The U.S. House is poised for a rare weekend vote on health care reform.

The bill on the docket has just received backing from the American Medical Association and AARP, the nation's largest lobbying group representing seniors. The organization plans to leverage the full support of its 40 million members for the bill's passage.

Iowa AARP spokesperson Ann Black says, in addition to endorsing the plan, they'll be asking their membership to weigh in. "It's really not enough for us to just say we're endorsing the bill. We're going the extra mile by activating our volunteers and members across Iowa and the country."

The House bill not only includes key provisions for seniors, such as closing the Medicare prescription drug "donut hole," but it also helps those who aren't yet covered by Medicare, says Black. "If you are somewhere between the ages of 50 and 64 - pre-Medicare - insurance companies will now no longer be able to deny you coverage based on a preexisting condition." Critics of reform complain of the potential cost and negative impact on the insurance industry, but supporters say, in the long run, the Affordable Health Care for America Act will save money for healthcare consumers.

Source: Public News Service

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