Arguments for and against joining AARP?

[kittygilchrist]

Ihave not ssen the benefit in the past, but I Am 64..seeking advice on whether to join.

[Lovey2]

When my husb turned 55, I researched their auto insurance, and it was $700 less per year than what we were paying. Best part?? Same company! Well worth the membership. Must admit I haven't shopped around since then. I guess I should just to be sure I'm still getting the best deal.

[Tweety Bird]

Ihave not ssen the benefit in the past, but I Am 64..seeking advice on whether to join.

Good question. I was wondering that too!

[goodtimesintv]

They call themselves a "non-profit" 501(c)(4).

"AARP is a membership organization for people age 50 and over and operates as a non-profit advocate for its members and is one of the most powerful lobbying groups in the United States....
According to AARP's 2008 Consolidated financial statements, AARP Services Inc. was paid $652,000,000 in royalties from insurance companies that sold products referred by AARP.
AARP also received an additional $120,000,000 for the advertisements placed in its publications."

wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AARP

[justjim]

OP, google AARP Benefits---there are a lot of them.

[asianthree]

We switched our auto and home and for two years we saved $800 a year, then for no reason, no tickets or claims it jumped $1125. A year for our autos. We went to liberty mutual

[JoMar]

Am a member, don't like their politics, will probably not renew. Have AAA which have many of the same benefits.

[Fraugoofy]

As an AARP member you always get a free donut when you buy a coffee at DD. Just show your card! If you eat one donut a day that's like $365 a year in savings!

[buzzy]

Am a member, don't like their politics, will probably not renew. Have AAA which have many of the same benefits.

I stopped renewing two years ago for that reason. Now, I get solicitations from them every week for some kind of insurance coverage. I wish I had never joined.

[Topspinmo]

I compare AARP to good used car salesman.:what::0000000000luvmyhors

[Barefoot]

For decades I have been a member of AAA. Having traveled a lot, I discovered that hotel and motel discounts for AAA were the same as for AARP.
Many motel chains offer a "senior" discount which is equivalent to the AAA/AARP discount.

[Schaumburger]

As an AARP member you always get a free donut when you buy a coffee at DD. Just show your card! If you eat one donut a day that's like $365 a year in savings!

I never knew that, and I have been an AARP member for 5 years. Will have to try that one for Dunkin Donuts.

AARP offers discounts at Denny's and Outback Steakhouse (Outback may be discounts on lunch only, not dinner), check the AARP web site for details.

[kittygilchrist]

Thank you all!
Will not join...Very conservative...dislike false nonprofits.

[rubicon]

When I was younger and ignorant I was a member of AARP. Then I discovered that the President of AARP was working strenuously against my best interests. He was using the power of his position to agitate against Second Amendment gun ownership. We exchanged letters. In mine I pointed out that older people who were no longer physically able to defend themselves against criminals needed the advantage of gun ownership. He refused to change his position, and I dropped my membership.

I now know that AARP has a super left-wing political agenda and worked hard for the passage of Obamacare, against the majority opinion of its' own membership.

For decades I have been a member of AAA. Having traveled a lot, I discovered that hotel and motel discounts for AAA were the same as for AARP. I have not looked into home or auto insurance with AAA because I have been using USAA (originally only for military officers) for almost 50 years.

The Conservative alternative to AARP is the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC.) You might want to give them, as well as AAA, a look. Their web site is https://amac.us/join-amac/ .

Unless you are on the political left and simply want to support left-wing political positions, you might want to avoid AARP.

Carl: I totally agree with your assessment. You saved me some keystrokes. Dumped them when they threw people under the bus to have the opportunity to peddle Medicare Advantage plans

[Greg Nelson]

Been a member for years..not sure why

[dewilson58]

When I was younger and ignorant I was a member of AARP. Then I discovered that the President of AARP was working strenuously against my best interests. He was using the power of his position to agitate against Second Amendment gun ownership. We exchanged letters. In mine I pointed out that older people who were no longer physically able to defend themselves against criminals needed the advantage of gun ownership. He refused to change his position, and I dropped my membership.

I now know that AARP has a super left-wing political agenda and worked hard for the passage of Obamacare, against the majority opinion of its' own membership.

For decades I have been a member of AAA. Having traveled a lot, I discovered that hotel and motel discounts for AAA were the same as for AARP. I have not looked into home or auto insurance with AAA because I have been using USAA (originally only for military officers) for almost 50 years.

The Conservative alternative to AARP is the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC.) You might want to give them, as well as AAA, a look. Their web site is https://amac.us/join-amac/ .

Unless you are on the political left and simply want to support left-wing political positions, you might want to avoid AARP.

I agree........there might be discounts, there might be freebies, but I do like to know where my dollars are going and I've seen AARP dollars go to the locations mentioned above.

[dewilson58]

Carl: I totally agree with your assessment. You saved me some keystrokes. Dumped them when they threw people under the bus to have the opportunity to peddle Medicare Advantage plans

Sorry Rubi, I replied before I read your post. Just doubled down.

[kittygilchrist]

:bigbow:

https://amac.us/join-amac/

Interesting..conservative alternative..Carl...you rock.

[princesspat]

Had AARP auto insurance for years because it was much cheaper than GEICO. Went to AAA and saved over $100 a month for the same coverage. AAA hotel discount is the exact same as AARP. We didn't renew. Now if they ever have their convention in Orlando again, I would join to go to that.

[MikeV]

I will never join AARP. Never.

[Jimmydoodlebug]

AARP sold us down the river on Obamacare.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcF2HfytVG4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7QB9Fz_uJg

[tomwed]

As an AARP member you always get a free donut when you buy a coffee at DD. Just show your card! If you eat one donut a day that's like $365 a year in savings!Homer, at last I found you. We've been looking for months.

[tomwed]

My wife made me join HARP. The Husbands Association of Retired People. I didn't want to join but she kept on going on and on, "you gotta join","you gotta join" until finally I did. By the way, she agrees with those other three fellows who find my humor insensitive.

[Greg Nelson]

HARP I know that word..

[manaboutown]

AARP's insiders must be pulling in a lot of money from their "non profit". Anybody know what the salaries and other benefits might be?

I joined it when I turned 55 but soon dropped my memberships due to the far left slant of the outfit.

[Chi-Town]

The magazine has a decent crossword puzzle.

[kittygilchrist]

My wife made me join HARP. The Husbands Association of Retired People. I didn't want to join but she kept on going on and on, "you gotta join","you gotta join" until finally I did. By the way, she agrees with those other three fellows who find my humor insensitive.

Goog one!

[2BNTV]

I was a member for years and then the President of AARP sent letters demanding I do, what he said.

I didn't like to be told what to do, so I dropped them. Subsequently, they have sent several letters for rejoining.

They must have a lot of money to waste, or is it members money?

BTW - A donut a day, does not keep the doctor away!!! :D

[Boomer]

As an AARP member you always get a free donut when you buy a coffee at DD. Just show your card! If you eat one donut a day that's like $365 a year in savings!

I just read your post to Mr. Boomer. He definitely took note.

I think the membership is 16 bucks a year. That could mean a heckuva return on investment. -- You know you just might be responsible if AARP memberships suddenly go up and DD's profits suddenly go down.


The magazine has a decent crossword puzzle.

I like to read about the "Movies for Grownups." In fact, I like to read most of the articles in the magazine. Overall quick reads that I sometimes find useful or entertaining for my age. -- But I also read the cereal box so what do I know.

The only thing is that when it was Cher or Dolly who were turning "The Big 5-Oh" I recognized their pictures on the cover. But now, I don't even know who some of those whippersnappers are. (sigh)

[goodtimesintv]

A closer look:


This report highlights AARP’s increasing reliance on the “for-profit” sale of insurance, particularly health insurance, and the underlying implication for this storied “non-profit” organization. In conducting the research, one of the central questions became:

http://waysandmeans.house.gov/UploadedFiles/AARP_REPORT_FINAL_PDF_3_29_11.pdf