Aarp
 

You may recall that, several months ago, I sought advice here on whether or not joining the AARP was worthwhile.

Opinion was split but many saw it as just a way to market other products.

Well, I benefitted from discounted car rental rates but on returning to TV after several months I found that over half of my mail was from AARP - car insurance, life insurance etc.

I have no problem throwing it in the trash, but they are certainly keeping the USPS in business.

I have always considered AARP to be an insurance company disguised as an advocacy for Seniors.

Here's a hint. If you get unwanted mail solicitations (from AARP or any other source) that provides you with return envelope that you don't have to stamp, just return the application form or other material (blank, of course) and send it back. They have to pay postage on those returns and if they get enough of them, it might discourage the garbage mail.

Wrong - they simply market insurance from other carriers and get compensated from those carriers. New York Life, United Healthcare, Mutual of Omaha etc.

I haven't followed them in years, but once upon a time, they're claimed to back seniors, but supported politicians that didn't. So, I cancelled my membership and never looked back. I never found any financial justification for being a member, there are many other ways to save as much or more.

It’s a marketing company with a boring magazine. Unless it’s free, not for me

Actually I find the magazine to be very good and their bulletins are even better.

agreed

I once read a legal advice article in their magazine where a 68 year old woman wanted to sell a property, but she was afraid that the Government would make her pay off her student loan. The lawyer gave her advice about how to avoid paying off the loan, instead of telling her that she is a deadbeat and to pay off the loan. I don't like AARP.

It keeps the trash to the energy plant fueled. I pay for trash collection whether I use it or not so when I return just doing my part to keep energy rates low as possible.

My bulletin makes it 10 feet from mailbox to trash can. Not paid in years yet it still comes

I joined way back when I turned 50 for the discounts, kept the membership for a while primarily for their supplemental health insurance once I got on Medicare at age 65. Then I discovered I did not need the membership to keep the insurance so I dropped my membership as AARP was certainly not representing my interests in any other manner.

I have gotten some good discounts on hotel rooms using them. Paid for itself many times over.

Independent insurance agencies, which are not insurance companies either, sell insurance policies for multiple insurance companies. AARP is nothing more than an independent insurance agency.

As far as discounts at motels/hotels, most also give discounts for AAA membership, active and retired military, and federal and state government employees. I'm sure there are others, but these are the ones I'm most familiar with. I've found that it doesn't matter what organization the hotel accepts it is the same percentage for all of them.

We get our auto insurance up north for both my truck and my wife’s Honda from the Hartford/AARP and get excellent rates. Unfortunately, they won’t write a policy on our Florida car.

They provide several benefits and have an informative magazine. So they market other products? I don’t see that as any big deal.

I absolutely agree with you. They advocate for their business ventures under the guise of senior advocacy.

The AAAP did an investigation of Nursing Homes and assisted living
 

They reported on how they weren't able to take care of Alzheimer patients which were not properly taken care of during the onset of the covid because they had very little staff, no PPE and not keep Alzheimer patients safe from covid and were very apathetic to family member wanting info to their loved ones. Because of this reporting and lose of my wife in the Bristol assisted living due to covid and very poor care and their reporting I would never recommend most of them unless they can prove that my loved one will be safe there.
At least 15,000 seniors caught covid in the NYS alone lost their lives to covid, they had the courage to report on this stories

Show your card and get 15% off at Denny's.

Aarp
 

AAA will get you more discounts and services than AARP and also travel services.

Hartford not insuring in Florida
 

That's strange, we have our Honda and our Golf cart insured by Hartford.
We are registered Florida residents and live in the Villages too.
They won't insure a vehicle that has an "S" (salvage) marked Title however.
In other words restored vehicles that were once marked "Totaled".

AARP is also a political lobbying organization. They lobby and contribute money to anti-gun organizations. They suck. Do I need to say anything more?

Not worth AAA cost vs AARP cost

Create an online AARP account, go to your preferences and opt out of the mailings.

Never saw a need to join.

It won't discourage them, they will simply raise their rates.

Nope, thanks for the info. I will be joining AARP.

Amac
 

I prefer AMAC. It's a conservative group that has a lot of the same discounts but doesn't carpet bomb you with insurance sales. They also have a great magazine that comes out bi monthly that I found very helpful. The magazines can be viewed online. AMAC Magazine - AMAC - The Association of Mature American Citizens

I occasionally wonder if there is any truth to the urban legend that some people have affixed that envelope to a brick and mailed it back, expecting the recipient to pay postage.

Thank you for that, Oldragbagger - I'll check it out

bingo!!!

As a conservative, I subscribe to AMAC, much better than AARP!

i also have used the discount many times over, more than paid for the subscription

AARP is THE most American of American companies. It's like the statue of liberty, but for seniors.

Technically wrong, for sure, as they are not an "insurance company". But the poster's point is correct if you replace "company" with "broker". That's what they are - an insurance broker.

How about adding sawdust to the envelope for the return?

AAA, etc.
 

Those advocating AAA: That is good, but it is more expensive than AARP.

AARP is only about 12 dollars a year.
Benefits are listed here: AARP(R) Member Benefits: Browse All Discounts & Programs

I do not qualify for military, gov't employee, etc. discounts at hotels, so the membership has saved me at hotels, though AMAC would have also saved me at most of the same hotels.

I was able to check a bag for free, value of $65, on British Airways (ticket was $65 cheaper than best price found elsewhere.

I find Ancestry too expensive despite my love for genealogy. AARP got me 3 months for 1 dollar per month, not the $25 by-the-month (or about $17 per month on a six month plan, only a little less on a one year plan).

Finally, I admit that I feel torn because AARP can be political at times, and when they are, their actions may not be in keeping with what I believe.

Crowded mailboxes due presumably to AARP sharing were mentioned. They can be contacted and asked not to share information, a request they will honor. Whenever I join something I try to make that request.

Also - For crowded mailboxes: Google "stop junk snail mail". I get very little junk mail these days after following steps here. And yes, I still get the "free dinner" invitations despite doing the things recommended to stop junk snail mail. It is a little effort to stop junk snail mail, so some but not all will consider it worth the time to do so.

I'm also thinking of switching to their competitor which better supports my views. I use Hartford insurance for our vehicles in Florida with no issues, they were also the cheapest insurance company compared to USAA, AAA, and a few others

that's the very reason i didn't join, & probably never will

Yeah, but does AARP provide 24 hr roadside assistance for that $12?