Posted on 09/21/2012 10:31:07 AM PDT by Hunton Peck
President Barack Obama is scheduled to speak Friday via satellite to a convention sponsored by AARP. His speech will likely extol the virtues of “Obamacare,” and engage in scare tactics about conservative proposals to make Medicare sustainable. But here are five facts you’re unlikely to hear from the president, or AARP, about how each treats seniors:
First, while AARP poses as a disinterested senior advocate, it functions as an insurance conglomerate, with a liberal lobbying arm on the side. AARP depends on profits, royalties and commissions to make up more than 50 percent of its annual revenues. Membership dues from seniors account for only about 20 percent. The sums involved aren’t chump change: AARP’s $458 million in health insurance revenue in 2011 would rank it as the nation’s sixth most profitable health insurer.
Second, AARP wins when seniors lose. Because AARP receives a “royalty fee” of 4.95 percent of every premium dollar paid by seniors buying Medigap insurance from the organization, AARP earns more profit when seniors pay more in premiums. Even former AARP executives admitLINK that the billions of dollars raised from these business enterprises have compromised the organization’s mission and independence.
Third, AARP’s policy positions just happen to coincide with its financial interests. “Obamacare,” which AARP lobbied heavily for, could yield the group windfall profits of more than $1 billion over the next decade by forcing seniors off Medicare Advantage plans and into Medigap supplemental coverage. Conversely, AARP engaged in a secret lobbying campaign to block Medigap reforms last year that by one estimate would have saved nearly 80 percent of seniors an average of $415 per year – but cost AARP billions in profits.
Fourth, AARP knows ...
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Nonsense. AARP is non-political...Just ask them.
what AARP lefty.. always
In general, based on my experience with them, AARP is fundamentally dishonest.
Big Phrma is in on Obamacare, too. It is almost like government is tying us up with a big ribbon as a gift for some businesses. I am sure Unions will benefit as well.
What else would you expect of a commie leaning organization of old 60s hippies.
The media are claiming Ryan was booed at an AARP convention. I heard the soundtrack and it sounded more like they were booing when he mentioned Obama. Probably a typical MSM lie, but it was an AARP event, and most AARP members are RATS demanding handouts.
One look at the background and physical appearance of the CEO of AARP and one would know how the organization leans and who it supports.
Thanks for the post. Jim DeMint is a trustworthy source, and this is good information to pass along.
They still have 38 million members - an astounding percentage of seniors send them money.
That’s a lot of Baraqqi supporters.
It is true that some pharma companies believe they're going to benefit from increased access, but the IPAB will take care of that. Low-cost, early-generation generic drugs will be the first line of treatment for filling prescriptions. Instead of newer antibiotics whose course of treatment can be finished with the minimal number of capsules, in a short number of days, we'll have to take those 10 and 12-day treatments, popping 4 or more capsules per day. Instead of more modern chemo treatments being received sooner after diagnosis, the patient will have to undergo the older, more harsh forms.
Generic companies will prosper, becuase they have nothing tied up in R&D costs. "Big Pharma," however, the lifeblood of the most innovative medicines, will take a back seat. Hopefully, they'll be able to survive.
bump
Demint correctly identifies AARP as an insurance company. Insurance companies lobbied extensively for Obamacare and they wrote much of the monstrous bill that was passed. AARP will make a bundle off Obamacare. They will continue to soak the seniors to line their pockets. Crony capitalism at its finest.
I read somewhere else that Obama got booed too. Can’t find the video of his speech so seems like state media doesn’t want anyone to see it.
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