Does anyone have a valid reason why I should join AARP? I can't find an advantage

[Mira]

and they are so Republican.

[texastoast]

1. Juicy travel discounts

That's about all.

[babylonsister]

2. Thanks for asking. I want to know also. nt

[madmom]

3. Hotel discounts.

[Orrex]

4. Isn't that the weather-controlling satellite that causes earthquakes?

[valerief]

50. HAARP, silly! nt

[Tangerine LaBamba]

5. My friend Harold loves them

for the rental car and hotel deals he gets through them.

Besides that, I have no idea.......................

[John Q. Citizen]

6. They are an insurance company. Years ago they were an advocacy organization but now

they are organized crime.

[pscot]

30. 60-minutes did an exposee years back

Alledging the AARP is a front for Colonial Penn Insurance. Whatever benefits/incentives they offer are merely to set you up for the sales pitch. It's all one big, artfully crafted marketing scheme.

[jtown1123]

39. Little known fact. They are first and foremost an insurance agency. Advocacy came way later

[lillypaddle]

42. Don't agree with you

They DO lobby for things such as social security & medicare.

[jtown1123]

45. Actually they were an insurance company first...advocacy came much later. n/t

[MarjorieG]

7. Travel discounts, which add up, even at cheapie motels.

[RebelOne]

33. Join the AAA. Travel discounts are just as good. n/t

[Sarah Ibarruri]

8. Republican? Explain. I'm curious. nt

[heidler1]

9. If you're like me and and are on a Senior Medi-gap insurance don't trust AARP

as to which one is the best. Go to http://www.medicare.gov/MPPF/Include/DataSection/Questions/Welcome.asp they do a gov. sponsored comparison of whats available in your zip code. This saved me a lot of money. AARP pushes Secure Horizons and it is far down the list. And their car insurance sucks too.

[maglatinavi]

24. love AARP

I was paying $217 for my medigap with Blue Cross and it was going to be raised. Changed to AARP ins. and pay $168... have the same coverage; besides all the other benefits, plus its advocacy for the elderly and for health care reform. I think it is great and recommend to every one ... The repugs are trying to semar and disparage it because of their (repugs)commitment to the frigging corporate insurance cos.

[demosincebirth]

35. Their auto insurance is the lowest. I haven't found any insurance that can

beat them and I check them all every year before mine expires.

[tortoise1956]

41. Try USAA...

they might not be the absolute lowest, but I for one can attest to the fact that their customer service is outstanding. We've submitted claims on both cars and our home, and in all cases they were fast and efficient. As a matter of fact, when my wife murdered a Porsche with her Toyota truck, the Porsche owner ended up switching to USAA because of the way they treated HIM! Hard to beat that...

As for AARP, I do believe that it's just a front for selling insurance. Besides, I don't agree with their stance on a lot of issues.

[demosincebirth]

43. That may do for some, but I hope never to need customer serv. I go with

the cheapest for my needs. Never filed a claim on my cars or home in 40 years. I'm either lucky or a good driver or both. As far as AARP, I haven't found them to be that conservative. This debate about SS and MC, they are very much on our side. I guess they have to...that's who supports them.

[Shoelace]

10. 1 only, 30% discount on eyeglasses

at least here in Oregon at Shopko, etc. It did save us a couple hundred bucks on our last eyeglass buy about 2 years ago (35 bucks to join for both hubby and myself for 2 years).
HOWEVER.....I am so tired of trying to sort through all their junk ad mail for everything from soup to nuts.

If you need glasses, it's a good deal, of not forget it. Be sure to call and ask if they accept AARP's discount though. Some do, some don't.

[TreasonousBastard]

12. Much better eyglass deals at...

www.zennioptical.org

A few DUers recommended them, and I bought a pair there-- $18 including shipping for a pair of prescription aviator sunglasses. Very happy with them.

I'm ordering a few more pairs-- progressive bifocals for about 40 bucks and some regular glasses for around 10 bucks each.

[Shoelace]

14. ooooh, thanks for that!

we're both due for new glasses pretty soon so will see what we can get with them. :grouphug:

[2Design]

15. link not working n/t

[TreasonousBastard]

17. Ooops! Sorry-- it should be www.zennioptical.com Too late...

to edit the dumb mistake.

[pengillian101]

23. www.zennioptical.com - wow - what a deal!

Thanks for posting, TreasonousBastard.

You just need an eyeglass prescription and you can buy really inexpensive glasses --- just as good as anywhere. The selection seems endless for frames.

I bought three pairs and am extremely happy with the quality.

www.zennioptical.com

[Bakeman]

31. glassesshop.com

Thanks pengillian101, I just got my prescription glasses from http://www.glassesshop.com/ and they are great. The quality is on par with brand-name glasses. Worth a try, imo.

[raccoon]

18. Me too, with Lenscrafters. nt

[demosincebirth]

46. Try zennioptical.com. Last year, at Kaiser, glasses, w/medicare discount cost

me three hundred bucks. I just ordered, basically, the same pair for $50 bucks. I could have gotten them cheaper, but I didn't want to seem too cheap.

[AdHocSolver]

11. If you aren't a member of another organization that gets you discounts, it may be worthwhile.

The AAA has several discount offers that match those of AARP especially for travel. AAA also provides "free" roadmaps, Tour Guide Books that describe tourist attractions, lodging, and restaurant information for the U.S. and some other countries, as well as roadside assistance plans.

If you are over 65 years of age, many companies will give you the same deals that they give AARP members. Just ask what senior discounts they offer.

AARP is not your friend or advocate. They make money by selling insurance, and they are less than neutral on issues important to seniors. If you join, you will be "deluged" with advertising from them. Don't give them your e-mail address.

They send out a small magazine that occasionally conveys some useful information. A lot of the content is the kind of fluff you get in a newspaper Sunday magazine section.

If you just turned fifty and belong to no other organization that sponsors discount offers, for example like AAA, then it is worth spending a few bucks to try it out for one year.

[obliviously]

13. Coupons for depends and viagra!

[yy4me]

16. Careful on those hotel discounts. True story. We were headed to

DC from MA and by the time we reached Delaware, we were tired. We had sat in our car for hours in a traffic mess in NY. Usually the trip used to take us 11 hours with a couple of rest stops.

Anyway, went to one hotel that looked OK, asked price of room. $85.00. Then my husband asked about a AARP discount, was quoted $125.00. I kid you not. Of course, our next question was, how could that be and we were told it is because they contract with AARP on rates and settle on a price for the "discount". Always ask what a room rate is before you ask about an AARP rate. This same thing happened to my sister in Georgia.

I belong now but I don't know why. And--please tell me why they send me a bill for renewal in June when my membership goes through October? This has been happening for years.

I think I will not renew this year. I don't really need anything they offer. Cheap or not, a penny saved etc.

[demosincebirth]

36. twelve bucks a year isn't much for me for all the information I get out of it.

[Serial Mom]

19. Discounts for travel, hotel, etc are only relative to what price they quote

Many give the discount on a full rate instead of their online or best price rate. You can also get the same or better discounts with a road service plan (if you already have one) - AAA is one, but many don't like them either.

We just go with the discounts we get for travel by booking online - rates and discounts there seem to be better than with any "membership" discount

[Silver Swan]

20. I actually like the magazine

Compared to other popular magazines, it actually has more articles of interest to someone my age. But I do wish they would stop with the celebrity coverage.

[harvey007]

21. AARP has a great new ad on health insurance reform

They sponsor great ads for health insurance reform....

http://aarp.convio.net/site/PageNavigator/Myths_vs_Facts_campaign

[SheilaT]

22. I have always gotten better discounts

through AAA, or by checking out various booking sites.

[hayu_lol]

25. AARP was a solid backer of Medicare...

Part D.

They lost a huge number of members at that time.

[raccoon]

26. I joined a year ago because members get a good discount on glasses from Lenscrafters.

And my glasses cost mucho bucks.

[newlib]

27. to feel like you've helped another greedy rwinger get richer. nt

[gupac]

28. Not at all...

to be honest, I dont know any valid reason to join AARP. Sorry and good luck

[old mark]

29. Funny - republicans think AARP is liberal/socialist.

They offer some services, but make money on all of them. I am a member but I am not really sure why.

mark

[demosincebirth]

37. Thats because they supported the HC bill.

[slackmaster]

32. I enjoy being tormented by the pics of hot, unavailable women on the cover of the magazine

Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, Valerie Bertinelli, Frances Drescher, Michelle Pfeiffer, and this month it's the most unavailable of all Amy Grant looking better than ever.

:argh:

[DrDan]

34. the lies in support of junior bush's pharm plan led to us NEVER EVER supporting this org

[murphyj87]

38. The CARP ...

The CARP has pretty good discounts with several insurance companies (auto, home, car - of course no need for health insurance here), hotel chains, airlines, etc.

[WinterParkDonkey]

40. Discounts are great...

I have saved a lot of money using my AARP card and I like the magazine but the local meetings -- in Winter Park, Florida -- are terrible. I guess because I am still working I find them very boring.

[OllieLotte]

44. I see no reason to join them. n/t

[MindMover]

47. auto insurance costs are 20-35% cheaper

and they are not Republicants, more just trying to get the best deal for the senior....

[RKP5637]

48. I use them for their auto club. Haven't used it recently, but when I have used it,

it worked quite well for car breakdowns that needed a tow. Both of us are on the plan.

I do get a lot of promotions for insurance and all, but use other companies.

[murphyj87]

49. I don't know about AARP, but CARP...

Besides the fluff of hotel, travel, and insurance discounts, CARP has been pushing federal and provincial governments for, among other things:

A national Pharmacare program for those age 55+ not already covered by provincial Pharmacare programs most of which are 65+.

Substantial increase, up to doubling, in benefits for Canada Pension (from the current $1000/mon), Old Age Security Pension (from the current $500/mon), and Guaranteed Income Supplement (from the current $250/mon) - over and above any company pension and RRSP.

A federal and provincial long term care benefit.


Of course Americans have virtually none of the pensions and benefits which Canadians have, so AARP probably only tries to keep the pitifully small amounts which Americans get, and which Republicans want to cut or privatize leading to your getting virtually nothing if you are an American, while Canadian benefits continue to increase and are indexed by law.