AARP Raises Its Voice in Health Care Debate
AARP attempts to retain more of its members by dispelling myths about reform.
Sept. 2, 2009 -- AARP, which has lost tens of thousands of members over its support for efforts to revamp the health care system, is preparing a post-Labor Day blitz to try to cast itself as a politically impartial advocate on health care issues.
"To be clear: AARP has not endorsed any comprehensive health care reform bill -- but we are fighting for a solution that improves health care for our members," the group's CEO, Barry Rand, and president, Jennie Chin Hansen, wrote to members on Tuesday.
The effort gears up next week, when members of Congress -- some of them surprised by voter anger expressed at town-hall-style meetings last month -- return to the nation's capital to resume the debate over how to lower health care costs and provide insurance coverage for the millions who go without.
Since July 1, many of the 60,000 AARP members who have quit over concerns about health care legislation said they were worried it could lead to cuts in Medicare. Although AARP has not endorsed any specific plan, its general support for a system change left many members with the impression it backs the Democrats' bill.
The resignations surprised leaders of the 40-million-member lobbying group, even though it signed up 140,000 new members during the same period.
"The last thing I want is for members to feel we're not representing them," says Lori Parham, AARP's Florida director.
AARP's new national campaign will include:
• A post-Labor Day direct-mail blast -- 8 million letters will be sent, addressing concerns about health care and Medicare.
• Release of the September AARP Bulletin with a cover story debunking health care myths.
• Town hall forums and tele-town halls to address concerns about the changes the White House and Congress are considering.
• National TV and Web ads. A multimillion-dollar ad campaign, which started in mid-August, will continue through Sept. 14, and plans are underway for a second set of ads to run this fall.
AARP hopes to retain members such as Ted Campbell, head of the Republican Club at the Greenspring retirement community in Springfield, Va. A retired engineer, Campbell says many of his friends dropped their AARP memberships and he may quit, too.
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