By ERICA WERNER and RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, Associated Press Writers Erica Werner And Ricardo Alonso-zaldivar, Associated Press Writers – 14 mins ago

WASHINGTON – In a coup for House Democrats, AARP will endorse sweeping health care overhaul legislation headed for a history-making floor vote, officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

An endorsement from the seniors' lobby was critical when then-President George W. Bush pushed the Medicare prescription drug benefit through a closely divided Congress in 2003. House Democratic leaders are hoping it will work the same political magic for them as they strive to deliver on President Barack Obama's signature issue.

An announcement from the 40-million member group is expected Thursday, said officials with knowledge of the group's decision. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the endorsement is not official yet.

Backing the 10-year, $1.2 trillion House bill is a tricky move for AARP. Many retirees are concerned about cuts in Medicare payments to medical providers, which will be used to finance an expansion of health insurance coverage to millions of working families who now lack it. Also, AARP says its membership is about evenly divided among Democrats, Republicans and independents, meaning its endorsement in today's highly politicized atmosphere could anger many members.

Floor votes on the House bill could come as early as this weekend. Obama planned to visit the Capitol on Friday, according to congressional officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the meetings have not been announced.

Asked Wednesday if Democratic leaders had the 218 needed for passage, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., responded: "We're counting. We're counting."

House leaders moved on Wednesday to shore up support for the measure among the Democratic rank-and-file, even as they sharpened their fight with the health insurance industry.

Last-minute changes to the legislation, released late Tuesday night, started a 72-hour legislative clock and cleared the way for votes as early as Saturday.

In a move aimed directly at health insurance companies, the revised House bill would launch a federal-state crackdown on what it terms "unjustified premium increases." Insurers have sought above all to block creation of a government insurance plan, which happens to be the top legislative goal for liberals.

Under the bill, insurance companies would have to publicly disclose the justification for premium increases before they go into effect. The federal Health and Human Services department would monitor patterns of premium increases, and could take action if the price hikes are out of line. The bill would also provide $1 billion to state insurance commissioners, allowing them to ramp up their own enforcement.

Democrats also strengthened a provision that would strip the industry of its decades-old exemption from federal antitrust laws.

Supporters said the tougher approach is needed to keep insurance companies from artificially boosting premiums in advance of the major reforms taking effect in 2013.

Other late changes to the bill, such as enhanced status for the government's office of minority health, were intended as sweeteners for supportive lawmakers, including members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

With no Republican backing for the measure, Democrats will need overwhelming support from their own. A festering intra-party disagreement over how to prevent federal funds from being used to pay for abortion remained unresolved Wednesday morning.

The House bill is estimated to expand coverage to about 96 percent of eligible Americans. Beginning in 2013, it would provide government subsidies to extend coverage to tens of millions who now lack it, and ban insurance company practices such as denying coverage to people with pre-existing medical problems.

For the three years before the federal aid starts flowing, the bill would set up a temporary "high-risk pool" through which people who have been denied coverage because of poor health could obtain a government-subsidized policy.

The bill would set up health insurance "exchanges" through which self-employed people and small businesses could buy coverage, either from a private insurer or a new government plan that would compete. All the plans sold through the exchange would have to follow basic consumer protection rules, making it easier to shop and compare among them.

The majority of middle-class Americans covered under big employer plans would not see dramatic changes. But coverage for the poor through Medicaid would be significantly expanded.

Seniors in traditional Medicare would get improved preventive benefits. Also, the prescription coverage gap known as the "doughnut hole" would be gradually closed. However, seniors signed up for private insurance plans through Medicare could lose some benefits, as the bill scales back extra payments that the plans have been getting.

In addition to raising money by cutting payments to hospitals and other medical providers, the House bill boosts taxes on upper-income earners. Democrats also moved Tuesday to close a biofuel tax credit loophole, raising about $23 billion to help pay for the legislation.

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Associated Press writers David Espo and Alan Fram contributed to this story.

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An endorsement from the seniors' lobby was critical when then-President George W. Bush pushed the Medicare prescription drug benefit through a closely divided Congress in 2003.

This endorsement was important then, because it was only Democrats who opposed the bill. Americans over-whelmingly supported Bush's bill.

However, this time, Americans over-whelmingly oppose the government option plan. The endorsement won't help. In fact, members are dropping AARP membership in record numbers, over this.

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On Monday's CBS Evening News, correspondent Sharyl Attkisson filed a report highlighting the recent defections of thousands of AARP members to the more conservative American Seniors Association (ASA), because of the perceived support by the AARP for ObamaCare. The report recounted that Obama recently had to correct a claim that the AARP supports his plan, while some are suspicious that the group may support the President privately, but are unwilling to admit to doing so publicly.

All Obama's claim did was highlight America's senior opposition to Obama care. It makes little difference that they actually do support it now. Americans are still opposed and are dropping from AARP. AARP doesn't vote; members vote.

I am a AARP member and I damn sure didn't give them the goaheaad and speak for me on this issue...I will let them know about it too...

You know WHY the AARP endorsed this bill?

• This bill CUTS Medicare payments to Doctors. FACT!
  
• Meaning fewer doctors will accept Medicare, unless the patient has supplemental insurance
  
• Guess what? The AARP sells supplemental insruance, to the tune of $billions a year

The AARP sold out older Americans.

Great point of them being a special interest with something to gain and lose.

Most insurance companies use a small part of their premiums to pay off insured's claims and the rest they invest heavily in the stock market.

What does AARP do with the money they take in? Not the official line, but what do they really do???

Rip...Slice...Rip..

That's the sound of AARP membership cards being destroyed all over the country.

quote:

Rip...Slice...Rip..

I just called and canceled my AARP membership.

When you turn 50 the AARP will send you a membership request. Be sure to sh** can it. I have been a member for a few years now and have let them know that I will be dropping my membership. I hope many more do the same.

Yeah...am in it for the car insurance discount...won't be renewing...

quote:

Yeah...am in it for the car insurance discount...won't be renewing...

USAA just sent an e-mail to all USAA Members announcing that it has expanded eligibility to ALL VETERANS.
Check it ought- should be as good a deal as AARP!

http://www.military.com/Financ...15356,173580,00.html

Discharged 1996....hmm...too old a coot for that one...