AARP is Cheering on the Socialist Left's Takeover of Our Health System

It’s not your grandparents’ AARP anymore. Whether it’s their celebration of the Inflation Reduction Act or historical support of Obamacare, AARP has become more and more brazen in its partisan support of Democratic policy priorities. This overt party favoritism flies in the face of their “non-partisan” claim and is an extreme disservice to their members and their values. AARP cannot maintain its “unbiased” reputation while simultaneously cheering the socialization of America’s health system.

AARP members are just everyday Americans, each with a range of views, philosophies, and backgrounds. Younger people can join AARP earlier now and enjoy the perks of getting discounts and reading the AARP magazine. What members ought to consider however, are what AARP concentrates its lobbying efforts on in Washington; policies that betray the interests of seniors, are endorsed by a single political party, and hand the golden goose to health insurance companies.

For years, AARP has, seemingly without critique, advocated for and supported policies that lead America down a path that actually hurt its members. Too few have been willing to call attention to the group’s conflicts of interest. Most recently, AARP supported a proposal that inhibits the healthcare freedom of their members and sets us on a course toward fewer cures and fewer drug options.

That’s precisely what they did when they celebrated President Biden’s deceivingly named Inflation Reduction Act, which included a damaging provision that essentially hands the government the power to mandate drug prices on manufacturers under Medicare Part D.

The ugly truth is that government price setting will be disastrous for Medicare patients when seeking treatment options, as not all providers will be able to foot the government’s bill. Additionally, the cost this will have on drug research and development will stall the innovation of improved treatments and novel cures for years, meaning patients with currently incurable diseases are now going to be forced to wait longer. Did AARP even do its homework before giving the IRA its stamp of approval?

On top of this law kneecapping innovation and access, the $270 billion it raids from Medicare are being reallocated for left-wing spending wish lists, including toward subsidizing electric vehicles. What’s worse, its that insurance companies will also be getting a piece of the Medicare pie, meaning that money meant to help seniors afford their medicines are instead being sucked up by their insurance providers. AARP’s members are the first-line casualties for these Medicare cuts, and AARP’s support of the law defies the supposed purpose of the organization.

AARP’s policy positions suggest they are more than comfortable with the government taking the reigns of our health system and curbing America’s health freedom. Laws like the Inflation Reduction Act are the government’s incremental baby steps toward full-scale socialized medicine in this country, where no one is a winner. So why would AARP have betrayed its members in such a way? Could it be for financial gain?

A new report from Juniper Research Group details AARP’s public advocacy conflict of interest. Not only does AARP support laws that help insurance companies, but they get handsomely paid by them over $1 billion a year. This staggering amount of tax-free revenue creates an incentive for AARP to support policies that pad the pockets of the insurance companies that bankroll them. AARP’s membership subscription revenues are just peanuts in comparison.

Socialized medicine may not seem bad to the folks at AARP, but its incremental implementation in the U.S. should be fought tooth and nail for the sake of seniors and patients across the country who value access and options for their healthcare and medications. Legislators need to remember that AARP no longer represents America’s seniors when their lobbyists come into their offices. It’s time to stand up to organizations like AARP, who take advantage of public trust to foist left-wing policy to benefit themselves, not their dues-paying members. Enough is enough.

Jack Kalavritinos is the Executive Director of CPAC’s Coalition Against Socialized Medicine and Gerard Scimeca is Chairman and Co-Founder of Consumer Action for a Strong Economy.