AARP Launches Anti-AHCA Ads, Targets GOP Senators

The AARP is targeting six Republican senators in its push to lobby lawmakers not to vote for the House's Obamacare replacement bill.

According to The Hill, the AARP — which represents older Americans — feels the American Health Care Act would be bad for its client base. It plans to spend more than $1 million on TV ads against Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst (Iowa), Rob Portman (Ohio), Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker (Tennessee), and Shelley Moore Capito (West Virginia).

The ad buy also continues to target five other Republicans the AARP put in its crosshairs last month: Sens. Jeff Flake (Arizona), Cory Gardner (Colorado), Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (Alaska), and Dean Heller (Nevada).

The American Health Care Act passed in the House last month and is now in the Senate, where it's being debated and worked up in a committee. The AARP is concerned about a provision in the bill that would allow health insurers to charge older Americans more money for care.

AARP executive vice president Nancy LeaMond told The Hill her organization is also worried the AHCA could "weaken Medicare, undermine protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and make changes to Medicaid that would put some of our most vulnerable citizens at risk."

The AHCA was first introduced in March and the AARP was quick to voice its opposition to it, saying at the time it was concerned the bill would raise healthcare costs, not lower them.

As part of its lobbying campaign, the AARP also published a story on its website last month that outlined "8 Ways the Health Care Bill Is Hazardous to Your Health."

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