AARP Pennsylvania has released its first 2024 election survey, revealing that women aged 50 and older are poised to be a decisive force in the upcoming elections. With nearly one-third of likely voters overall and more than half of likely voters aged 50 and older, these women could significantly influence the election outcome. [Read more…]

The Supreme Court, by a vote of 7-2, Now rejected a challenge to The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), ruling that the plaintiffs didn’t have standing to bring the litigation. [Read more…]

AARP sent a letter to every member of the U.S. Senate urging them to start from scratch on the health care legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last week. The letter comes as AARP also begins to inform its members how each House member voted on the bill. [Read more…]

Think you can’t haggle over medical costs? Or demand that your doctor see you on time? The December issue of AARP Bulletin examines how to become a more effective advocate for yourself to receive better health care for less money. The issue also looks at the “Patient First” revolution that could be the future of reducing health care costs, how to transition to a less physically demanding job (“When Your Job is a Real Pain”), and socially responsible investing (“Investing with Conscience?”). Additionally, December’s AARP Bulletin includes an exclusive interview with Vinton Cerf, the 73-year-old “father of the internet,” and a story of a war hero who died 75 years ago in the attack on Pearl Harbor, but whose remains – due to advances in DNA technology – are finally returning home. [Read more…]

AARP Pennsylvania released the following statement in response to federal officials today approving a waiver to expand Medicaid for Pennsylvania:

“AARP Pennsylvania is pleased that an agreement has been reached to provide health coverage to more than 500,000 hard-working Pennsylvanians – including 90,000 residents age 50-64 – many of whom are either between jobs or in jobs without health coverage. AARP Pennsylvania was one of many groups encouraging the state over the last two years to close this coverage gap, and we are pleased that so many state residents will not have to wait much longer to get the coverage they need. The final agreement is responsive to many of the concerns AARP Pennsylvania expressed in our comments, but some concerns remain. We look forward to reading the important details of the final agreement and working with state and federal officials as this process moves forward.”

Nancy LeaMond, AARP’s Executive Vice President of Social Impact, has recently announced the Association’s next round of activity to encourage the enactment of the Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008.

After having been passed by both chambers of Congress with veto-proof margins, the bill now sits with the President. Administration officials have indicated his intention to veto the bill.

“We’re hoping for the best and preparing for everything else,” said LeaMond. “We are not taking any signature or vote for granted. We’ve come too far in this campaign to let up at the end.”

Earlier today, AARP and its volunteers began reaching out to the White House encouraging the President’s signature of the bill. AARP CEO Bill Novelli is sending a letter to the White House asking the President to reconsider his intention to veto given the bill’s strong bipartisan support. The White House also received more than 45,000 emails on Friday from grassroots volunteers encouraging the President to sign the bill today.

AARP is also launching a national effort to thank the overwhelming bipartisan majority of Representatives and Senators who voted to pass the bill and ask them to continue their support in the event of a vote to override a presidential veto.

AARP’s activities early next week will include:

– Coordinated visits from constituents to Washington and district offices of the bill’s supporters;

– A national write-in effort from volunteers to opinion-leaders and news outlets;

– Ads placed in key outlets encouraging a veto override, if necessary; and

– Continued grassroots contacts to legislative offices.

Since launching its national Keep Medicare Fair campaign in April, AARP volunteers have sent more than 910,000 emails, phone calls, faxes and petition signatures to Congress in support of a bill to improve and protect Medicare.

“After months of debate on how to strengthen and protect Medicare, we finally have a bill that would improve low-income, prevention, and mental health programs, and boost health care quality through national e-prescribing,” added LeaMond. “We are confident and hopeful that this bill, which has earned broad bipartisan support, will become law.”

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world’s largest-circulation magazine with over 33 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP’s 39 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.