Bob Coggins for U.S. Senate
Health Care
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I do not have health insurance. That is a statement that many Americans can currently
say, and so can I. My wife and I do not have health insurance. Due to the recession we
lost our insurance at the end of July this year because of job cuts. As I tell you that I do not
have heath insurance I hope it strikes a cord with you when I also say I do not want
government health care.
There are those who are trying to tell the American people that the British have
"universal health care" and that works for them...the important part of that argument that is
that it works for them. The United Kingdom is a socialist monarchy. The last time I
checked we had fought two wars so that we could have a form of government that is
different from the one London dishes out. Socialized health care works in the UK because
it fits their society and government, America's style used to be about getting what you pay
for and earning what you get. Breathing does not entitle someone to something they are
not willing to work for or earn. I personally cannot expect the federal government to supply
me with health insurance, nor do I want it to. I am responsible for what I have or do not
have in this world, no one else.
I have seen television commercials for and against the proposed government health
care reforms and I take issue with nearly all of them. One of the strangest commercials
was an AARP add speaking of "special interest groups" getting in the way of change...
wait, isn't the AARP a special interest group? AARP is widely known for addressing
issues affecting older Americans through a multitude of initiatives, including lobbying
efforts at the state and national governmental level, an activity permitted by its 501(c)(4)
status. The organization claims that it is non-partisan and does not support, oppose or
give money to any candidates or political parties. AARP's total revenue for 2006 was
approximately $1 billion and it spent $23 million on lobbying.
Approximately seven million people have AARP branded health insurance, including
drug coverage and medigap, and AARP earns more income from selling insurance to
members than it does from membership dues. AARP will likely become the largest
source of health insurance for Medicare recipients, and AARP estimates the new products
will increase its health insurance customers to 14 million by 2014. AARP is not an insurer
and does not pay insurance claims. Instead, AARP allows its name to be used by
insurance companies in the sale of insurance products, for which it is paid a commission
like an insurance agent.
Senator Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), senior Republican on the Senate Finance
Committee, said in 2008 that the "limited benefit" insurance plans offered by AARP
through UnitedHealth provided inadequate coverage and were marketed deceptively. One
plan offered $5,000 for surgery that may cost two or three times that amount.
In an editorial column in the Los Angeles Times, critic Dale Van Atta wrote that AARP
does unauthorized lobbying for its membership, and lobbies against the best interests of
its membership.
According to an Annenberg Public Policy Center report, critics have said AARP has a
conflict of interest, because AARP “derives income from the sale of health and life
insurance policies,” by licensing its brand to insurance dealers such as New York Life,
and would benefit financially from passage of the legislation.
BusinessWeek magazine says that in the past questions have arisen about whether
AARP's commercial interests may conflict with those of its membership, and
characterizes many of the funds and insurance policies that AARP markets as providing
considerably less benefit than seniors could get on their own. At present, there are two
affiliated organizations: the AARP Foundation which operates on a non-profit basis and
AARP Services Inc. which is managed wholly for profit. The AARP Foundation runs
programs on free tax preparation and counseling, work training for older people of low
income, training of volunteers on matters concerning the elderly, crime prevention and
safe driving. AARP Services Inc. offers Medicare supplemental health insurance,
discounts on prescription drugs and consumer goods, entertainment and travel
packages, long-term care insurance and automobile, home and life insurance.
Per AARP's 2008 Consolidated Financials, it was paid $652,000,000 in royalties from
insurance companies that sold products reffered by AARP. Per those same financials
AARP received an additional $120,000,000 for the ads placed in its publications. Here's
the link: http://www.aarp.org/aarp/About_AARP/annual_reports/
It may seem that I am picking on one group, I am. The reason I am going after the
AARP so hard here is because they say they are for the people while attacking special
interest groups, which they themselves are. I will attack special interest groups all day
long, but I am not in nor do I represent one. The AARP is not the devil, but the organization
should uphold the integrity of its membership and be more honest in its advertising, I
think their members have earned as much. A politician would be afraid to criticize the
mighty AARP, but as you know I am just a regular citizen. I cannot and will never be afraid
of the special interest groups or care about their agendas. I care about the people of the
United States of America, the Constitution, and my only fear is for the future of this great
nation. Our seniors have earned more, they deserve the truth, respect, and a fair deal.
Anything less is a disservice to us all.
I am not against health care reform, but I am against socialized anything, and until a
better health care solution is presented to the American people I cannot support the
current effort that has been proposed.
say, and so can I. My wife and I do not have health insurance. Due to the recession we
lost our insurance at the end of July this year because of job cuts. As I tell you that I do not
have heath insurance I hope it strikes a cord with you when I also say I do not want
government health care.
There are those who are trying to tell the American people that the British have
"universal health care" and that works for them...the important part of that argument that is
that it works for them. The United Kingdom is a socialist monarchy. The last time I
checked we had fought two wars so that we could have a form of government that is
different from the one London dishes out. Socialized health care works in the UK because
it fits their society and government, America's style used to be about getting what you pay
for and earning what you get. Breathing does not entitle someone to something they are
not willing to work for or earn. I personally cannot expect the federal government to supply
me with health insurance, nor do I want it to. I am responsible for what I have or do not
have in this world, no one else.
I have seen television commercials for and against the proposed government health
care reforms and I take issue with nearly all of them. One of the strangest commercials
was an AARP add speaking of "special interest groups" getting in the way of change...
wait, isn't the AARP a special interest group? AARP is widely known for addressing
issues affecting older Americans through a multitude of initiatives, including lobbying
efforts at the state and national governmental level, an activity permitted by its 501(c)(4)
status. The organization claims that it is non-partisan and does not support, oppose or
give money to any candidates or political parties. AARP's total revenue for 2006 was
approximately $1 billion and it spent $23 million on lobbying.
Approximately seven million people have AARP branded health insurance, including
drug coverage and medigap, and AARP earns more income from selling insurance to
members than it does from membership dues. AARP will likely become the largest
source of health insurance for Medicare recipients, and AARP estimates the new products
will increase its health insurance customers to 14 million by 2014. AARP is not an insurer
and does not pay insurance claims. Instead, AARP allows its name to be used by
insurance companies in the sale of insurance products, for which it is paid a commission
like an insurance agent.
Senator Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), senior Republican on the Senate Finance
Committee, said in 2008 that the "limited benefit" insurance plans offered by AARP
through UnitedHealth provided inadequate coverage and were marketed deceptively. One
plan offered $5,000 for surgery that may cost two or three times that amount.
In an editorial column in the Los Angeles Times, critic Dale Van Atta wrote that AARP
does unauthorized lobbying for its membership, and lobbies against the best interests of
its membership.
According to an Annenberg Public Policy Center report, critics have said AARP has a
conflict of interest, because AARP “derives income from the sale of health and life
insurance policies,” by licensing its brand to insurance dealers such as New York Life,
and would benefit financially from passage of the legislation.
BusinessWeek magazine says that in the past questions have arisen about whether
AARP's commercial interests may conflict with those of its membership, and
characterizes many of the funds and insurance policies that AARP markets as providing
considerably less benefit than seniors could get on their own. At present, there are two
affiliated organizations: the AARP Foundation which operates on a non-profit basis and
AARP Services Inc. which is managed wholly for profit. The AARP Foundation runs
programs on free tax preparation and counseling, work training for older people of low
income, training of volunteers on matters concerning the elderly, crime prevention and
safe driving. AARP Services Inc. offers Medicare supplemental health insurance,
discounts on prescription drugs and consumer goods, entertainment and travel
packages, long-term care insurance and automobile, home and life insurance.
Per AARP's 2008 Consolidated Financials, it was paid $652,000,000 in royalties from
insurance companies that sold products reffered by AARP. Per those same financials
AARP received an additional $120,000,000 for the ads placed in its publications. Here's
the link: http://www.aarp.org/aarp/About_AARP/annual_reports/
It may seem that I am picking on one group, I am. The reason I am going after the
AARP so hard here is because they say they are for the people while attacking special
interest groups, which they themselves are. I will attack special interest groups all day
long, but I am not in nor do I represent one. The AARP is not the devil, but the organization
should uphold the integrity of its membership and be more honest in its advertising, I
think their members have earned as much. A politician would be afraid to criticize the
mighty AARP, but as you know I am just a regular citizen. I cannot and will never be afraid
of the special interest groups or care about their agendas. I care about the people of the
United States of America, the Constitution, and my only fear is for the future of this great
nation. Our seniors have earned more, they deserve the truth, respect, and a fair deal.
Anything less is a disservice to us all.
I am not against health care reform, but I am against socialized anything, and until a
better health care solution is presented to the American people I cannot support the
current effort that has been proposed.