Aarp
 

Do most Villagers have AARP, is it a good deal or a waste of time and money?

Haven't used it for much but our auto insurance. We switched over immediately upon my husband's offer to join. Same insurance company...a little over $700.00 less per year.

I use it primarily for access to vendors at reduced prices. Have had it for many years. I became a life member when it was very inexpensive ($10).

Yeah, I'm in and I've used the discounts a few times, but the primary reason I belong is the legislative support they provide seniors.

I don't mainly because of some of the PAC groups they support in Washington.

And their Medicare supplement

That was my biggest concern. I have GPM Life for my Medicare gap and don't know if that will be accepted when we move down. I think I have read on the forum that United Healthcare is the "gap" of choice in TV. Is that true?

I am a member and I also have the AARP Medicare supplement. I have no way of knowing how many Villagers carry it. I do know that in the summer of 2013, I had a triple by-pass, with related nursing home rehab, two melanoma surgeries (one at Ocala) and a nineteen day stay at TVRH for an intestinal disorder. Massive medical bills, and with AARP, I paid nothing. No hassles, no fights, just insurance.

Excellent insurance.:clap2: Never get a bill.

ditto.......I do not support their political agenda.

I soured on AARP because of their political agenda which leans heavily liberal and because they threw seniors under the bus to gain advantage in the ObamIacare . Also they exist to sell insurance claiming discounts but by inserting themselves in the process only increase premiums since their costs are added on to premiums. People would do better shopping their own insurance

They have a history of voting against the wishes of seniors when it fits their political aspirations. Like any lobbyist group they do more harm than good and are an impediment for individual citizen to exercise their Constitutional rights.

I only express an opinion and do not invite argument

:coolsmiley:

I have AARP supplemental medical ins. It is great.

I do not belong to AARP. I can buy their insurance without belonging.

I completely agree. Plus, their monthly magazine is chock full of ads for products and services that look like they would take advantage of seniors. I finally let my membership lapse, hoping that the endless solicitations for health and life insurance would stop, but they keep coming.

I agree. I even wrote them a letter when I cancelled my card. I get 10% on my AAA card and I could get 20% on an AARP card at Denny's but I refuse to support their agenda.

Z

We have had AARP for a gap insurance but Shands is out of network as is the Mayo. We have been disappointed with The Village hospital and found, for serious issues, it is severely lacking. Also, in our opinion, Shands doctors are, in general, superior to those in the village system. We will be revisiting our insurance options for the coming year.

No argument here. Once again rubicon has given me an education. We use our AARP card for discounts at Hilton brand hotels where we get points. We may begin using our AAA card instead. We will further educate ourselves on AARP.

Will not re-up my membership as I don't use their services any longer. I don't even have time to read their magazine.

It is a business. IMHO They constantly send me literature to buy their products. I'm sure when my membership expires, I will get the same offers for their life insurance, etc,

I thought their "agenda" was to support retired persons in whatever way possible. What exactly is in their agenda that you find objectionable?

Me too
 

I have AARP Plan F and when I was in the hospital for 7 weeks and had many procedures afterwards, we have nevr had to pay anything. I love it.

Their agenda is to sell insurance. They are owned by Hartford Insurance.

Use it at hotels

We also have the Medicare Supplemental insurance and it has proven to be very good...........so far.

We are also no longer members of AARP.

This may be a better alternative: https://amac.us/join-amac/?campaign=email-newsletter

I totally agree. I would never join AARP.

not much benefit for us
 

Our membership just lapsed and I have not renewed, not sure if I will or not.

Just went to a meeting on our Medicare options when we reach 65 (about another year). Appears all medigap plans (supplements) pay everything if you are using doctors and hospitals, etc. in the network (appears $200-300 mo. from 65-70, then goes up from 70-75, maybe one more price increase at 75 and over).

Advantage plans are either free or very cheap, but you have co-pays and co-insurance (out of pocket expenses). You can switch to different ones every year if you wish. It's a gamble, but not a huge one. You'll save about $3,000 in premiums every year but could pay more in years you pay out of pocket up to policy limit (maybe $7,500 annually).

I know couples where one (the older one or the one with more health issues) have one with an Advantage plan and one with a medigap plan. You could also go with the Advantage plan for say the 1st 5 years and then apply for a medigap - which you could get if you are still healthy. It's a gamble, if you get a serious chronic disease at say 70.

Drug plans are separate, said you should review every year which best for you.

If you do not get a supplement plan at 65, when first eligible, you are subject to underwriting (meaning they review your medical history and can reject you or charge you a higher premium). I think that if you have a supplement up north, and then become a Florida resident, you can change supplement plans (once) with no underwriting review - moving is a "life event."

I hope I finally have this right. Snowbirds, like us, need to be extra careful to make sure you have the right networks in both places.

What I am not sure of is what happens if the networks change providers and hospitals if you are enrolled in a supplement plan (medigap). That's a question I need to remember to ask before we choose a plan.

We enrolled in an AARP Medigap plan belatedly. There is NO network, the plan benefits are established by law. You are free to use any doctor or facility in the United States that accepts Medicare. Yes, you must enroll in Medigap within six months after you become 65 to be guaranteed acceptance, or you must be able to answer certain health questions satisfactorily if you decide to enroll later.

We finally decided to ditch my husband's union PPO plan where we usually ended up with extra bills. Also the union renegotiated contracts with insurers every two years and it was frustrating.

So we had to time our applications to AARP Medigap in order to satisfactorily answer the health questions before quitting the union plan. If the plan had gone out of business or terminated us involuntarily, we wouldn't have had to answer the questions.

I also suspect, but don't know for sure, that doctors prefer dealing with Original Medicare+Medigap plans set by law, over Advantage plans where they have to negotiate contracts. Maybe that's why patients often hear their doctors no longer accept XYZ Advantage plan.

I didn't know that you could drop your AARP membership and still continue your United Health Care Medigap plan. Our policy card carries the AARP membership number. Do you keep the same number?

Anyway, we are happy with AARP/Medigap, even though the premiums are more expensive. We've never received a bill from a provider.

Have belonged to AARP for 18 years and like their magazine, newsletter, and discounts. I have their United Healthcare medicare sup, plan F, and have never been charged a nickel, including back surgery. I find most of their positions on elder issues to be very positive, and will continue to support the organization.

AARP or AMAC, My wife and I choose to stay with AARP, this being a political decision AARP has lobbied successfully for SENIORS so far. With the disruption in Washington and the seemingly endless fight of Paul Ryan and (Conservatives) AMAC WORKING WHAT SEEMS TO BE A POLITICAL AGENDA TOGETHER, to continually suggest that Social Security and medicare are entitlements. I have worked for 42+ years and paid into both Social Security and Medicare they are not ENTITLEMENTS.

I thought that with the medigap (supplement) plans, you could go to any Dr that accepts medicare in the US????

By "gap," do you mean advantage plan or supplemental? A supplemental is accepted anywhere. Advantage plans are more regional.

Thanks for answering that. That's what I thought.

I agree.....their PAC focus does not agree with what I want to see in gov't.

That's their marketing.....you need to research the liberal agenda they support and if that meets with your agenda then you should support them. An example, they supported Obamacare until they didn't. Their original support put seniors at a risk for reduced care and increased premiums. They followed the Pelosi direction, you had to support it to get it passed then you can read it. That's just one example.

They are the largest membership organization of seniors in America with huge political clout. Their budget is supported by seniors dues and peripheral purchases made by seniors. How could they even survive, much less be a growing organization, unless they were supporting an agenda that supported their membership. No offense, but don't politicize this if its not. If Obamacare and Pelosi are good for the majority of seniors and their members then that's where they need to be isn't it?

Aarp
 

What plan do you have?

Well that sure does sound like a well-funded insurance company, and not a tax-exempt "non-profit" group......

"The report found that insurance sales are AARP's single largest source of revenue, far eclipsing member dues. AARP-brand offerings are the market leaders for Medicare prescription coverage, private Medicare Advantage insurance plans, and Medigap supplemental coverage that fills in benefit gaps in traditional Medicare.

UnitedHealthcare, which operates the AARP plans, paid the organization $427 million in 2009 for the use of its name, according to the report...."

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/844545

The claim that AARP provides discounts should be accompanied by what % of the premium, hotel rate, etc they are given for use of their name.

There was an issue a couple of years back concerning Medicare can't remember but thought it was a CPI increase recommended by congress AARP lobbied for it not to be passed

AARP is not an insurance company. They are a marketing company with a liberal political agenda. All of the discounts that they offer are available from a myriad of other marketing companies.

This is not as a result of AARP, all plan F Medicare Gap coverages (or supplements) are identical no matter where you buy them. Plan F from any company would have paid exactly the same. All the lettered plans A-N are identical regardless of the company but the prices they charge do vary quite a bit. No networks with these plans.

We are AARP members but do not agree with a lot of their positions, would most likely not renew again.

I think that's what I said, if they support your agenda then they are good for you.....they don't support mine and I will not support them. And what you said, if seniors didn't support them they wouldn't survive is also true. I believe the problem is that most listen to the ads and don't investigate their positions.....when people vote or contribute based on marketing then act surprised when the gov't takes money out of their pockets. I do disagree with you on one point....everything today is about politics, nothing is about doing what's right anymore.