| The AARP used to be the American Association | | | | The AARP makes available the results of studies |
| of Retired Persons. | | | | of changes in manufacturers' prescription drug list |
| The AARP is known for representing and | | | | prices for 200 brand name and 75 generic drugs |
| speaking on behalf of aging populations based in | | | | most widely used by Americans age 50 and over. |
| the United States. | | | | Social Security; |
| It is involved in all kinds of activities such | | | | President Bush seems to think that there will not |
| as:negotiating reduced rates for prescriptions, | | | | be enough money in the future to pay for Social |
| housing, tourist attractions, automobile rentalsm | | | | Security benefits for Seniors at today's level. |
| motels and hotels. | | | | His private accounts plan would allow workers to |
| It is at present involved politically with the | | | | invest up to one third of their payroll contributions |
| Medicare Prescription Drug Program. | | | | in the Stock Market. |
| The AARP was founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy | | | | Based on Stock Market results for the time |
| Andrus and hopes to have 70 million members in | | | | President Bush has been in office this would have |
| the next ten years due to the increasing age of | | | | resulted in a loss for the average Senior taking |
| the US population. | | | | inflation into account. |
| It is interesting that the AARP is fighting the | | | | And the indexing plan that Bush embraced at his |
| proposed changes to Social Security. | | | | April 28 press conference would preserve the |
| The AARP has changed its role over the last few | | | | present defined-benefit approach only for |
| decades so as to reflect current living standards | | | | low-wage workers—those currently earning |
| and the way in which we now approach age with | | | | less than about $20,000. For everyone else, 70 |
| dignity and purpose. | | | | percent of workers, the system would be flipped |
| On its website discounted trips to Hawaii and | | | | upside down—so that the more you earn and |
| Alaska are advertised as well as news specifically | | | | pay in, the more your benefits are cut. |
| geared to seniors, such as employment news, | | | | Consumer alerts; |
| legal advice, health and fitness information and | | | | Last year Americans spent more than $20 billion |
| other interesting items. | | | | on anti-aging products of which a sizeable amount |
| At present some of the hot button items the | | | | was for so called "snake oil" products such as |
| AARP is working with are: | | | | "human growth hormone " pills which sold for $80 |
| Prescription Drugs; | | | | per bottle per month and promised to cure |
| Prescription Drugs over the last 5 years have | | | | anything that ails you. The US Food and Drug |
| increased much more rapidly in costs than the | | | | Administration does'nt regulate over-the-counter |
| rate of inflation and as such are a heavy burden | | | | products so it is buyer beware. |
| on Seniors. | | | | |