WASHINGTON — A new report out from AARP today provides additional insight into the impact of a historic new financial protection for our nation’s nearly 55 million Medicare drug plan enrollees. For the first time ever, beginning January 1, 2025, Medicare drug plans will limit enrollees’ annual out-of-pocket spending to $2,000, thanks to a provision in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act that AARP championed. Specifically, the report shows that 94% of all Part D enrollees expected to reach the new cap in 2025 will have lower total (i.e., premiums and cost sharing) out-of-pocket costs, saving an average of $2,474 nationally. The report also provides state-level data and estimates that 95% of Part D enrollees who will reach the out-of-pocket cap will have lower out-of-pocket health costs in 33 states plus the District of Columbia.

List prices for the 25 top Medicare Part D drugs not currently selected for Medicare drug price negotiation have increased by an average of 98 percent—or nearly doubled—since they first entered the market, according to a new report from AARP’s Public Policy Institute released today. The report also found that, on average, more than 40 percent of the current list prices for the top 25 drugs is due to price increases that have occurred after the products first entered the market. These findings highlight the importance of a 2022 law that addresses high prescription drug prices and drug price increases.

SEATTLE — Today, AARP, the Alzheimer’s Disease Data Initiative (AD Data Initiative), and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington announced the Dementia Risk Reduction Project, a new collaboration to study how factors -- air pollution, alcohol use, depression, diabetes, high body mass index, hearing loss, hypertension, low education, physical inactivity, social isolation, smoking, and traumatic brain injury—vary by state and their correlation to dementia. The research will explore causal links between each factor and dementia, providing valuable information for both consumers and policymakers to address dementia risks in their communities.

According to a new AARP survey exploring the second half of life, most older adults have an optimistic outlook on life and expect their lives to improve as they get older. Nearly 9 in 10 are at least somewhat optimistic about their future, with half being extremely or very optimistic.

WASHINGTON—Today, AARP released a new report detailing the savings from an important new protection for our nation’s 56 million Medicare drug plans enrollees. The savings, thanks to a provision in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act that AARP championed, will cap out-of-pocket prescription drug costs every year, beginning at $2,000 in January 2025. The report analyzes the number of enrollees that will benefit from the cap by state, age, gender, and race between 2025 and 2029. The findings indicate that Medicare drug plan enrollees who reach the new out-of-pocket cap will see average savings of roughly $1,100, or 56%, in 2025 for their prescription drugs.

Today, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond issued the following statement in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announcement of the first Medicare negotiated drug prices as part of the 2022 prescription drug law:

Today, AARP – on behalf of the Global Council on Brain Health -- released the ‘Special Report: Hearing Matters for Brain Health,’ highlighting the importance of addressing hearing loss to promote communication and social engagement and reduce the possibility of cognitive decline and dementia. This report comes at a critical time as the growing body of evidence is clear: social isolation and loneliness, which can be associated with hearing loss, are a public health threat. According to U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murphy, the U.S. is in the midst of a loneliness and social isolation epidemic, increasing the risk of premature death and can be as detrimental as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.

WASHINGTON-- AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond issued the following statement in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services final...

Today, AARP and The DAISY Foundation announced a collaboration between the two organizations to recognize the value of nurses to help improve nursing job satisfaction and retain more nurses in the profession. New data released by AARP today found that 96% of Americans aged 50 + believe more should be done to recognize the value of nurses.

Today, AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins issued the following statement in response to President Biden’s State of the Union address:

AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond issued the following statement today after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave approval for Florida to begin taking the steps needed to import prescription drugs from Canada.

“The court’s decision to allow Medicare drug price negotiations to move forward is welcome news. Pausing Medicare negotiations would have risked billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers...

AARP and AARP Foundation submitted an amicus brief for consideration today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, urging the court to dismiss Merck & Co.’s lawsuit challenging Medicare’s historic new authority to negotiate lower prescription drug prices.

AARP and AARP Foundation filed an amicus brief today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, urging the court to dismiss the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s attempt to block Medicare’s historic new authority to negotiate lower prescription drug prices.

AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins issued the following statement in response to President Biden’s State of the Union speech this evening

To help lessen the impact of social isolation on Valentine’s Day, Wish of a Lifetime from AARP’s 10th annual Cupid Crew will hand deliver over 100,000 roses to older adults.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2023 premiums and deductibles for the Medicare Part B programs earlier today. Medicare Part B premiums will decrease by $5.20 to $164.90 next year, and deductibles will decrease $7 to $226. AARP had called for CMS to lower Part B premiums following a decline in the price and coverage of Aduhelm, which accounted for half of the premium increase in 2022.

The Food and Drug Administration today announced the creation of a new category of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids – a move that is expected to lower costs for many consumers and help those with mild to moderate hearing loss.

AARP issued the following statement from Jo Ann Jenkins, AARP Chief Executive Officer, following the House passage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

WASHINGTON— AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond issued the following statement in response to reports that the U.S. Senate is ready to advance a...

Today AARP announced the results of its annual survey, Mirror/Mirror: Women’s Reflections on Beauty, Age and Media™. The study reveals that women who experience discrimination regularly rate their current mental health lower, on average, than those who do not, and that age, race, ethnicity and/or skin tone, as well as weight are the most common types of discrimination reported.

A new AARP national survey shows many LGBTQ adults age 45 and over have concerns about aging, with worries about having enough money in retirement, discrimination and a lack of family support topping the list.

While three-quarters or more of those 60 and over have at least one serious health condition, nearly half rate their health as very good or excellent, according to new research from AARP in collaboration with National Geographic Partners.

AARP hosted a “People’s Hearing” on prescription drugs May 18, featuring seniors from across the United States who struggle to afford their medications along with other basic needs. In addition to sharing how the cost of prescription drugs affects them, participants urged Congress to act now and pass needed reforms.

As members of Congress return to their districts for Easter recess, AARP is kicking off a new phase of its Fair Drug Prices Now campaign and pushing lawmakers to advance the prescription drug pricing provisions, including allowing Medicare to negotiate, already passed by the House, as a top priority when they return.

There is strong scientific evidence that behavior changes and lifestyle habits can have a positive impact on brain health – yet many adults struggle to implement such changes. In a new report released today, “How to Sustain Brain Healthy Behaviors: Applying Lessons of Public Health and Science to Drive Change,” the Global Council on Brain Health (GCBH) outlines how individuals, communities and policymakers can all take steps to support brain health.

AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins issued the following statement on the second anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic

Today AARP launched new television and digital advertising featuring Larry Zarzecki, a retired law enforcement officer with Parkinson’s disease who was forced to sell his home in order to afford his medications. Zarzecki first shared his story in an AARP ad three years ago, but Congress’ failure to act means he has had no relief from the high cost of his treatments. As he says in the new ad, “I shouldn’t have to decide between my home or my medicine because Congress refuses to act. I’m tired of waiting for Congress.”

AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond issued the following statement in response to President Biden’s remarks today about the need to lower prescription drug prices

AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond issued the following statement about Medicare enrollees soon having access to at-home COVID tests at no cost:

Ahead of Valentine’s Day this year, Wish of a Lifetime from AARP is joining forces with communities around the country for Cupid Crew, a volunteer-driven effort, to safely create and deliver heartfelt cards to older adults across the country who are socially isolated while also nurturing intergenerational bonds.

AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond issued the following statement about the need for Congress to make good on its promise of lower prescription drug prices

The U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire ruled that a class of New Hampshire residents may proceed with a lawsuit over their right to live independently instead of being placed in institutional care.

WASHINGTON—AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond issued the following statement reacting to the House passage of the Build Back Better Act:...

WASHINGTON—AARP today announced that the American Medical Group Association (AMGA) and the Hennepin Healthcare System are the winners of the 2021 AARP Quality Measures Innovation Grant. Each...

A new analysis from AARP shows that the number of nursing home staff who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 rose sharply from mid-September to mid-October.

AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins issued the following statement reacting to the announcement of a deal to lower prescription drug costs

AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer Nancy A. LeaMond issued the following statement reacting to the Build Back Better framework’s failure to lower prescription drug prices.

A new Aging Readiness and Competitiveness report from AARP and Economist Impact shows that while global life expectancy is increasing, there is a growing gap worldwide between how long someone will live and how many healthy years of life they can expect. This gap was only exacerbated as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, which disproportionately affected older adults.

Retail prices for 180 widely used specialty prescription drugs increased by an average of 4.8% in 2020, more than three times the rate of general inflation for that same period (1.3%), according to AARP’s latest Rx Price Watch Report.

AARP has launched a full-scale campaign, including a $4 million ad buy, pushing back on false claims from the pharmaceutical industry that reforms would limit Americans’ access to medicines. AARP has called for fair drug prices for years and is urging Congress to pass legislation that would allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices, put a cap on out-of-pocket costs that older adults pay for their prescription drugs and impose penalties on drug companies that raise prices faster than the rate of inflation.

AARP released the following statement from Nancy A. LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer in response to the Biden Administration directing all nursing homes that receive Medicare or Medicaid funds to require vaccinations for all staff

Cases of COVID-19 continue to rise among nursing home residents and staff, increasing 50% among residents and 60% among staff in July 12-18, compared to the preceding week, according to the latest data from AARP’s Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard.

WASHINGTON—AARP released the following statement from Nancy A. LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer in response to today’s Senate passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act:

New research from AARP explores how the pandemic affected people who are both working and providing care to a loved one, and their concerns about returning to pre-pandemic routines.

The latest release of AARP’s Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard incorporates new data on vaccination rates among staff and residents, and finds that just one in five facilities meets the threshold of having at least 75% of staff fully vaccinated.

AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond issued the following statement in response to the announcement to take federal action to reduce the high prices of prescription drugs in an Executive Order released by the White House today:

A new AARP survey released today shows that more than half (58%) of adults 50 and older are concerned they will not be able to afford prescription drugs over the next few years for themselves or their families.

WASHINGTON – While dementia remains highly stigmatized, a new AARP report shows that health care providers overestimate the worry that adults 40 and older would feel if they had dementia. One in...