I hesitate to put this up because I DO NOT WANT IT TO END UP AS A DIVISIVE POLITICAL DISCUSSION. This is not meant to be political, as I am following my own rules on not engaging in political discussions. This is meant as information only. I will delete it if it ends up in political arguments.
FYI - I just participated in a phone "conference call" - I guess that's what it was called - from AARP. I am a member, so I guess that is why they called. Anyway, the crux of the phone call was to list their priorities for health care reform and take questions. I did not stay on the line for the questions. I am listing these AARP priorities because so many of us are affected by them.
AARP is lobbying for:
1.Want guaranteed affordable health care coverage for those in the 50-64 age group.
2.Want the Medicare "donut hole" closed.
3.Want a "follow-up care and transition" benefit - Elders are being discharged too soon from the hosptial, and end up back in within a few weeks, thus having to pay another co-pay. They are looking for better training and in-home help for the caregiver.
4.Long term care
5.Drug prices - working to ensure there will be generic biomedical drugs.
6.Want more financial help for low income recipients of Medicare.
Contact AARP to give your ideas and opinions. www.aarp.com
Remember what I learned at Advocacy training last weekend - Always ask for much more than you know you will get, and be willing to settle for a little. If you lobby for all 6, and get half of one of them, it's better than nothing. Well, maybe not that little, but you get the idea. AARP is aiming big in hopes of getting something. I can't believe they actually think they'll get all of it.
I do know that EVERYONE involved -AARP, The Alzheimer's Association, The Bipartisan Alzheimer's Study Group, caregivers, families, patients, and doctors, are in agreement that "long term care" needs to be addressed.