Since the latest debate over comprehensive health care reform began more than two years ago, AARP has been fighting for health reform that provides stable, affordable health coverage options for all Americans and protects Medicare for seniors and for future generations.

AARP has read the House of Representatives' Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) and the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act (H.R. 3961), and we can say with confidence that they meet our priorities for protecting Medicare and stopping insurance companies from denying people affordable coverage because of their age.

The House plan helps make prescription drugs more affordable. It would help the 76,000 seniors in Wyoming who fall into the dreaded "doughnut hole" in Medicare's prescription drug program each year. It starts filling in the coverage gap immediately -- keeping as many as 1.1 million people from reaching the gap next year -- and closes it completely over time. It also allows Medicare to negotiate prescription drug costs directly.

The House plan also guarantees that you'll never be denied affordable coverage because of your health or age. We've fought to prevent anyone from coming between you and your doctor; and we've fought to make sure your health care does not take a back seat to insurance companies.

The unfortunate truth is that many insurance companies charge older Americans unaffordable premiums based only on their age, which is why we support the House's strict limits on these discriminatory practices. The bill also prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage to those with a health condition, and limits what any American has to pay out of his or her own pocket so that no one is bankrupted by health care bills.

We're pleased that the House plan stops insurance companies from profiting on the backs of older Americans. People should not be denied coverage because of their age or pre-existing health conditions. They shouldn't be dropped by their insurers because they get sick, and they should not be misled by inadequate plans that offer only limited coverage.

Also welcome in the House plan are measures that support preventive care and wellness, as well as primary and specialty care, chronic care coordination, and coverage for hospitalization, rehabilitation, emergency care, mental health, and prescription drugs, as well as a new voluntary insurance program for long-term care services and supports to help people live independently in their homes and communities.

We support the opportunity to choose from a menu of insurance plans that have better consumer protections. These plans would protect you from being dropped if you get sick, from losing your coverage because you lose your job, or from being charged an exorbitant amount because of your age.

While AARP is pleased to see that H.R. 3962/H.R. 3961 include many of the proposals that are most critical to protecting Medicare and ensuring Americans age 50-plus have access to stable, affordable health care, we know the fight isn't over.

That's why we're going to keep working with members of the House and Senate to ensure our priorities are included in any final health care reform bill. We will fight with the strength of our nearly 40 million members against any proposal that would hurt rather than help Medicare or older Americans' access to affordable, quality health care.

It's time we had health care worth fighting for!

Les Engelter is president of AARP Wyoming.