AARP: Make your voice heard by demanding action from national leaders
http://www.michronicleonline.com/articlelive/articles/2740/1/AARP-Make-your-voice-heard-by-demanding-action-from--national-leaders/Page1.html
Dr. George T. Rowan, Ph.D.
By Dr. George T. Rowan, Ph.D.
Published on 05/28/2008
Healthcare costs are out of control for individuals and employers. One in four Americans has problems paying medical bills and one in three says they have skipped treatment, tests or prescriptions because of costs. Forty-six million Americans are uninsured, and middle class families are the fastest growing segment.
Dr. George Rowan
Healthcare costs are out of control for individuals and employers. One in four Americans has problems paying medical bills and one in three says they have skipped treatment, tests or prescriptions because of costs. Forty-six million Americans are uninsured, and middle class families are the fastest growing segment.
Financial security is just as tenuous for too many Americans. National saving is at an all-time low and pension plans are dwindling. Half of all private sector workers are not signed up for 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plans. For many people, Social Security will be their only reliable, guaranteed retirement income source, but Social Security alone is not enough.
Everyone should have the peace of mind that comes with knowing their futures will be secure. Unfortunately, for many African Americans that peace of mind does not exist.
The statistics speak for themselves:
One-third (31 percent) of African Americans think they will not be able to afford to retire.
Nearly one-quarter (22 percent) of African American baby boomers are projected to have incomes twice the poverty rate at age 67.
Four in ten (43 percent) of African Americans find it hard to save for retirement with so many other needs.
More than one-third (37 percent) of African Americans either delayed or didn’t get a prescription filled, skipped a dose, or took less medication than the doctor prescribed to make it last longer because of the high costs of prescription drugs.
Less than half (48 percent) of non-elderly African Americans receive health care coverage from their employer.
One quarter of African American non-elderly adults are uninsured.
There is an effective way we can all band together to get that message out to the presidential candidates, and that is through Divided We Fail campaign. It is a national effort designed to make the issues of health and financial security front and center in every campaign in the 2008 election.
African Americans in Michigan, and all over the United States, need to stand up and let our national leaders know that these issues are top priorities that cannot be ignored. We also need to let candidates know we want action and answers now — not after they are elected into office.
Getting there is going to take the concerted efforts of every sector – health, business, and government – and individuals too. AARP will be engaging our members and the public to press for change.
We’ll put pressure on our leaders to make health and financial security the top domestic issues in ’08. Also, we’ve joined forces with business and labor and will add in a broad spectrum of other groups to see this through.
Washington is stuck in gridlock and too dominated by special interest. We need our leaders to address the financial and health security problems that so many Americans face. Lifetime financial and health security is at the core of the American dream, giving people the freedom and opportunity to make a better life for their families.
We urge you to join in our effort through Millions of Voices for Change. We are asking the American people to share their thoughts, experiences and ideas and to sign our pledge regarding health and financial security on our website, www.dividedwefail.org. By putting a personal face on these issues, we can demonstrate their urgency and drive our leaders to commit to bi-partisan action. We’re seeking action and answers from our elected officials. We’ve waited far too long for solutions.
Divided we fail. Together we can do anything.
Dr. George Rowan is the former state president for AARP Michigan and a current national board member for AARP and the AARP Foundation. He is also a professor in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University.
Healthcare costs are out of control for individuals and employers. One in four Americans has problems paying medical bills and one in three says they have skipped treatment, tests or prescriptions because of costs. Forty-six million Americans are uninsured, and middle class families are the fastest growing segment. Healthcare costs are out of control
Dr. George Rowan
Healthcare costs are out of control for individuals and employers. One in four Americans has problems paying medical bills and one in three says they have skipped treatment, tests or prescriptions because of costs. Forty-six million Americans are uninsured, and middle class families are the fastest growing segment.
Financial security is just as tenuous for too many Americans. National saving is at an all-time low and pension plans are dwindling. Half of all private sector workers are not signed up for 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plans. For many people, Social Security will be their only reliable, guaranteed retirement income source, but Social Security alone is not enough.
Everyone should have the peace of mind that comes with knowing their futures will be secure. Unfortunately, for many African Americans that peace of mind does not exist.
The statistics speak for themselves:
One-third (31 percent) of African Americans think they will not be able to afford to retire.
Nearly one-quarter (22 percent) of African American baby boomers are projected to have incomes twice the poverty rate at age 67.
Four in ten (43 percent) of African Americans find it hard to save for retirement with so many other needs.
More than one-third (37 percent) of African Americans either delayed or didn’t get a prescription filled, skipped a dose, or took less medication than the doctor prescribed to make it last longer because of the high costs of prescription drugs.
Less than half (48 percent) of non-elderly African Americans receive health care coverage from their employer.
One quarter of African American non-elderly adults are uninsured.
There is an effective way we can all band together to get that message out to the presidential candidates, and that is through Divided We Fail campaign. It is a national effort designed to make the issues of health and financial security front and center in every campaign in the 2008 election.
African Americans in Michigan, and all over the United States, need to stand up and let our national leaders know that these issues are top priorities that cannot be ignored. We also need to let candidates know we want action and answers now — not after they are elected into office.
Getting there is going to take the concerted efforts of every sector – health, business, and government – and individuals too. AARP will be engaging our members and the public to press for change.
We’ll put pressure on our leaders to make health and financial security the top domestic issues in ’08. Also, we’ve joined forces with business and labor and will add in a broad spectrum of other groups to see this through.
Washington is stuck in gridlock and too dominated by special interest. We need our leaders to address the financial and health security problems that so many Americans face. Lifetime financial and health security is at the core of the American dream, giving people the freedom and opportunity to make a better life for their families.
We urge you to join in our effort through Millions of Voices for Change. We are asking the American people to share their thoughts, experiences and ideas and to sign our pledge regarding health and financial security on our website, www.dividedwefail.org. By putting a personal face on these issues, we can demonstrate their urgency and drive our leaders to commit to bi-partisan action. We’re seeking action and answers from our elected officials. We’ve waited far too long for solutions.
Divided we fail. Together we can do anything.
Dr. George Rowan is the former state president for AARP Michigan and a current national board member for AARP and the AARP Foundation. He is also a professor in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University.