DES MOINES - Intense lobbying for and against a major federal health-care overhaul package approaching a U.S. House vote kicked into high gear Thursday in Iowa.

Bruce Koeppl, AARP Iowa state director, said his group had begun contacting its 400,000 Iowa members urging them to push for passage of a 10-year, $1.2 trillion House bill that will prevent insurance companies from denying coverage based on health or age.

Meanwhile, Andy Warren, Iowa state director for the National Federation of Independent Businesses, said his organization had formulated at least 15 reasons why Iowa's three Democratic and two Republican House members should oppose the health-care reform proposal.

Koeppl said AARP officials decided to endorse the massive health-care rewrite because it delivers key priorities the group supports while ensuring individuals and their doctors of choice make treatment decisions - not insurance companies or government officials - and keeping Medicare viable and growing for current and future users.