Sep 10, 2009 11:23 am US/Central
AARP Members Push For Healthcare Reform
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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AARP members gathered in Federal Plaza to deliver their message in a bottle on healthcare reform.
CBS
As Congress debates President Obama's proposal, AARP members hit the streets to clear up some of the myths about the healthcare plan. CBS 2's Susan Carlson reports that AARP members held a quick demonstration Thursday morning in Federal Plaza. They were calling for quick action to solve the nation's healthcare crisis.
While not officially endorsing President Obama's plan, they do say that something needs to be done fast to help seniors struggling to pay their medical bills. The AARP is delivering what they're calling their message in a bottle on the heels of President Obama's speech Wednesday night.
With Congress now back to work in Washington, volunteers are out applauding his request for lawmakers to put aside politics and make a bipartisan effort to come up with a solution.
"Our message here is, look. Let's get rid of the lies. Let's move past the myths and the misinformation. Let's have lawmakers and the public start looking at the facts behind healthcare, and why we need healthcare reform now," said David Irwin, AARP.
While not endorsing the president's specific proposal, they do say he got it right when it comes to his plan to fill the so-called 'Medicare doughnut hole', which is a coverage gap that requires many seniors to pay for 100 percent of their prescriptions.
And some seniors say prescriptions are their biggest financial burden.
"Young people don't need medication, old people need medication," said Dan O'Donnell, who is approaching Medicare age. "And when we make it difficult for the people that need it to get it by charging them…I'm lucky enough to have a pension, not everybody has a good pension."
As a Medicare recipient, Frances O'Kennard agrees with President Obama's plan.
"I support it. I know of a lot of people who aren't covered by Medicare yet, who don't have coverage and are suffering badly," O'Kennard said.
The AARP points out as well that the 'Medicare doughnut hole' would also be fixed under both the House and Senate versions of the healthcare proposal. They say they're not endorsing one or the other or saying which side is right, they're just saying do something now to help them pay for their prescriptions.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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