AARP Kansas

More than six and a half percent of older adults in Kansas face the threat of hunger

By Maren Turner, AARP Kansas Director

I try to keep up with the news and activities in Washington as much as I am able. But there are so many abbreviations and unfamiliar terms in the news coming from current activities and debates that I feel like that famous groundhog who sticks his head out in the spring, looks around, dislikes what he sees or hears and decides to go back to sleep. I think that there are many who have similar reactions to news from Washington. But now, more than ever, that news has the potential to dramatically change my life and the lives of my loved ones, so I’m trying to educate myself.

AARP Kansas, teaming up with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), will host “encore entrepreneur” events in Kansas during the month of April. The first event will be held in Wichita at Wichita State University’s Marcus Welcome Center on Wednesday, April 17 th from 2 to 5 p.m. The second event will be in Topeka at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, April 29 th from 9 a.m. until noon.

Members of Congress Could Lose Older Voters by Backing Proposed Cut to Social Security, Vets Benefits—New National AARP Poll

AARP Kansas is pleased to announce the appointment of a new state president. Glenda DuBoise will serve as the volunteer leader for the state’s 340,000 members and volunteers.

This may seem like a silly question, but have you ever stopped to realize the dramatic effect that death has on life?

WASHINGTON, D.C. – AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond today released the following statement highlighting the many benefits of the Affordable Care Act at the three year anniversary of passage: “AARP is pleased by the many successes of the Affordable Care Act in the first three years since its passage and the many benefits yet to come. Americans young and old are already experiencing valuable savings and benefits that were previously unavailable or unaffordable. “Since enactment of the Affordable Care Act, more than 6.1 million people with Medicare have saved $5.7 billion on prescription drugs. By closing the drug coverage gap or ‘doughnut hole’ over time seniors are already seeing money back in their pockets – Part D enrollees who reached the gap saved an average of $706 in 2012. Further, in 2012 an estimated 34.1 million Medicare beneficiaries took advantage of newly covered preventive services and screenings at no cost to them. “For parents, extending health coverage to their children up to age 26 gives further peace of mind while allowing older children to address other expenses and worries besides healthcare costs. To date an estimated 3.1 million more young adults are covered. “And for those with private insurance, nearly 71 million Americans have received a free preventive health care service. If you’ve visited the doctor and noticed there was no co-pay for your flu shot or women’s wellness visit, you’re experiencing a benefit of the Affordable Care Act. “AARP continues to educate our members and all Americans about the many benefits of the Affordable Care Act. We are preparing for the opening of health insurance marketplaces and the end of discriminatory insurance practices such as exclusions based on pre-existing conditions and new limits on the use of age rating to charge exorbitant premiums to older Americans. As affordable care is made available to millions more Americans, AARP will continue to be a resource for information on accessing new benefits while offering tools to help consumers make the best healthcare decisions for themselves and their families.” To learn more about how the Affordable Care Act impacts you, visit the AARP Health Law Guide at www.aarp.org/healthlawguide.

Thanks to the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services for this warning:

Announcement of Newly Formed Kansas Medicaid Access Coalition—March 12, 2013