President Holds a Town Hall at AARP: President just introduced

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At 1:30 today, the President will participate in a tele-town hall on health care reform at AARP headquarters. The President will take questions from the audience, and through a conference call with tens of thousands of AARP member.

· Watch it live through WhiteHouse.gov.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/

· Watch and chat through Facebook.
http://apps.facebook.com/whitehouselive/

MSNBC live
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22887392#22887392

As you may remember, the AARP recently endorsed the President’s plan to close the Medicare "doughnut hole" as part of the health care reform bill. The historic compromise with pharmaceutical companies will lead to an $80 billion reduction in costs, providing relief for millions of seniors. But this isn’t the only way the President’s plan will benefit Americans, whether you have insurance or not. You can read more about his plan in an op-ed published today by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Here is an excerpt where she explains how the administration’s plan will work to reduce costs, while providing quality care and choice - core principles that have helped develop the consensus we've seen emerging:
First, to provide Americans with more affordable choices, we’ll set up a marketplace where you can compare plans and pick the one that’s right for you. None of the plans would be allowed to deny you coverage because of a pre-existing condition. And one of the options should be a public plan that would increase competition and keep private insurance companies honest.

Second, we have to align incentives for doctors and hospitals so that they’re rewarded based on the quality of care they provide, not on how many tests or procedures they prescribe.

Third, we need to move from a sickness system to a wellness system. By investing in prevention and emphasizing healthy lifestyles, we can save money while improving health.

Finally, reform must not add to our deficit over the next ten years. To that end, we have already identified hundreds of billions of dollars in savings – savings from money that’s already being spent on health care, but is funding waste and overpayments to insurance companies.

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1. talking about Medicare

Congress ultimately did the right thing
now answering questions

[Laelth]

2. He's using the phrase "insurance reform" a lot.

Evidently, "health care reform" is no longer the goal.

At least he's honest.

:dem:

-Laelth

[county worker]

3. So AARP was for the doughnut hole before they were against it.

I remember AARP pushing the repukes Medicare bill and also selling insurance.

I'm one senior that will never join AARP. I don't think there should be one powerful lobby like that pushing for laws that favor the seniors over younger people.

[John Q. Citizen]

4. Obama would have tried to keep slave holders honest instead of abolishing an unjust system of

exploitation.

ENOUGH!

[tomm2thumbs]

5. so far it is a good watch - link to cnn as well

http://www.cnn.com/video/flashLive/live.html?stream=stream1

I think you have to unblock pop-ups to get the video, and then you can block pop-ups after it opens

[MarjorieG]

6. Only the $80 billion, or can we still renegotiate pricing?

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7. President Obama talking about public option

finally
no one's giving you a Canadian style plan
someone telling Obama no socialized medicine and don't touch my medicare

:yoiks:

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8. we're going to reform the insurance companies

Paying 77% higher for drugs
NOT take away your health care
I wish people I know would listen for a change
Thank you President Obama for this meeting
Please pressure Congress!

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9. healthactionnow.org

link
http://www.healthactionnow.org/?CMP=KNC-360I-GOOGLE-CPA&HBX_PK=health_action