AARP worth it?

[youbet]

One that I recall is that they were at one time saying that SS FRA and benefits should not change at all, and I don't agree with that, especially freezing the FRA given changes in longevity. When SS was started, the FRA of 65 was such that benefits were expected to be paid for about 13 years on average, so to age 78. With longevity increases it is now more like 85 (83 for men and 86 for women)... an additional 7 years, but the FRA has only been increased another 2 years (from 65 to 67).

That data would suggest that the FRA should be more like 72 to pay 10 years of benefits. Even if you split the difference to reflect that an increase in the FRA may result in more years of work and more contributions, that would suggest a FRA of 70 but if increasing the FRA from 67 to 70 for people currently in their 30s is proposed then there is a huge hue and cry that SS is being "cut".

It's not being cut, it is being adjusted due to changes in longevity so the program can continue to pay full benefits.

I don't recall AARP specifically making a proposal as you describe it. Typically, they report and explain possibilities and alternatives such as here:

https://www.aarp.org/retirement/soc...benefits-current-status-future-stability.html

 

[Teacher Terry]

I used to belong but no longer think it’s worth it as I can get better deals online myself. I understand using it for the supplement Medicare plan but I can’t do that because of my retiree benefits.

 

[EastWest Gal]

The UHC MediGap plans are the only ones in which the premium is not based on age. I don't want to be 98 years old paying some crazy premium if I don't have to. So we joined when DH got ready to go on Medicare. Most of the magazine articles are lame, but the last month's issue had some really useful articles. For the extremely low cost, access to their plans is worth it.

 

[pb4uski]

Reminds me of the old Fram air filter commercials, you can pay me now or pay me later.

 

[scrinch]

I agree. Very happy with the supplements, magazines have some interesting content. Not in agreement with most of their politics.

+1

But you won't need a Medicare supplement for another 10 years, so maybe join in 9-1/2 years!

 

[wrigley]

I joined the first year I was eligible. Did not renew after that. They have been hounding me to re-join for the last 10+ years.

Mike

 

[athena53]

+1

But you won't need a Medicare supplement for another 10 years, so maybe join in 9-1/2 years!

No, I'm almost 71 so definitely need one! I have heard that once you sign up and get the UHC supplement you don't need to renew your AARP membership to renew the supplement. I haven't tried that.

I don't find their discounts all that great; when a friend got an urge for biscuits and gravy for breakfast I accidentally discovered the Denny's discount, but I have AAA and many places offer a similar discount for AAA members. I also find it ironic that the restaurant discounts are for a lot of place with heavy, fatty, salty foods and oversized portions but the magazines are preaching healthy habits. (Fortunately, Denny's did offer an egg-white veggie omelet and I skipped the toast.)

 

[audreyh1]

No, I'm almost 71 so definitely need one! I have heard that once you sign up and get the UHC supplement you don't need to renew your AARP membership to renew the supplement. I haven't tried that.

Correct. You just have to be a member at signup.

 

[sengsational]

I joined the first year I was eligible. Did not renew after that. They have been hounding me to re-join for the last 10+ years.

Same thing with us. I couldn't care less about the lobbying, as that's going to happen anyway, even if droves of people "vote with their feet". We just didn't use the discounts or even read the pubs.

Then one of us was turning 65 and both joined to get the discount on Medigap.

Still throw out the pubs (I get the real scoop on retirement from the wise members on this site), but DW does enjoy the (easy) crossword puzzles.

 

[audreyh1]

We were able to get the magazine online only and since DH joined family no mailings at all which has been really nice. I suppose when we drop it we’ll get mailings again.

 

[EarlyandLate]

Correct. You just have to be a member at signup.

This is good to know. I reluctantly joined just to get the United medigap plan. I find it bizarre that membership in a lobbying organization would be required to buy health insurance. Boy! Our medical system in this country is sure screwed up!!

 

[audreyh1]

It’s a benefit AARP offers to members.

 

[Gotadimple]

This is good to know. I reluctantly joined just to get the United medigap plan. I find it bizarre that membership in a lobbying organization would be required to buy health insurance. Boy! Our medical system in this country is sure screwed up!!

United Health Care offers several medigap plans (i.e., G, N, etc). You can buy an non-AARP branded Medigap plan from them or the AARP one. If you want the special AARP rate you must be an AARP member. United won't go out of business if no one buys their AARP plan.

- Rita

 

[EarlyandLate]

It’s a benefit AARP offers to members.

Yes, but since United is in the business of selling health insurance, it seems that one should be able to buy a plan not connected to AARP also. For example, sometimes car companies sell editions of models linked to a particular designer, but they also sell models without that branding.

 

[rk911]

Not for me.unless required for an insurance policy you want. I do not wish to fund the type of lobbying they do.

+1

 

[audreyh1]

Yes, but since United is in the business of selling health insurance, it seems that one should be able to buy a plan not connected to AARP also. For example, sometimes car companies sell editions of models linked to a particular designer, but they also sell models without that branding.

Well Rita says you can, you just won’t get the AARP discount.

United Health Care offers several medigap plans (i.e., G, N, etc). You can buy an non-AARP branded Medigap plan from them or the AARP one. If you want the special AARP rate you must be an AARP member. United won't go out of business if no one buys their AARP plan.

- Rita

 

[Gotadimple]

Well Rita says you can, you just won’t get the AARP discount.

The only exception to this is if United Healthcare chooses only to file the AARP Medigap plan with your state insurance commissioner. They have several plans for sale in the state of Washington for example, including the AARP one.

As all Medigap plans have the same coverage (G, N, etc.) the only difference is premium. Are you sure that in your state the best rate you can get is with UHC and the AARP-branded plan?

- Rita

 

[audreyh1]

The only exception to this is if United Healthcare chooses only to file the AARP Medigap plan with your state insurance commissioner. They have several plans for sale in the state of Washington for example, including the AARP one.

As all Medigap plans have the same coverage (G, N, etc.) the only difference is premium. Are you sure that in your state the best rate you can get is with UHC and the AARP-branded plan?

- Rita

I see, so ultimately it depends on your state.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

I actually like the way AARP tries to help retirees. Not sure why folks here do not. Their lobbying is not relevant to me.

 

[CaptTom]

The problem with any organization which tries to lobby for a specific demographic, like seniors, is that today's political landscape won't allow it.

If "my" party proposes legislation which hurts (again, for example) seniors, and some organization lobbies against that specific legislation, "my" party brands that organization the enemy, and demands it's loyal members to disparage and boycott them.

So, an organization like AARP is faced with a dilemma. If they really stand up to any politician, they'll lose the support of the 40% of the population which belongs to that politician's party.

I don't have an answer. But I can tell you this: When some pundit or politician says something which gets you angry, or tells you to hate some organization or group, you are being manipulated.

 

[W2R]

AARP

My late mother bought me a one year membership to AARP as a joke, for my 50th birthday.

I didn't like their politics so I never renewed it. Neither did she, and yet even now at age 75 I still get junk mail from them frequently. She's been dead for 17 years by now.

I am not a fan.

 

[Ian S]

Folks, lobbying works otherwise big business wouldn't spend billions on it. I'm glad there is someone lobbying for seniors especially disadvantaged ones. It's great that folks with cushy high paying desk jobs can cheer on the idea of increasing the full retirement age while blue collar workers, many of whom do backbreaking jobs and have much lower life expectancies, pretty much have to work until they drop dead. Have some empathy, people!

 

[ShokWaveRider]

Folks, lobbying works otherwise big business wouldn't spend billions on it. I'm glad there is someone lobbying for seniors especially disadvantaged ones. It's great that folks with cushy high paying desk jobs can cheer on the idea of increasing the full retirement age while blue collar workers, many of whom do backbreaking jobs and have much lower life expectancies, pretty much have to work until they drop dead. Have some empathy, people!

+100 Well said. Some folks do not know how lucky they are having an organization that is on their side.

 

[CaptTom]

Folks, lobbying works otherwise big business wouldn't spend billions on it.

^^ This deserves repeating.

There is a lot of money out there, pushing policies which don't help seniors, working stiffs, or frankly anyone but the big donors. Our elected officials - of both parties - respond to this.

And, again talking about both parties, they hate it when we ordinary citizens band together and try to lobby back.

If you're being told that a group like AARP is "the enemy," then you are being manipulated. Of course your party pundits and apologists don't like them. They're interfering with the system which benefits both the politicians and the corporations which support them.

That said, I'm not a huge fan of AARP, mainly because they seem to spend more energy selling products and services than actually standing up to politicians. But I fully support the concept of providing a counterpoint to the big corporate lobbyists. It's not a partisan thing, it's about power and influence. Seniors have very little. We need all the help we can get.

 

[GenXguy]

Folks, lobbying works otherwise big business wouldn't spend billions on it. I'm glad there is someone lobbying for seniors especially disadvantaged ones. It's great that folks with cushy high paying desk jobs can cheer on the idea of increasing the full retirement age while blue collar workers, many of whom do backbreaking jobs and have much lower life expectancies, pretty much have to work until they drop dead. Have some empathy, people!

And some of us age out of our professions when businesses want to cut their high income staff, so we can't be working into our 60's. And it's not always physical limitations that keep you from being able to work.

I'm glad someone is out there fighting for us.