The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is a non-profit organization for people age 50 and over. The organization has more than 40 million members worldwide, including in Canada and Mexico.Official Site: About AARP
The AARP offers a variety of discounts and services for members, including discounts on health and dental insurance, AARP coupons for retail and entertainment and discounts on travel.Official Site: AARP Discounts & Services
Member Discounts
AARP members are entitled to discounts on:
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Automobile insurance
- Long-term care insurance
- Homeowners insurance
- Rental cars
- Cruises
- Vacation packages and lodging
- Technology
- Gifts
- Pharmacy services
- Alternative health services
- Legal servicesOfficial Site: AARP: What We Do
AARP History
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) was founded by a retired high school principal named Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus in 1958. The AARP was born from the National Retired Teachers Association which was also founded by Dr. Andrus in 1947. The NRTA was developed to help retired teachers get health insurance. The problem was that insurance companies viewed older citizens as risky people to ensure. Dr. Andrus actively lobbied to get older citizens health insurance. She contacted dozens of insurance companies until she found one to insure this segment of the population. After successfully getting retired teachers health insurance, she realized that other older people who were not retired teachers needed insurance and the AARP was born.http://www.aarp.org/aarp/About_AARP/articles/History.html
How To Join AARP
You can join AARP by filling out a registration form on the AARP official website. You should fill out the form they way you want it printed on your membership card. You can also choose the length of your membership. AARP membership prices include the cost of your spouse or partner's membership.https://mss.aarp.org/servlet/wppdispatcher?keycode=U5HAC3&packageid=&componentid=&whocalled=promo_enroll
AARP Member Discounts Providers
Many different service providers offer special discounts or programs for AARP members, including:
- ADT
- Aetna
- Alamo
- The Hartford
- Best Western
- Borders Books
- Choice Hotels
- Curves Fitness
- Disney
- Earthlink
- Golds Gym
- Hampton Inn & Suites
- Howard Johnson
- LaQuinta Inn & Suites
- People PC
- Reebok
- Sandals Resorts
- Walgreens
- Westin Hotels & Resorts
- UnitedHealthCare
AARP Health Action Now Ambulance Ad - Ration Care
This video is an ad for AARP urging for health care reform - a hot issue in 2009 and 2010 in Washington, D.C.
References
Fast Facts
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Founded
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Founder
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Fact:
AARP evolved from the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA)Official Site: AARP History
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Fact:
Has offices in all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
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Fact:
Organization is known for addressing the issues of older Americans, including health care and insurance matters
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Fact:
Must be aged 50 or older to join AARP
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Fact:
A one-year U.S. membership costs $16
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AARP Mission Statement
"To enhance the quality of life for all as we age, leading positive social change and delivering value to members through information, advocacy and service."
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AARP Vision
"A society in which everyone ages with dignity and purpose, and in which AARP helps people fulfill their goals and dreams."
