Alliance for Retired Americans Blog

Florida Seniors Protest at Humana Office: Denounce “Scare Tactic” in Recent Mailing

Photos here!

TV clip here!

Today, the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans (FLARA) held a rally in front of the Humana office in West Palm Beach and delivered an open letter to Humana Inc.  FLARA, seniors and numerous allies denounced Humana’s recent mailings to Medicare Advantage recipients that contained outright lies and were intended to scare seniors about health insurance reform.

Humana made national news last week when it was sanctioned by the federal government for falsely warning seniors that health insurance reform would cut their health care benefits.  Currently the federal government pays private insurance companies like Humana, on average, 14% more for providing coverage to Medicare Advantage clients than it would to pay for the same care under traditional Medicare.  Humana profits from wasteful overpayments to Medicare Advantage programs and wants to keep it that way.

Rally attendees were clear on two things: they oppose Humana’s mailings and scare tactics directed towards seniors; and they want to see a comprehensive health insurance reform bill pass this year.

Tony Fransetta, President of the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans, said, “We are here today because we are fed up with Humana’s lies.  Seniors in Florida and across this country are outraged at the scare tactics Humana has employed lately.  The fact of the matter is that we can fix our broken health care system and Humana can continue to do business.  I join untold numbers of Americans in urging fast action on comprehensive health insurance reform including cutting the wasteful Medicare Advantage overpayments so that our system works better and all Americans can get the health care they need.”

Willie Pouncy Jr. a community outreach worker in the mental health field for the Jackson Health System in Miami said, “The state of health care is in shambles.”  Pouncy, recording secretary and political chair of AFSCME Local 1363, reinforced disproval of big insurance company scare tactics and expressed support for health insurance reform.  He said, “If the people I serve lack insurance and cannot afford the medications they need, they can regress into hallucinations and manic-depressive episodes which ultimately lead to tragic consequences for both them and their families.  So many tragedies could be avoided by giving everyone equal access to affordable health care."

ACTON in Florida: Humana Lies to Seniors ~ Florida Seniors to Fight Back in W. Palm Beach!

For more info, contact: Jenny Kenny - 321-277-9385
Tony Fransetta - 561-792-8799 or
Laura Markwardt  - 202-637-5178

HUMANA LIES TO SENIORS ABOUT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE & HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM
Florida Seniors to Fight Back at Palm Beach Protest

WEST PALM BEACH - On Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 12 pm, The Florida Alliance for Retired Americans (FLARA) will hold a rally and press conference in front of the Humana office in West Palm Beach.  FLARA, seniors and allies will denounce Humana’s recent mailings to Medicare Advantage recipients that contained outright lies and were intended to scare seniors about health insurance reform.  FLARA will also deliver an open letter to Humana, Inc.

Humana made national news last week when it was sanctioned by the federal government for falsely warning seniors that health insurance reform would cut their health care benefits.  Currently the federal government pays private insurance companies like Humana, on average, 14% more for providing coverage to Medicare Advantage clients than it would to pay for the same care under traditional Medicare.  Humana profits from wasteful overpayments to Medicare Advantage programs and wants to keep it that way.

Tony Fransetta, President of the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans, said, “What Humana is doing is unconscionable.  Although payments to Humana under Medicare Advantage have increased drastically in the last several years, benefits and services for seniors have not.  Now, to add insult to injury, Humana has mailed to its Medicare Advantage recipients false information about health insurance reform.  Now is our chance to cut wasteful overpayments to the big insurance companies.  This will be good for Medicare, it will be good for seniors and ultimately good for all Americans.”

WHO: Florida Alliance for Retired Americans (FLARA) and allies.  Speakers include Tony Fransetta (FLARA President) and others.

WHAT: Rally & press conference at Humana office to stop the lies and scare tactics.  FLARA will deliver an open letter to Humana, Inc. following the press conference.

WHERE:  Humana office - 2056 Vista Pkwy, West Palm Beach

WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 12 pm

"Health Insurance Groups Will Stop at Nothing to Kill Reform"

"Stunning in their brazenness, insurance industry groups like Humana have sent out mailings to

Medicare beneficiaries trying to scare seniors into erroneously believing that health care reform will harm their Medicare benefits."

Full AFL-CIO blog entry here.

In yesterday's Tyler Morning Telegraph (TX)

"September 27: Flawed Legislation

Last week Sen. Max Baucus released his Senate Finance Committee's long-awaited version of health care reform. Regrettably, it is a deeply flawed bill which fails to meet the criteria set forth by President Barack Obama for meaningful reform.

There are some very troubling key provisions in this bill which would place an enormous and unfair burden on working people and older Americans, while letting insurers and employers off scot-free

The excise tax on certain "high-cost" health plans makes a lie of the promise that people will be able to keep the coverage they have now. There is virtually no employer responsibility to provide coverage or pay into a fund so their workers can get a subsidy when purchasing coverage on their own. The only employer requirement is minimal, calling on employers to pay up to $400 for any worker who has to obtain a subsidy to get insurance.

The Baucus bill fails to provide a public health insurance plan as was included in the House bills. The problem with state and regional co-ops is that they would not have enough market "clout" and absolutely no ability to drive down overall health care costs.

Now, during the "mark up" of the bill, is the time for rational, thoughtful citizen involvement in the legislative process. The demagoguery, misrepresentation and fear-mongering should be behind us. Now is the time for each of us to call on our senators to support a robust public health insurance option; to dump the excise tax or drastically change it; and include a "pay or play" requirement on employers.

Shane Fox

Executive Board, Alliance for Retired Americans
Vice President, Texas Alliance for Retired Americans"

Link

Nebraska Retirees Convene on Health Insurance Reform

Urge Representatives to Act on Reform, Reconsider Medicare Advantage

On Friday, September 25th from 3:00 to 6:00 pm, Nebraska retirees will gather at the Ramada Inn Conference Center in Kearney to discuss their views on health insurance reform and to urge action from their elected officials.

Seniors in Nebraska and across the nation have waited for the chance at significant health insurance reform for many years. Now at meetings like this, they are speaking out and mobilizing around issues such as closing the “donut hole” in Medicare Part D and allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices. Nebraska seniors at the meeting will also discuss their disappointment with Senator Ben Nelson and the Nebraska Congressional delegation for opposing cuts to Medicare Advantage overpayments and failing to advocate for a public option.

Dani Pere, Field Mobilization Director for the national Alliance for Retired Americans, will update retirees on the progress of health insurance reform and discuss other issues affecting seniors.

Donna McGrath, Secretary of the Nebraska Alliance for Retired Americans, said, “Seniors have been
told things about health insurance reform that are simply not true. Our task is to educate retirees on the facts of health insurance reform and to empower them to take action.” McGrath also said, “Now is the time for strong leadership and strong action. Our Congressional Representatives’ opposition to cutting Medicare Advantage overpayments and providing a public option is devastating for many Nebraskans. We are committed to staying active until reasonable reform is passed.”

Retirees Praise Biden Health Care Speech

Vice President Meets with Seniors, Touts Benefits of Health Reform

WASHINGTON - Retiree leaders and activists are praising Vice President Joseph Biden, who earlier today visited the Leisure World retirement community in Silver Spring, Maryland to discuss health insurance reform.

“Vice President Biden today made a clear and convincing case for why Americans of all ages would benefit from health care reform,” said Edward F. Coyle, the Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans.  “I hope this helps alleviate the concerns of retirees, who have been the victim of an insurance industry-backed campaign of lies and scare tactics.  We must help seniors separate fact from fiction, so they see how health reform will help them more easily see a doctor, get a prescription filled, and obtain essential preventive screenings for cancer and other diseases.”

A special guest at today’s event was Alliance member Phil Feaster, a retired truck driver from Fort

Washington, MD who spends $700 per month for his eight daily medicines.  Feaster is one of 3.4 million retirees who fall into the Medicare “doughnut hole,” in which they must pay both their monthly Medicare premiums and full price for their prescriptions.

“It was a great honor to join the Vice President,” Feaster said, “But this is not just about me, it is about the millions of retirees who need help.  Times are tough for seniors, but this year we have a chance to make things better.”

Across the nation, grassroots activists with the Alliance for Retired Americans are mobilizing to pass a health reform bill that: closes the ‘doughnut hole’ coverage gap in Medicare Part D; lowers prescription drug costs through common-sense price negotiation; eliminates the co-pay for preventive screenings; and helps make long-term care more affordable.  The Alliance supports a high-quality public option as, “a refreshing alternative to the big insurance companies who profit by denying care and discriminating against pre-existing conditions,” Coyle said.

“The stakes could not be higher for retirees.  If we fail to act this year, Medicare premiums and out-of-pocket costs would soon eat up more than one-third of a retiree’s Social Security benefits.  A typical older couple would need to save $300,000 for medical bills not covered by Medicare,” Coyle said. 

AFL-CIO Convention Coverage

The AFL-CIO Convention in Pittsburgh last week showcased retirees’ vital role in the labor movement.  The Alliance for Retired Americans President Barbara Easterling gave a major speech to the convention on the political power of the retiree movement, particularly in this year's health care debate.  She inspired union members young and old saying, "We can pass the Employee Free Choice Act.  We can reform health care.  We can change this country.  This can be our lasting legacy." 

The Alliance Town Hall meeting on Tuesday in Pittsburgh gave the 500 retirees in attendance an update on the health care debate plus key materials to help them educate and mobilize at the grassroots level.  Their charge is to separate fact from fiction.  Check out the ‘Mythbuster’ sheet.

Richard Fiesta, Alliance Director of Government and Political Affairs, provided a legislative update, while Dani Pere, Alliance Director of Field Mobilization, urged attendees to take specific steps back home, such as calling talk shows and sharing fact sheets.  Following the Alliance Town Hall, the retirees attended President Obama’s speech to the AFL-CIO.  The speech opened with a powerful story of Indiana Alliance and United Steelworkers member Steve Skvara, and included strong support for protecting Medicare.

On Wednesday, Richard Trumka, a very strong and early supporter of the Alliance, was elected President of the AFL-CIO.  AFL-CIO delegates passed a resolution on Retirement Security, with Ms. Easterling speaking from the floor, and Mr. Trumka read a tribute to outgoing President John Sweeney written by former Alliance President George J. Kourpias.  The remarks praised Mr. Sweeney for knowing “that the labor movement must retain its lifelong activists - that union members must remain part of the family, even when their working days are done” and assured Sweeney’s “commitment to retirees will be in good hands under our friend Rich Trumka.”

More convention coverage here!

(Video: AFL-CIO)

The Alliance Town Hall

Pennsylvania Alliance in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"On the senior side, a passionate supporter is Jean Friday, of Belle Vernon, a retired steelworker and cancer survivor, who is President of the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans. (...)

Ms. Friday's nonprofit, non-partisan organization represents 300,000 seniors across the state. The group supports creation of a high-quality public option as a "necessary alternative to the large insurance companies who profit by denying care and discriminating against pre-existing conditions."

Ms. Friday also said most retired Americans agree it is critical to close the so-called "'doughnut hole" gap in Medicare Part D, lower prescription drug costs, eliminate co-pay for preventive screenings and help make long-term care more affordable.

Her group is writing to members of Congress to emphasize that seniors want an insurance system that is fair and sustainable for themselves "and our grandchildren." "

Full article here.

Photos from the Alliance Town Hall here!

Lynda Bird Johnson Robb Tells Retirees: Medicare is Being “Maligned” in the Health Care Debate

In a special videotaped message made available by the Alliance for Retired Americans, Lynda Bird Johnson Robb, the daughter of former President Lyndon Baines Johnson, is speaking out about health care reform.  She states with concern that Medicare, which was signed into law by her father in 1965, is being “maligned” in the health reform debate.  The videotape debuted at an Alliance town hall forum today in Pittsburgh attended by an audience of more than 500 retirees.  Watch video:

Mrs. Johnson Robb also states that she is distressed at the tone of the health care reform debate, and says unequivocally that her father would consider insuring all Americans the missing piece of the American social contract. 

She goes on to introduce footage of a speech by the recently deceased Sen. Ted Kennedy, who is seen telling an audience that health care is a fundamental right, not a privilege.

The video is part of a campaign by the Alliance for Retired Americans to educate and mobilize seniors regarding health insurance reform.  A longer version of the video, which includes the words of Alliance President Barbara J. Easterling and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) President Gerald W. McEntee was also released today.

In their remarks, Easterling and McEntee refute many of the myths about health insurance reform, sending the message that seniors would win if reform passes.  They state that health reform will improve Medicare by saving money, and will not lead to socialized medicine, the rationing of health care, or “death panels.”

Easterling and McEntee further state that health reform will close the doughnut hole gap in prescription drug coverage; provide coverage for early retirees; and will make long term care and preventive medicine available to seniors.

Full, nine-minute video message that includes the remarks of Lynda Bird Johnson Robb, Barbara Easterling, and Gerald McEntee:

Florida ARA President in Today's Palm Beach Post

"Robert Glass, who operates a free Community Health Center of West Palm Beach, said he was pleased that Obama voiced support for a public option, a government-run insurance program, for those who can't afford private insurance.

Tony Fransetta, president of the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans, agreed. He said the proposed public option will help establish the true cost for health insurance without the enormous profits reaped by insurance companies."

Full article here.