ATTENTION WOMEN

9 -- that is the number of states and the District of Columbia where there is still no specific law that makes it illegal for insurers to reject applicants who are survivors of domestic violence by citing the history of domestic violence as a pre-existing condition.

Unfortunately, the gender inequalities across our broken heath care system don't end there. In many states, insurance companies can still discriminate on the basis of gender -- charging women higher premiums than men simply because of their gender or denying coverage because of so-called "pre-existing conditions" like being pregnant, experiencing a prior pregnancy complication, or having undergone a C-section. And health plans in the individual market often do not cover basic maternity care.

President Obama's proposal for health insurance reform would end the days of discrimination based on gender. Insurance companies would be banned from denying coverage because of a pre-existing condition and would have to cover preventative care like mammograms.

For America's women and families, the time is now for health insurance reform.

We just can't wait any longer for health insurance reform. Help spread the word by sharing this message with your family, friends and online networks.

Let's get it done.

Nancy-Ann DeParle
Director, White House Office of Health Reform

GPO/WEP Summit

On March 9^th and 10^th, NARFE staff participated in and led a session of a legislative “summit” on the unfair and arbitrary Social Security Government Pension Offset (GPO) and so called Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). Many of the participants representing state teacher retirement organizations traveled to Washington for the summit. On March 10^th NARFE Legislative Department staff, led the session to update state-based participants on NARFE’s efforts and those of the Coalition to Assure Retirement Equity (CARE). Founded by NARFE in 1991, CARE is comprised of 40 national, state and local organizations solely for the purpose of addressing the Social Security offsets. The House sponsor of complete repeal legislation (H.R. 235), Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), and a cosponsor, Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) addressed the summit. NARFE magazine (May issue) will include full coverage

809 Area Code Scam

Be cautious when responding to e-mails or phone calls from the 809, 284 or 876 area codes.

Long distance phone scam causes consumers to inadvertently incur high charges on their phone bills. Consumers usually receive a message telling them to call a phone number with an 809, 284 or 876 area code in order to collect a prize, find out information about a sick relative, etc. The caller assumes the number is a typical three-digit U.S. area code; however, the caller is actually connected to a phone number outside the United States, often in Canada or the Caribbean, and charged international call rates. Unfortunately, consumers don't find out that they have been charged higher international call rates until they receive their bill.

AT&T offers the following information and tips:

· Return calls to familiar numbers only. As a general rule, return calls from numbers that contain familiar or recognizable area codes. You may call your directory assistance or long distance operator to check the area code location.

· Carefully read your telephone bill. Make sure that you only receive charges from your provider of choice. Ensure you thoroughly understand charges listed on your phone bill, have chosen to do business with all of the listed providers billing for those charges and have authorized additional fees invoiced. If your local service provider has changed, you will receive a final bill from the former provider and a notice of service disconnection.

If you believe that you have been scammed:

· Contact the carrier with whom the charge originated, whose name and toll-free telephone number should be printed on the same bill page as the charge in question. Often, the problem can be resolved with a single phone call.

· If the carrier with whom the charge originated does not agree to resolve the problem, contact AT&T. AT&T will work with you and the carrier to help remove fraudulent charges from the phone bill.

You may file a complaint online with the Federal Communications Commission about this and/or related phone scams.