Why join AARP?

[CRLLS]

Longtime member. I got my 1st membership at age 40 something. Yeah, that's right. AARP had started a sister org for investing and soon-to-be AARP qualified. It was supposed to be aimed at baby boomers. My parents gave it to me. It soon went belly up and they converted all memberships into AARP memberships.

We have gotten a few discounts along the way. Nothing more than what one would get as a AAA membership, but we aren't AAA members. WE did get AARP Medicare supplements. From what I understand, once you have the supplement, you can quit AARP and still maintain it. You may want to check that out if you are considering
them for supplements only.

 

[VanWinkle]

I am a volunteer with AARP but have only assisted by doing taxes through Tax Aide.

I have asked them repeatedly to try and get the tax on SS adjusted for inflation since it has not been adjusted since the original law. I see no effort on this and have decided they aren't really for seniors, unless it fits their narrative politically. They say they have the clout to get legislation approved, but this tax thing is not on their list.

VW

 

[PatrickA5]

a question for current members: other than the magazine and the bulletin, how much snail mail and advertising do you get on a monthly basis?

[I am a nomad so I have to pay to have my mail forwarded to wherever I am. I am keen to eliminate all snailmail].

I don't get any snail mail other than the publications. Been a member for 10 years. Rarely use the discounts, but do enjoy reading the publications. Other than maybe one article a month that tells what AARP is up to, I don't find the publications political at all.

 

[disneysteve]

a question for current members: other than the magazine and the bulletin, how much snail mail and advertising do you get on a monthly basis?

You know, we get so much junk mail that goes directly into the recycling bin that I can't say I've paid attention to how much of it is from AARP. I'll have to start taking note of that and report back.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

I use hotel discounts, AT&T wireless discounts and I like the read too. I'm proud to be a member of the geezer lobby!

Me Too. And I do have their part G

 

[Jerry1]

You know, we get so much junk mail that goes directly into the recycling bin that I can't say I've paid attention to how much of it is from AARP. I'll have to start taking note of that and report back.

AARP can’t be any worse than many of the charities we get main from. It aggravates me to know that some organization I gave money to probably sold my address. It pains me even more to see an organization that I’ve given money to send me more solicitations. I feel like it dilutes my contribution. Same with AARP. If you’re going to keep marketing to me, maybe you don’t really need an annual membership fee.

 

[anethum]

I get a discount on my UHC Medigap Plan G coverage and on my Consumer Cellular bill. I was already an AARP member before signing up for both.

I don't get junk mail from AARP, and I was able to stop the spam email.

I have found that the AARP Bulletin they send 6 times a year often has useful information.

As I got closer to my membership expiration date a year or two ago, they started lowering the renewal price. I think I paid only $45 for a 5 year renewal.

 

[RunningBum]

You know, we get so much junk mail that goes directly into the recycling bin that I can't say I've paid attention to how much of it is from AARP. I'll have to start taking note of that and report back.

It's not junk mail directly from AARP, it's from their partners that they've sold your address to that I don't want. If I join, it's going to be with some derivative of my name so I can see just how much is because of them. I unintentionally did this with Dish and still get some from random places with that combination I've never used before.

 

[athena53]

I joined to get the Medicare supplement. I like most of what's in their publications and I always learn something. They deluge me with e-mails but they have my "spamcatcher" address so I can avoid seeing them. It's interesting to see what they're up to, what petitions they want me to sign, what they want me to tell my local legislators. I just don't.

And I love that they simultaneously give you lots of information on staying healthy and offer discounts at places like Denny's. (Yes, it's possible to get a somewhat healthy meal there but from what I see of the people I see in their restaurants, most don't.)

I have asked them repeatedly to try and get the tax on SS adjusted for inflation since it has not been adjusted since the original law. I see no effort on this and have decided they aren't really for seniors, unless it fits their narrative politically. They say they have the clout to get legislation approved, but this tax thing is not on their list.

VW

Now that's interesting. I agree that it must not be one of their priorities.

 

[pacergal]

I enjoy the monthly magazine and bulletin, other than that I don't pay attention to junk mail, it gets recycled.
I ask for AARP discount every where we go-restaurants, hotels, we have our car and home insurance via Hartford/AARP. They have pretty good travel planning info and discounts.

I find value with the membership, some don't.

 

[Montecfo]

I see no reason to join. They are part of the problem, not part of the solution in my view.

 

[Gotadimple]

You can control snail mail as a member. There are settings on their site that let you do that.

I don't use the card for discounts as most times you can get the discount without showing a membership card (Consumer Cellular and United Health are exceptions). It is important to note that AARP is a marketing organization and every 'discount' you use results in a fee paid to AARP by the organization. That's why you can be a member for $45 a year.

 

[Major Tom]

I understand that the supplemental Medicare insurance you can get through them is good. My SIL is very happy with hers. When I get close to 65, I may join for that reason alone. I don't care much for the magazine. It makes me feel as if I'm in a dentist waiting room. All those pictures and articles about seniors living active lives - no doubt playing tennis, while popping Viagra, having lots of sex, and wearing Depends. Yes, you can have it all

Anyway, I may well join for the supplemental Medicare insurance.

 

[Katsmeow]

a question for current members: other than the magazine and the bulletin, how much snail mail and advertising do you get on a monthly basis?

[I am a nomad so I have to pay to have my mail forwarded to wherever I am. I am keen to eliminate all snailmail].

I don't get any. I usually renew for 3 years and if it gets close to renewal time and I haven't renewed online I will get a snail mail renewal but it goes away when you renew. There are people who are lot more annoying on junk mail than AARP.

DH originally joined to get the Medicare supplement. When I turned Medicare age I found out that I could be added to his membership at no additional cost so I could also get it. You don't have to maintain the membership once you get the supplement but I have chosen to do so.

 

[jazz4cash]

I forgot about the .1% bonus for 24 months on my Marcus savings account. It just so happens there is a full list of benefits in the most recent newsletter. There appears to be some other bonuses on CDs or whatever also.

 

[Midpack]

10,9,8....counting down to blast of anti AARP political posts.

No blast, but that's the reason I haven't and probably never will join AARP - their politics. YMMV

 

[latexman]

[shields up] I don’t notice their politics. [shields down]

 

[athena53]

I enjoy the monthly magazine and bulletin, other than that I don't pay attention to junk mail, it gets recycled.
I ask for AARP discount every where we go-restaurants, hotels, we have our car and home insurance via Hartford/AARP. They have pretty good travel planning info and discounts.

Much of this is a duplicate with what AAA (which I also have) provides.

 

[harllee]

I joined many years ago and enjoy their publications. I have to be a member to get the UHC Medicare supplement (the best supplement in my opinion). I don't remember getting any snail mail from them other than my subscription notice. Since others have mentioned they don't like AARP politics I will say I was involved in trying to get a state bill passed and AARP was instrumental in helping me to get it passed. The law involved an estate administration matter and simplified the process, AARP was in favor and very helpful.

 

[bluelight]

My husband and I each have our Medigap policies through AARP UHC.

We also purchased home owners, auto and umbrella insurance through AARP Hartford which saved us about $400 per year over what we had been paying.

Well worth the cost of the yearly fee.

 

[Midpack]

I joined many years ago and enjoy their publications. I have to be a member to get the UHC Medicare supplement (the best supplement in my opinion). I don't remember getting any snail mail from them other than my subscription notice. Since others have mentioned they don't like AARP politics I will say I was involved in trying to get a state bill passed and AARP was instrumental in helping me to get it passed. The law involved an estate administration matter and simplified the process, AARP was in favor and very helpful.

Undoubtedly. OTOH their politics on some matters is overly self-serving IMO, but we've had those debates more than once, and everyone is welcome to choose for themselves. They will never get a dime from me.

 

[BobMW]

The DW just joined AMAC, the new conservative alternative to AARP. I'll update our opinion as it goes

 

[BarbWire]

Thank you!

Thank you, everyone, for the replies.


So, to sum up from my "searching for a Medigap policy" perspective:

• many of the benefits duplicate what I have with AAA or T-Mobile, both of which I plan to keep, so that's a wash
• the British Airways benefit might be nice
• I can probably get rid of all the marketing SPAM (snail and email) and just get the Magazine and Bulletin
• there might be some interesting CD and other investment options
• I have to join for at least a year to get the AARP-UHC Medicare Supplement policy (that's coming up in June)

I'm still evaluating the AARP-UHC Plan G; if I decide to go that direction, membership in AARP won't be a deal-breaker.


Again, thank you for all the replies.

 

[CaptTom]

I'm not a huge fan of AARP, but for those who question the politics of the organization, please consider their position.

If a politician from party "A" proposed a bill which will hurt seniors, what exactly can AARP do about it?

In today's partisan environment, if they call out the party "A" politician then everyone in party "A" quits in disgust because "they attacked my team." If they don't call out the politician, then everyone in party "B" quits because they won't go to bat for seniors.

It's a lose-lose.

There is great potential in having an organization which advocates for seniors. I wish we could take off our "my party is always right" blinders and support the ISSUES which mean something to us, instead of the PARTY we happen to belong to.

[Climbing off my soap box now.]

 

[CRLLS]

Thank you, everyone, for the replies.


So, to sum up from my "searching for a Medigap policy" perspective:

• many of the benefits duplicate what I have with AAA or T-Mobile, both of which I plan to keep, so that's a wash
• the British Airways benefit might be nice
• I can probably get rid of all the marketing SPAM (snail and email) and just get the Magazine and Bulletin
• there might be some interesting CD and other investment options
• I have to join for at least a year to get the AARP-UHC Medicare Supplement policy (that's coming up in June)

I'm still evaluating the AARP-UHC Plan G; if I decide to go that direction, membership in AARP won't be a deal-breaker.


Again, thank you for all the replies.

AARP-UHC Plan G really was a no brainer for me. It had the coverage I wanted and was the ONLY community rated plan offered in my state. I could have gone with a lower cost plan from other providers. I do believe that in my later years, this feature will be lower cost over my expected life span. My state lists the costs for every plan and by age group in 5-year increments.

I don't have a single item litmus test for AARP. They don't always promote the things I think they should. Sometimes they do the opposite. IMO, on the whole, they do good more than they do bad. So be it.