Wolf alert! Wolf alert! Beware of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. You all know that old axiom that applies to someone or some group trying to “pull the wool” over your eyes.

This time it’s our friends at AARP. In an effort to help “fix” the healthcare system in this country, AARP has teamed up with the Business Roundtable folks to bring us a campaign called “Divided We Fail.” On its face the group say it supports healthcare changes for the U.S. and has even enlisted the aid and support of SEIU (Service Employees International Union) to its side. It’s puzzling that the SEIU folks have bought in to this movement, as most of their rank and file have voiced support for a Universal Health Care – Single Payer system for this country. “Divided We Fail” wants nothing to do with a single-payer system.

It isn’t puzzling to have AARP leading the charge for the “Divided We Fail” campaign because at its core the movement wants to provide healthcare for all Americans (that’s good) by making sure that they will all be covered by an insurance plan (that’s bad). Reforming healthcare without addressing cost control issue and portability is a waste of time and more money. The more payers (insurance companies) there are, the more costly the system becomes. Perhaps you’ve noticed regular increases in your health insurance premiums even though you had never even had a claim paid out. That’s not surprising. There’s just nothing of substance in the “Divided We Fail” plan about affordability, at least nothing that makes any sense for anybody outside of the insurance industry.

As most of you know, or should know, AARP is first and foremost a large insurance company. Through strategic positioning and creation of its senior constituency many years ago, AARP enrolled hundreds of thousands of members into the fold (that number is now in the millions). Many of those members also ended up buying some type of insurance coverage through AARP, filling the AARP coffers and enabling the organization to grow in power on the backs of its insured. To summarize, it’s not surprising to have AARP at the front of the “Divided We Fail” movement, as they stand to benefit the most with a mandatory insurance coverage plan, which the campaign really is. Case in point is the fact that AARP is now married with United Healthcare to offer Medicare Part D plans for seniors. One of their TV ads has such a great catch phrase inducement: “It’s the only plan endorsed by AARP!” A blinding flash of the obvious…they endorse their own plan. How unique and cutting edge.

One final note on this has to do with the emotional aspect of the “Divided We Fail” campaign. They want us to believe that if “we” just pull together, “we” can make a change. It implies that “we” can’t change the system unless we’re all “in it” together. The catch, though, is what they want is for their insurance expansion campaign to succeed. They need your support to keep those insurance premiums climbing AND coming in to them every month. They really need you “in it” to keep them prospering. It just seems logical that with 47 million Americans uninsured, and at least that many more underinsured, we don’t need to make their survival our top priority. People need to come before profits. It’s that simple. We do need change, but we don’t need their change.

Divided We Fail is a rallying cry, but it’s not really directed at you and me. It’s a rallying cry to the insurance industry to pull together to protect their profits. Maybe we should just look at it as an internal memo to themselves as a reminder to stay in control and stay together. Next time you see that AARP ad on television or in the newspaper, just remember: Wolf Alert! Wolf Alert!

Peace and Good, Affordable, Accessible Health!

Tim Burkhardt