News From Alaska

AARP in Your State

July-August 2009

Healthy discussion — AARP Alaska joined a group of other state organizations that shared ideas for upcoming national health care reform legislation with Sen. Mark Begich, D.

The group met in May to provide input on what Begich considers his top priorities, including health insurance coverage for small businesses, the critical shortage of health care workers in Alaska, a commitment to funding disease prevention and health promotion efforts, strengthening the Indian Health Service, and improving medical services and access to health care for veterans.

To learn more about AARP's efforts in health care reform, go to www.healthactionnow.org.

June 2009

Pension dissention — A coalition led by AARP Alaska was unsuccessful in convincing legislators this year to restore the traditional pension plan for most state and municipal employees, which was dismantled in 2006. AARP is working on a compromise for consideration next year, which may involve giving new workers the option of choosing between a defined benefit pension plan and a 401(k)-type plan.

During the 2009 legislative session, the Alaskan Public Pension Coalition held public forums throughout the state. Nearly all of those testifying favored a return to a pension plan with a set monthly benefit for life, as opposed to a 401(k)-type plan, where accruals can rise or fall with the market. With Alaska's public employees not allowed to participate in Social Security, workers hired after 2006 must depend on a 401(k)-type plan for retirement benefits.

May 2009

Speak out — The scarcity of primary care physicians who accept Medicare is becoming an increasingly critical issue in the state, and AARP Alaska's first "tele-town hall" meeting set the stage to address it. Automated phone calls to more than 26,000 households resulted in about 4,000 people remaining on the line to discuss the issue with U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R. Participants could ask questions, share their experiences or simply listen to the discussion. Murkowski also fielded questions on the high cost of health care.

In a poll conducted during the tele-meeting, one in four Alaska Medicare beneficiaries reported having had difficulty finding a primary care doctor. AARP wants to hear from other members with similar experiences. Call the state office toll-free at 1-866-227-7447 to share your story.