AARP backs House bill, vows to lobby members

Lori Montgomery

By Lori Montgomery

The AARP, the nation's largest and most influential association of older Americans, endorsed the House health-care bill Thursday morning and vowed to lobby House members in advance of Saturday's historic vote.

AARP vice president Nancy A. LeaMond said the House package, which would spend more than $1 trillion over the next decade to expand insurance coverage to millions of Americans who lack it, meets the group's chief goals for reform, including strengthening Medicare, the federal health program for people over 65.

"We can say with confidence that it meets our priorities for protecting Medicare, providing more affordable health insurance for 50- to 64-year-olds and reforming our health care system," LeaMond said in a briefing for reporters.

LeaMond praised House leaders for including a plan to close the coverage gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage known as the donut hole. Key Democrats said the endorsement, one of several expected today, could prove critical to pushing their vote count over the top.

"This gives the bill a very important boost,' said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the House leadership. "Some of our members are very nervous about how this bill has been received by seniors. For AARP to endorse it provides important validation."