Is an AARP membership worth it??

[RainyDay]

I just got a flyer in the mail.  It says membership ($16/year) would make me eligible for discounts at restaurants, stores, for travel, etc.  We don't eat out a lot and I almost never shop, so it would be primarily for air travel and hotels.  How much of a discount would I really get?  Do they offer discounts on health insurance as well?

[Greystache]

Here is a link to AARP dicounts
https://www.offers.com/blog/post/aarp-discounts-guide/
I am a member and I do use some of the discounts. I get a small discount on Consumer Cellular, I get their magazine, and I get some hotel discounts.  Overall, I think it is worth it.  One thing I have noticed is that there is a lot of overlap with other discount programs that I use.
I have a Choice Hotel membership that gives me discounts, but occasionally I am in a place with no participating hotels so then I use AARP or AAA.  Most of the travel and entertainment places that give discounts to AARP will also give discounts for AAA.
AARP has discounts for car rentals but so does Costco.  I usually end up going with Costco, but it is worth checking.

[iris lily]

Since AARP has actively worked in legislative areas I disagree with, I’m no. I will not pay any Membership in  that organization.

[Cranky]

And because AARP lobbies heavily pro-Medicare and SS, I happily pay for a membership even though I can't remember ever using a discount.

The magazine is pretty good too!

[Sibley]

I just wish they'd figure out I'm not that old and stop sending me junk mail.

[JupiterGreen]

Since AARP has actively worked in legislative areas I disagree with, I’m no. I will not pay any Membership in  that organization.

Care to elaborate? I'm not familiar with this.

[iris lily]

Since AARP has actively worked in legislative areas I disagree with, I’m no. I will not pay any Membership in  that organization.

Care to elaborate? I'm not familiar with this.

Look at their website and they are all things to all people over 50. That right there should tell you that they’re working sometimes against your political beliefs no matter what your beliefs are. They are too big and cover too much territory.

https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/aarp/lobbying?id=D000023726


https://www.aarp.org/aarp-foundation/our-work/legal-advocacy/afl-docket-consumer-and-utilities/

Generally speaking, they support a lot of legislation that leads to higher taxes. I wanted to see their position on student loan forgiveness because I figured they had a position since they have a position on everything. Yep, lots of information on the AARP website about student loan forgiveness. I’m not a fan of student loan forgiveness.


But to be specific:

If I remember correctly I read an article that said AARP lobbied against the “file and suspend “Social Security law. That’s how I remember it anyway. And if you read their website and search “file and suspend “they talk about why it’s not “fair. “That is bullshit of course but whatever. We had planned to use “file and suspend” Oops that rug was pulled out from under us, thanks President Obama!

[kite]

Mom’s Medicare supplemental insurance and prescription plan are through AARP, it meant getting her a membership. She’s not interested in most of the benefits, but another friend of mine who has the same policy gets a free healthclub membership nearby at a really nice gym with a pool.

[Omy]

I contribute to AARP because Republicans like Ron Johnson and Rick Scott (and others) are telling us *in an election year* that they are going after Social Security and Medicare. We need all the lobbying we can get.

[GilesMM]

We use it because the hotel discounts pay for it -- usually around $20/night.

[Another Reader]

I belong because of the Medicare supplement.  I signed up for something like a 10 year membership for a nominal amount that doesn't even pay the postage for the magazine. I get a bunch of junk mail that I toss in the recycling bin.  Occasionally there is a somewhat interesting piece in the magazine, but it usually ends up unread in the recycling.  The Medicare supplement is worth the price of admission and then some.