• August 11, 2009

AARP is launching the next phase of its "Health Action Now" campaign with a multimillion-dollar national advertising campaign running through mid-September.

Ads will run nationally on television, locally on radio, in print publications and online. AARP activists nationwide will meet with their legislators. AARP, which has 40 million members, seeks to "bust the myths some are spreading to frighten Americans, including false assertions that fixing the health care system will lead to rationed health care, a government takeover or even euthanasia."

TV spots will appear on networks including CBS, Fox News Channel, Lifetime and MSNBC, while online ads will appear on Web sites including CNN.com and ABCNews.com, as well as social networking sites. The association also will host more than 80 events across the country, including dozens of town hall meetings with legislators and community leaders.

One of AARP's new print ads reads: "Special interest groups are trying to block progress on health care reform using myths and scare tactics. Like the myth that health care reform will give the government the power to make life-and-death decisions for everyone. That's simply false. The fact is, no one, including the government or your insurance company, will be given power to make life-and-death decisions for anyone regardless of their age. Those decisions will be made by you, your doctor and your family."--Tanya Irwin