AARP members have long recognized the need for health care reform to reduce costs, improve the way care is delivered and provide access to care for the millions of people (many ages 50 to 64) who don’t have it. Our members and volunteers are committed advocates for reform. To us, reform means building on the best of what we already have, saving money and improving care for all Americans. Recent distortions about health reform have confused, scared and angered people.

Such myths ignore one essential fact: The need for reform exists. In fact, it’s growing. Health insurance premiums have doubled in eight years. Without reform, they’ll rise 10.5 percent next year and will double again by 2016 to more than $24,000 per family. Some 14,000 people lose their health insurance coverage every day. Three-fourths of the people who go bankrupt because of medical costs had insurance. Finally, Medicare faces a funding problem. Nothing that has occurred in the health care debate over these past few months has lessened people’s need for better and more affordable health care, so we must continue the fight. And as we do, let’s remember what we are fighting for. 

Protect Medicare. Today and in the future, people must have the health coverage they need when they retire. We’re fighting to close the Part D coverage gap—the “doughnut hole”—so we can help lower drug costs for millions of older people. We’re fighting to ensure that Medicare pays doctors fairly so people on Medicare can keep the doctor of their choice more easily. We’re fighting to prevent overbilling by providers and to crack down on abuse and fraud. We’re also fighting to lower many out-of-pocket costs for vital preventive services such as screenings and other diagnostic tests and to improve the coordination of care for people with chronic conditions. 

End age discrimination. We’re fighting to ensure that you cannot be denied affordable insurance coverage because of your age or health status. Specifically, there should be strict limits on charging Americans 50-plus much higher premiums simply because of their age.

Allow no one between you and your health care. We’re fighting to ensure that health decisions are made by you and your doctor, not your insurance company and not the government.

Protect consumers. Insurance companies shouldn’t be able to pick and choose whom they protect. They shouldn’t be able to reject you or charge an outrageous premium because you got sick once, might get sick in the future, have lost your job, or your employer has cut coverage. They shouldn’t be able to gouge you because you’re getting older. Dealing with illness is hard enough. It should not mean a trip to the poorhouse. You deserve better. That’s why we’re fighting for you. And we will continue fighting until all Americans have the stable, affordable, quality health care they deserve. Join the effort. Go to healthactionnow.org.