Hey DU, interested in hearing your opinions on AARP.

[Va Lefty]

I'm 54 and considering joining. Main reason is I think they will fight for Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security. Thoughts, experiences? Thanx in advance!

[jberryhill]

1. My uninformed impression

Is that they will "fight" to the extent it does not interfere with the market in "supplemental" insurance policies and other financial vehicles of which AARP is a marketing engine.

[marybourg]

4. Both Medigap

and Medicare Advantage Plans - which they sell - depend on there being Medicare. So I would say their interests are probably aligned with our in this instance.

[jberryhill]

15. And what makes those necessary?

In other words they will fight to maintain a Medicare system in which those remain viable products.

[milestogo]

2. No they.are basically a marketing organization

which does nothing to lobby for the real interests of seniors

[Va Lefty]

5. Thanks milestogo. Sorry to hear.

[Little Star]

3. I joined then quit....

There is no there there.

[Va Lefty]

6. Thanks Little Star.

Appreciate the info.

[brush]

7. They don't advocate for seniors, they try to sell supplemental insurance to seniors.

Don't bother with them.

[Va Lefty]

10. Thanks brush

[RKP5637]

8. I've often wondered what good they are for seniors. And most of the stuff they hype is cheaper and

better elsewhere. I view them as a marketing organization who uses seniors as a niche market.

[Va Lefty]

12. Thanks RKP5637

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

9. Many DUers expressed our varied opinions last month

here.

Many of us question their support for Social Security due to them having given awards to a mixed bag of good guys and bad guys, including Paul Ryan (bad guy).

Lots of apologia for this under the claim that the award was for his support of some legislation that was supposedly good for Social Security, but I cannot find anywhere in which they actually say specifically what award-worthy Social Security legislation Ryan supported.

Furthermore, whatever little positive thing he might have done is nothing compared to the damage he has vowed, repeatedly, to do. Any group that gives him an award is highly suspicious to me.

[Va Lefty]

13. Missed that thread. Will bookmark it for later. Thanks

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

16. Many who participated in that thread may miss this one or decline to

reply. So, yeah, check that out.

[duffyduff]

29. Read that thread again.

Last edited Sat Dec 24, 2016, 01:45 AM - Edit history (1)

I said explicitly why he got that award, for the same goddamned thing that Pelosi, Wyden, and Hatch got, one of six areas AARP gave awards and you continue peddling misinformation about it. I provided a link directly to AARP.

AARP didn't fucking endorse Ryan, got it? They were bipartisan awards noting Republicans and Democrats, senators and representatives in equal numbers in general areas, not specific bills.

It was an issue area, not a bill, noting the work done "for providing financial security to disabled workers."

Link, one of several mentioning it:

http://states.aarp.org/aarp-gives-champion-50-plus-legislative-leadership-award-congressman-bobby-scott/

This just burns me up because people refuse to do the leg work and actually click on the links other people provide. They just turn around and post the same stuff over and over again when the question was clearly answered. I will no longer address the misinformation provided about Ryan because what I have said here is the answer as I said last month. I will not do it again.

[napi21]

11. My husband & I joined and have gotten quite a few benefits from membership.

We joined just prior to turning 65. We both found the best Medicare supplemental plans for us. e both wear glasses & we got our eye exam from a local Optometrist for $25 each, which is a heck of a deal. We have used the restaurant discounts several times. No big deal, but tit covers the tip. I haven't used any of the bennies like car rental, motel discounts etc.

We think it's worth the price of membership.

I do believe they also have lobbyists working in congress. I'm positive they always fight for the insurance industry benefit, but I know they've fought against cutting medicare & and SS in the past.

[doc03]

18. I agree with you, the discounts I get on travel and other things more than pays for the dues.

I have an AARP credit card that pays good rewards. As far as insurance I had my auto and homeowners insurance with them that is (Hartford) . I had hail damage on my roof and had to fight for 4 months to get them to cover it while my neighbors never had a problem. I dropped their insurance. I get a excellent Medicare Advantage from my union so I don't have their health coverage. They also lobby to protect SS and Medicare, their very existence depends on their customers getting SS.

[Ptah]

14. AARP lobbied for this:

Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act

It prohibits the federal government from negotiating discounts with drug companies;

[napi21]

23. I'm ssure they did, but that bill was strictly a Repug idea to keep alla their insurance supporters,

and pill maker supporters happy! They all get a lot of re-election $$ from both of those groups and those guys are flush with $$ to do it. I won't blame that one on AARP for that. It's the public & the Dems who keep pushing for that to change. I know both Bernie & Hillary said they'd change the law if elected.

[Squinch]

17. Got really cheap car and home insurance through them.

[KamaAina]

19. The top-secret government radio station in Alaska that controls the weather?

[tirebiter]

20. They've done good things and some bad things

They're sort of like public utilities. The only thing worse than having it is not having it

[Uben]

21. Like everything else.....

...they're just in it for your money. I joined and quickly quit. They had nothing to offer me.

[mitch96]

22. Never joined but got all the benifits

I was 55 and "they" enrolled me.. I was pissed till I used it the first time to get a discount at a hotel.
Newspaper and magazine is interesting. Other than that it's a big deal. I never paid a penny.. YMMV.
m

[pnwmom]

24. They are going to be lobbying hard on Social Security and Medicare.

So I'm joining in order to back them up.

The more voters they speak for, the stronger they'll be as a lobbying force.

[TreasonousBastard]

25. I was a member and just forgot to renew-- will rejoin...

at less than 13 bucks a year for 5 years, what's the problem? The discounts pay for that, and more. And if you join through junk mail, not the website, you get a backpack. Wotta Deal!

Yes, they make their real money selling insurance, but their insurance is pretty good for a lot, if not most, people. And you are not forced to buy it.

True, they have done a few things I disagree with, or at least question. But, they are still the biggest lobbying organization for us old farts and the good outweighs the questionable.

Do not destroy the reasonably decent in your quest for the perfect.

[Cadfael]

27. Harry and Louise

The fictional couple trotted out by AARP in opposition of President Clinton's proposed health care reform in the nineties...... my mom dropped AARP like a hot potato after that. I'm not entirely convinced they've seen the light - just the dollar signs.

[moondust]

28. Conflict of interest.

AARP Has Financial Conflict of Interest in Medicare Drug Bill

[Kilgore]

31. Why would i pay dues to have someone push products at me?

[LeftInTX]

32. I made a contribution to National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare

After reading about it on DU:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028293818