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Belen Breakfast Optimist
Meeting July 21, 2009
Michael Donnelly
Our guest speaker on July 21st was Michael Donnelly, the Associate State Dircetor for AARP. Mike
spoke to us about the AARP's current efforts in health care reform. The older generation often seems to have
an "I don't want to hear about it and I don't want to deal with it" attitude, but our attitudes are changing as the cost
of health care keeps going up.
One of the problems with our health care systems is that there are no caps on cost and many people are
going bankrupt because of health care cost. 84,000 citizens betwen the ages of 50 and 64 are without any health
care because they are retired, not yet eligible for Medicare, and can not afford health care insurance. New Mexico
is second in the nation in its percentage of uninsured people.
AARP has six health care reform issues that is is working with the government to resolve. First, getting
guaranted access to affordable coverage for all Americans between the ages of 50 and 64. Second, closing the
Medicare Part D Coverage Gap.
Third. lowering drug cost through the use of generic biologic drugs. Fourth, reducing costly
hospital re-admissions through some kind of Medicare follow-up care benefit, Fifth, providing long term care,
Finally, sixth, helping provide medical care for low income Americans.
Some in the government are trying to introduce a tax increase for high income people, those with incomes
in excess of $280,000 per year, to cover any increase in health care costs. The current house bill already supports this increase, but it is still in committee in
the Senate.
The Belen Breakfast Optimist Club also serves Los Lunas and all of Valencia County,
New Mexico.
