DES MOINES — The 2024 Session of the 90th Iowa General Assembly is officially underway.
“Advocating on behalf of Iowans age 50+ and giving them a voice at the State Capitol is a top priority for AARP Iowa,” said AARP Iowa State Director Brad Anderson. “Last year, scammers stole at least $30 million from Iowans. We need better consumer protections against gift card scams and home contractor fraud which is why we’ll be fighting for legislation this year that makes it more difficult for scammers to take advantage of Iowans.”
Below are AARP Iowa’s key 2024 priorities:
• Gift card scams — According to a 2022 AARP survey, over 30 percent of consumers in the U.S. have been targeted by scams asking for payment by gift card. In 2022, losses from gift card scams totaled $228 million. AARP Iowa supports legislation that would require retailers selling gift cards to post a notice informing consumers about what gift card scams are and who to contact if they suspect a scam.
• Home contractor bonding — In Iowa, home contractors are not required to be licensed, but they are required to register with the state. AARP Iowa supports legislation that would require all in-state and out-of-state home contractors to hold a surety bond in order to legally register with the state. By requiring a contractor to hold a surety bond, consumers can file a claim against the bond to recoup lost dollars stolen by shady home contractors.
• Insulin costs — Insulin was invented 100 years ago and should be affordable for ALL Iowans who need it. Federal legislation capped out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 per month for those on Medicare beginning in 2023 but does not include over 536,000 Iowans on state-regulated insurance plans. AARP Iowa supports legislation that caps out-of-pocket costs of insulin at $75 or less per prescription for Iowans on state-regulated insurance plans. Twenty-five other states already have a state cap in place.
• Long-term care — We are facing a long-term care crisis in Iowa. Nursing homes are closing, and we have too few workers to care for a rapidly aging population. We need more workers, we need innovation, and we need to improve access to care where Iowans want it the most: at home. We are calling for a Legislative Study Committee to conduct a comprehensive review of Iowa’s long-term care health system and prepare a report with bipartisan recommendations with specific focus on workforce, innovative models of care, and financial transparency.
About AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability, and personal fulfillment. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARPIowa on social media.