45,000 People Quit AARP Over Medicare

[barbaraann]

By MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - At least 45,000 people have quit the AARP over its support for Medicare legislation last year, association president William Novelli said Friday.

The nation's largest seniors' organization provided a key boost to Republicans who led the effort to revamp the Medicare program for older and disabled Americans and provide insurance coverage for prescription drugs.

AARP's endorsement unleashed a torrent of criticism from Democratic lawmakers and seniors across the nation accusing AARP of allowing its business relationship with insurers to drive its decision. Novelli has called the criticism baseless.

But AARP officials said many members do not understand the complex legislation and are unhappy with it.
...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=541&e=1&u=/ap/medicare_aarp

So, basically AARP is saying that a lot of seniors are TOO STUPID to understand the bill! Well, I think we can understand the INTENT, even if it is written too deceptively to understand all of the actual workings.

[MaineDem]

1. Two former members here

And they still send us junk.

I send the postage-paid envelopes back to them.

[Born Free]

3. 2 more ex members here

Likewise, they keep sending more "special offers" for drugs and insurance. Apparently they are concerned about gaining more business and more profit especially with the new changes the republicans pushed through .

[Sugarbleus]

14. That's a great idea! MD

I quit that org long ago but continue to get stuff from them. Sending it back with a "little" message on outside sounds like a great idea! Woohoo :P

[young_at_heart]

18. I'm going to do that too

I cancelled the day I heard, but their stuff is still coming....thanks for the idea!

[PaDUer]

23. I quit also..

they're sending me things on a weekly basis now.

[mbperrin]

36. Put a handful of pennies in there and it costs them double to get it

back!

[calimary]

37. I've heard of people stuffing those envelopes with their junk mail!

Hilarious! Nice 'n heavy, and it's a great way to recycle! And yes, they have to pay for it!

[bluedog]

41. 2 exs here

they sent life insurance info their cost for spouse 43 month....the Global Insurance for same amount almost 28 a month...sent the info back and told them to stick it and bush up their collective a**s!!!

[chillwindblowing]

43. AARP sells out

Former members here.. send all mail back .... good-bye... take us off list... It seems like a useless thing to do but, we have to stat somewhere.......x(

[The Zanti Regent]

45. Always Advancing the Republican Program ain't seen NOTHING yet

Wait till you see millions leave when it endorses Bush's plan to play the market with Social Security!

[The Zanti Regent]

47. Always Advancing the Republican Program ain't seen NOTHING yet

Watch and see what happens when Novello and his crooks endorse Bush's plan to privitize Social Security!

[Gman]

2. They consider the resignations "weeding out" those not on the program

so they can change the AARP into another right wing organization.

[0007]

4. And when the new Medicare plan is revealed

I expect the toll in the millions. We'll have to wait until 05 for the fine print.
The donut hole and the claw is being understood by a few, but it is also going over the head of most folks.

[ClintonTyree]

5. There will be plenty more............

that won't renew when their memberships expire as well. I quit, but my Mom isn't going to until her subscription expires. I couldn't wait that long to voice my displeasure.

[guajira]

7. Thats my plan too -- I won't renew my membership

[oneighty]

6. We quit AARP long ago.

To-day I signed up with the Alliance for Retired Americans.

180

[Skittles]

15. I pegged you for the Gray Panthers

you renegade you. :7

[oneighty]

16. Skittles.

I have no gray hair. Not old enough.

180

[Sallyrat]

8. Divide & Conquer

Another rove tactic to divide and conquer another group......started with the churches and now the seniors. The most cruel bunch ever in the history of the USA......(USA,INC.)

[Fovea]

17. That's ok...

Karl is now having to deal with 1/3 of his coalition going off the reservation. What 'The Price of Loyalty' did was give voice to the PaleoCon movement, and give Republicans permission to actively oppose the PNAC/Apocalypse wings of the party. And since they actually have more money, this could be kinda painful for Turdblossom.

Wedge issues, they're not just for independents anymore.
I would not want to be in charge of bringing the O'Neil reading wing of the Rubadubs back in line.

[Libby2]

9. If they are saying 45,000

It's probably double that....two more x's here.

[indepat]

11. We will quit soon too: not enough nastiness has yet been crafted into our

letter of resignation.

[kskiska]

20. And that's not counting prospective members

I was just about to join (for the insurance benefits) when the Medicare thing hit. I'm waiting for their next mailing so I can tell them so.

[meti57b]

34. another reason that number may be low ....

I telephoned and asked them to cancel my membership and return the money, last November. Two weeks ago, I noticed they hadn't yet returned my membership fee that I asked them to return. I telephoned again and found I was still a full-fledged member. They had no record of my resignation. I told them again to cancel my membership and return the money. I finally got the money back.

They probably did the same thing to a lot of people .... not cancel their membership, even though they phoned and asked.

[wabeewoman]

10. Another one here

my husband quit. We still get their propaganda filled newsletter. Filled with lots of justification for supportin the bill and continuing to try to sell seniors on it. My husband uses it to start a fire.

[dand]

12. Two more FORMER members here

That 45,000 count is like the casualty count in Iraq, total bullshit, their phone lines were jammed for weeks.

[aquart]

13. Aww, just like those Florida voters.

How about they understand the legislation real well and get perfectly that AARP sold them out?

[murielm99]

19. Seniors understand Medicare and their benefits very thoroughly.

After all, it is vital to them.

And seniors vote! It is hard to keep them away from the polls.

I just became eligible to join AARP. I sent the letter back, too. My husband is eligible as well.

So, here are two more who want nothing to do with them.

[TheDalaiMama]

21. I quit..demanded a refund..got a full 3 yr refund..they can all go to hell

dalai

[mitchtv]

22. I resigned earlier this year for another reason

they act like there are no gay seniors. my patner is allowing his to expire. We sent a solicitation letter back last week saying in pink magic marker "Sorry, I am not a republican"

[yellowcanine]

24. But AARP officials said many members do not understand the complex legisla

What's not to understand? When people are getting reamed they understand that the reamers are not being helpful.

[Jane Eyre]

25. Pre-emptive quit here

I'm 47, so it won't be too long before I start getting the inevitable invitations to join (ugh...).

If we can have pre-emptive war, we can certainly pre-emptively quit organizations that do not have their members' best interest at heart.

[otohara]

26. I Sent Back Registration Card

w/ a nasty note -

oh I understand alright AARP, RX companies make out like bandits and old people get screwed

[radfringe]

40. my partner

sent her "Join the AARP" packet back to them in tiny pieces and in their own No-Postage-Due envelope

[Don_G]

27. What's Not To Understand?

The AARP makes 300 Million per year; half from insurance and half from the dues of the members to an insurance guy who thought of the concept.

Of course he's a Rethug; BushCo handed Novelli another large portion of the Medicare market to milk at what cost to my Grandmother?

[RBitt]

29. This ends the argument

Chek this site out,

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/static/kncalc.cfm

plug in your annual drug cost & behold the amount of your benny. Start at $720.
Drug plan my ass.

[FlaGranny]

33. I would save a total of $62 a year

on my one prescription that costs $75.00 a month. Wow, $62 a year I'd save for the privilege of screwing up Medicare. If I can buy the medication in Canada I will save $520 a year!!!! Nice choice.

[cthrumatrix]

46. excellent point -- becuase that is the issue AARP/Bush screwed

America and it's seniors -- why can't they negotiate like Canada does for it's people

We use 60% of all prescription drugs in the world....this is not complex --- they are taking adavantage of people

[schultzee]

28. I quit too. Mr. Novelli is a corporatist greed pig and he sold us out.

[Melsky]

30. I just don't get it

How any organization that sells insurance can also be an advocacy organization is beyond me!

[dusty64]

31. Just wait till

they start shilling for chimp's Social Security ruination plan.

[KansDem]

32. I turn 51 in two weeks...

...and WILL NOT join AARP, and will tell them why if asked. :mad:

[gate of the sun]

35. good

I'm glad to hear it....My MOther though is still a tried and true member....she never believes in the evil they are doing to her. It's "just life", these things always happen.Shesh..get a clue mom.

[Nashyra]

38. Both my husband and I quit

My parents quit, my older sister and her husband quit, and her mother-in-law quit, as did my 3 sister-in-laws and there husbands and my mother-in-law. 13 right there and I know more in my extended family quit.

[spanone]

39. I resigned TWICE and they still won't take me off their mailing list

so this tell me that many more resigned than they are letting on. They will have to pry another penny from my cold dead hands.

[reprobate]

42. 45,000? More neocon lies.

Anyone else remember that within a week or two of the AARP coming out for support of the new medicare bill, aarp themselves said that between 200,000 and 300,000 had quit. This is just an attempt to marginalize those that dissagreed with the neocon shift in AARP.

As far as they're medigap insurance is concerned, it's no better or worse than any of the others out there. Combine that with the fact that when you buy theirs you contribute to the neocon cause. Enough said.

[Suziq]

44. Count me and my husband . .

in the 45,000.

:hippie:

[Carolina]

48. add me to the list

of those who kicked AARP to the curb. Stupid my ass, many of us seniors are old enough to recognize a sellout when we see one.