AARP may benefit from health reform; GOP cites possible conflict of interest

Denver Post ^ | 10/27/2009 | Dan Eggen

[markomalley]

The nation's pre-eminent seniors group, AARP, has put the weight of its 40 million members behind health care reform, saying many of the proposals will lower costs and increase the quality of care for older Americans.

But not advertised in this lobbying campaign have been the group's substantial earnings from insurance royalties and the potential benefits that could come its way from many of the reform proposals.

The group and its subsidiaries collected more than $650 million in royalties and other fees last year from the sale of insurance policies, credit cards and other products that carry the AARP name, accounting for most of its $1.14 billion in revenue. It does not directly sell insurance policies but lends its name to plans in exchange for a tax-exempt cut of the premiums.

The group's dual role as an insurance reformer and a broker has come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks from congressional Republicans, who accuse it of having a conflict of interest in taking sides in the health debate. Three House Republicans sent a letter to AARP on Monday complaining that the group was putting its "political self-interests" ahead of seniors.

[markomalley]

This is no surprise to any of us, but FINALLY the MSM is taking notice.

[dixiedarlindownsouth]

“has put the weight of its 40 million members behind health care reform”

but this number is a little off considering the number of former members who quit when they realized that AARP had sold them out...

[nonliberal]

AARP is just as bad as ACORN.

[socialismisinsidious]

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