AARP & AMA support for Obama care!

[txted]

I will admit up front that I am a newbie and this is my first post on this forum. I have however been a conservative all my life.

I think most people now understand that the AARP doesn't really represent the best interests of retired people or senior citizens. They are in business to earn a profit from the marketing of insurance and other products which can be targeted at the retired and senior citizens. Why does this fact not seem to make a difference to the people they supposedly represent?

Ten years ago, the AMA represented in excess of 70% of licensed physicians. Today the AMA has physician membership of about 17% of licensed physicians. When the insurance companies, AMA, government, and physicians decided to use a coding system for submission of treatment procedure payment, the administration of the coding system was given by the government to the AMA. For the administration of the system, the AMA earned about four hundred million dollars last year. It soon became apparent that the AMA was not as interested in representing physicians and patients as earning fees for administering the coding system. That was the reason the physician membership declined so rapidly. It is also the reason the AMA strongly supports Obamacare. They stand to make millions more by expanding health care.

The AMA now represents physicians and patients in the same way AARP represents the retired and senior citizens. Why is no one hammering those facts home?

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[Oceander]

That is some very useful info. that I was not aware of regarding the AMA.  Thanks txted, and welcome to the forums (I'm still pretty green myself :D ).

[Hawkgirl]

I asked one of the doctors I work with what their take is on the AMA endorsing this plan.  His answer..."well, the ama represents about 10% of doctors, and most of those doctors are the administrative type that probably hasn't had direct patient interaction in years."  He's close to retirement, and I'm sure is not concerned about revenue as a doctor...but he's concerned as a patient.

[Eupher]

Figuring out endorsements is usually simple.

Follow the money.

[rich_t]

I for one was never under the misapprehension that the AARP was anything but a marketing tool for insurance.

[txted]

Figuring out endorsements is usually simple.

Follow the money.

You are right! The problem is the fact that most people don't know how to follow the money. They simply rely on the news media to report the facts and report the truth. I'm not stupid enough to believe that is the case. I watched the president of the AMA being interviewed on Fox News this evening. While some in depth questions were asked, the point that the AMA has no legitimacy as the talking head of American physicians was never made. Simply by appearing on Fox News, it seemed to legitimize their position on Obamacare as representing physicians. The point that the AMA has a very deep financial interest in expanding heath care was never made. I believe the guys name was Wilson. He admitted that a shortage of physicians already exists in America and that shortage will become even more of a problem for those seeking health care, but everyone should have access to the medical care that is available.

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[NHSparky]

I for one was never under the misapprehension that the AARP was anything but a marketing tool for insurance.

I'm already seeing commercials from AARP hacks pimping "supplemental" coverage.

[sully]

I'm already seeing commercials from AARP hacks pimping "supplemental" coverage.

I did some strong research on AARP when I was searching for a Supplementary I talked to a lot of Seniors and they had already dropped out of AARP when they found out that they were supporting the new Health Care proposal but when  starting their new search they found out they had to be very careful because very few were not actually AARP branded under another name.

[Chris]

I'm already seeing commercials from AARP hacks pimping "supplemental" coverage.

Their Medicare supplemental insurance is a re-packaged policy from United (with a little taken off the top for AARP's coffers). 

[txted]

I don't care how much insurance they sell. It just gets under my skin that people (seniors) are gullible enough to continue to believe the croc that AARP spews. About ten years ago, AARP supported another liberal cause which was totally opposite of the best interests of Seniors. I'm not sure, but I believe it was the government taxation of social security benefits. The conservative position was the fact that taxes were paid on the money when it was removed from workers pay checks. By taxing it again when it is returned to the worker, it constitutes double taxation. The liberal position was we want it and we will get it. Al Gore cast the deciding vote in the Senate as vice president. AARP supported the liberal agenda and their membership dropped significantly. Within two years the membership in AARP was up and has continued to grow significantly. It frustrates me that Americans have such short memories. I expected Obama to be elected, but kept hoping enough people were still living who remembered Jimmy Carter. Why can't we remember that a burner is hot, or the paint on a park bench really is wet? Why do we continue to punish ourselves by forgetting some lessons from history?

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[ColonialMarine0431]

VIDEO: THE REAL FACE OF AARP

[txted]

I live near Dallas and saw this on the local news. I think if these talking heads were sincere, they would open the meetings by agreeing to take and answer questions first. They typically open the meetings with prepared statements and the announcement that they will accept questions and provide answers as time allows near the end. That usually means they will say nothing off script. I think that is the best moment to stand and tell the speaker you do not appreciate them wasting your time and leave.

txted