AARP Senior Vice President Joyce Rogers released the following statement on the GOP budget agreement:
“AARP disagrees with portions of the proposed GOP budget agreement because, among other things, it would shift costs to seniors without improving healthcare for Medicare beneficiaries. This plan assumes increases in out-of-pocket costs for seniors without addressing the underlying issues that drive the high cost of healthcare.
“AARP is also concerned that this budget would place arbitrary or unfair limits on Medicaid, putting the availability of home and community-based services and nursing home care-as well as the quality of these services-at risk. These arbitrary limits could mean cuts to support for family caregivers who provide care for older adults and children with disabilities that allow them to live in their homes and communities, delaying and preventing more costly institutional care.
“By setting in motion the process for repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the proposed budget would also turn away from the progress made in our healthcare system since its enactment. Medical costs are rising at the lowest rates in years, insurance premiums have stabilized, families have the security of keeping their children on their insurance plans until they are age 26, and those between the ages of 50 and 64 have the peace of mind that insurance coverage is affordable and they won’t be denied health insurance because of a preexisting condition. Americans ages 50 to 64 experienced a historic 31 percent drop in the number of uninsured in the first year of ACA. And, the financially burdensome Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage gap (doughnut hole) is closing.”
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. For more information, visit www.aarp.org.
