November 5, 2009 in Nation/World

AARP supporting House health bill

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WASHINGTON – In a coup for House Democrats, AARP will endorse sweeping health care overhaul legislation headed for a history-making floor vote, officials told the Associated Press on Wednesday.

An endorsement from the seniors’ lobby was critical when then-President George W. Bush pushed the Medicare prescription drug benefit through a closely divided Congress in 2003. House Democratic leaders are hoping it will work the same political magic for them as they strive to deliver on President Barack Obama’s signature issue.

An announcement from the 40-million member group is expected today.

Backing the 10-year, $1.2 trillion House bill is a tricky move for AARP. Many retirees are concerned about cuts in Medicare payments to medical providers, which will be used to finance an expansion of health insurance coverage to millions of working families who now lack it. Also, AARP says its membership is about evenly divided among Democrats, Republicans and independents, meaning its endorsement in today’s highly politicized atmosphere could anger many members.

Floor votes on the House bill could come as early as this weekend.

House Democratic leaders moved on Wednesday to shore up support for the measure among their rank-and-file, even as they sharpened their fight with the health insurance industry.

Last-minute changes to the Democrats’ bill cleared the way for votes as early as Saturday.

In a move aimed directly at health insurance companies, the revised House bill would launch a federal-state crackdown on what it terms “unjustified premium increases.” Insurers have sought above all to block creation of a government insurance plan, which happens to be the top legislative goal for liberals.

Under the bill, insurance companies would have to publicly disclose the justification for premium increases before they go into effect.

Democrats also strengthened a provision that would strip the industry of its decades-old exemption from federal antitrust laws.

Supporters said the tougher approach is needed to keep insurance companies from artificially boosting premiums in advance of the major reforms taking effect in 2013.

Other late changes to the bill, such as enhanced status for the government’s office of minority health, were intended as sweeteners for supportive lawmakers, including members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

With no Republican backing for the measure, Democrats will need overwhelming support from their own.

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Two comments on this story so far. Add yours!

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  dick adams on November 05 at 7:49 a.m.

  AARP is nothing more than an insurance company and a place for the grey head cry babys to beg the taxpayers to pay for every thing under the sun so they can have a free ride. Oh yea, BTW, when traveling my hotel and motel are the same as the BS AARP senior rates. I`ll pay my own way thank you. I`m a 80 year old that doesn`t want the younger taxpayers to pay for a “free lunch'.

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  Ninch on November 05 at 9:14 a.m.

  AARP is selling out its members AGAIN. AARP is no longer a seniors' lobby but a money-making machine for the head “political boss”… in other words it has gone the way of unions with their corrupt and self-aggrandizing top dogs.

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