MONROE - The health care debate took a conversational tone at an AARP meeting of about 40 people Tuesday at Ludlow Mansion.
The organization has gone around Wisconsin to listen to its members, and also inform its members, about the health care debate that is going on across the country.
"We want to have a conversation with each other," Lisa Lamkins from AARP told the group at the start of the meeting.
Those at the meeting kept their questions and comments civil. There were no outbursts from people on either side of the issue.
That was something Ken Schultz, Brodhead, appreciated.
"I believe there needs to be some kind of reform, but I'm willing to listen to both sides," he said. "This meeting was very useful."
Lamkins said AARP supports health care reform and said the organization hasn't endorsed any proposals making their way through the Congress.
"We stand firmly for affordable, quality health care," Lamkins said. "We want reform, now."
One member of the audience said supporters of health care reform are moving too quickly to try to pass reform.
"We need to take as much time as we need. I get a little nervous when we rush through things," she said.
"They've been talking about health care reform since Medicare was passed," one man replied.
From the comments made during the two hour discussion, most people supported some kind of reform.
Lamkins said AARP wants to make sure Medicare is protected and also fights to make sure no one comes between a person and their doctor.
"If you have a pre-existing condition, it can be hard for you to get (insurance) coverage. An insurance company can charge you 10 times what they charge a younger person because of your age. We want to end age discrimination in insurance coverage," she said.
Lamkins explained that under the proposals in Congress, people with insurance, as well as those who have Medicaid, Medicare or insurance through the Veterans' Administration, will not see changes in their coverage.
There was some discussion about how the government would pay for health care reform. One person said Medicare is known for its wasteful spending. Lamkins said Medicare has 2 to 3 percent administrative costs while private insurance have costs of about 17 percent.
"Who rips off Medicare - insurance companies," one man said.
Lamkins said providing health care insurance, or requiring people purchase health care insurance, would benefit everyone.
"We all pay for the uninsured," Lamkins said. "If you carry health insurance you're paying $1,000 a year for people who are uninsured."
No one at the meeting asked about what some have termed "death panels," but one man criticized people who have used the phrase to scare people.
"To scare people, misinform people or tell lies doesn't help the health care debate," Lamkins said.
After the meeting, she said there were several questions about death panels at some of the AARP meeting in August, but said those questions haven't been common during the past couple of weeks.
The organization has gone around Wisconsin to listen to its members, and also inform its members, about the health care debate that is going on across the country.
"We want to have a conversation with each other," Lisa Lamkins from AARP told the group at the start of the meeting.
Those at the meeting kept their questions and comments civil. There were no outbursts from people on either side of the issue.
That was something Ken Schultz, Brodhead, appreciated.
"I believe there needs to be some kind of reform, but I'm willing to listen to both sides," he said. "This meeting was very useful."
Lamkins said AARP supports health care reform and said the organization hasn't endorsed any proposals making their way through the Congress.
"We stand firmly for affordable, quality health care," Lamkins said. "We want reform, now."
One member of the audience said supporters of health care reform are moving too quickly to try to pass reform.
"We need to take as much time as we need. I get a little nervous when we rush through things," she said.
"They've been talking about health care reform since Medicare was passed," one man replied.
From the comments made during the two hour discussion, most people supported some kind of reform.
Lamkins said AARP wants to make sure Medicare is protected and also fights to make sure no one comes between a person and their doctor.
"If you have a pre-existing condition, it can be hard for you to get (insurance) coverage. An insurance company can charge you 10 times what they charge a younger person because of your age. We want to end age discrimination in insurance coverage," she said.
Lamkins explained that under the proposals in Congress, people with insurance, as well as those who have Medicaid, Medicare or insurance through the Veterans' Administration, will not see changes in their coverage.
There was some discussion about how the government would pay for health care reform. One person said Medicare is known for its wasteful spending. Lamkins said Medicare has 2 to 3 percent administrative costs while private insurance have costs of about 17 percent.
"Who rips off Medicare - insurance companies," one man said.
Lamkins said providing health care insurance, or requiring people purchase health care insurance, would benefit everyone.
"We all pay for the uninsured," Lamkins said. "If you carry health insurance you're paying $1,000 a year for people who are uninsured."
No one at the meeting asked about what some have termed "death panels," but one man criticized people who have used the phrase to scare people.
"To scare people, misinform people or tell lies doesn't help the health care debate," Lamkins said.
After the meeting, she said there were several questions about death panels at some of the AARP meeting in August, but said those questions haven't been common during the past couple of weeks.