 202-434-2110. ; Support for the
program comes from the AARP Foundation and Walmart.
Applications will be accepted Feb. 1 through March 31.
Scholarships Aim to Help Women
Upgrade Employment Skills
; NEW BEGINNINGS

; Fitness
The AARP Fitness
and Wellness
Program provides
discounts on gym
memberships,
professional
training sessions
and fitness DVDs
from participating
providers such as
Gold’s Gym. You
can learn more at
aarpfitness.com.