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I had it for maybe a year and cancelled it because it's too politically biased. I want to read non-politically biased articles about retirement, finances, Medicare, social security, and travel and such things without having political bias shoved down my throat. I didn't like the emphasis on celebrities either. There's enough drivel about celebrities in the news without having it promoted further by AARP. If the publication can't present neutral information about topics important to me, why have it? I can get insurance and travel discounts without it.
I had it for maybe a year and cancelled it because it's too politically biased. I want to read non-politically biased articles about retirement, finances, Medicare, social security, and travel and such things without having political bias shoved down my throat. I didn't like the emphasis on celebrities either. There's enough drivel about celebrities in the news without having it promoted further by AARP. If the publication can't present neutral information about topics important to me, why have it? I can get insurance and travel discounts without it.
I don't read every word, I skip what doesn't interest me. About 80% is not in any way politically based. Old celebrities (before the era of reality shows) were interesting people, and still are - I don't mind hearing about them. Since a part of my very long training had been at a well known institution, I happened to meet several very famous entertainers. An amazing thing is that all of them were extremely intelligent, even when not publicly known for that feature. Their way of life is so competitive that one has to be truly very exceptional to succeed in it at "celebrity" level - so, I don't mind hearing about them.
^See, that's what I was talking about in starting this thread. It's never been about discounts or perks. It became about selling life insurance. Perhaps it was always intended to be such.
At least the magazine is worthwhile and it apparently does some lobbying on behalf of seniors. I've never looked into how effective that has been.
Most of their lobbying recently seems to have been so they can make more from insurance sales - not sure they really have seniors best interests at heart anymore.
For 15 years my mother was with AARP all the time they were saying "We're going to do something for the notch babies we're going to get you better benefits" and they never did. To me they are just a fraud and other than just shilling for an insurance company a waste of time..
They tried to recruit me a few times I usually return all their garbage in their postage paid envelope with a request not to bother me anymore.
I had it for maybe a year and cancelled it because it's too politically biased. I want to read non-politically biased articles about retirement, finances, Medicare, social security, and travel and such things without having political bias shoved down my throat. I didn't like the emphasis on celebrities either. There's enough drivel about celebrities in the news without having it promoted further by AARP. If the publication can't present neutral information about topics important to me, why have it? I can get insurance and travel discounts without it.
Yep, been going on for a long time, got my mom to cancel 20 years ago. I never joined. I do use AAA quite a bit though.
Most of their lobbying recently seems to have been so they can make more from insurance sales - not sure they really have seniors best interests at heart anymore.
According to their financials they get $300K from membership and over $1 million from royalties.
According to their financials they get $300K from membership and over $1 million from royalties.
You are off by a factor of 1000 - from AARP's 2020 financial statement, reports just over $1 billion in royalties. That's more than three times what it collected in member dues, just over $300 million.
Makes my point though - they don't care that much about their membership because that is not where they make their money anymore - the royalties drive their primary lobbying efforts. They care more about selling insurance than anything else.
It didn't use to be this way but society seems much more focused on young people now, as if they're more interesting or newsworthy (they're not). If someone wants to advocate for and present articles for the over-50 crowd, count me in. We're the fastest growing demographic and an advocacy group like AARP can only help.
As to the magazine, there are usually useful bits in each issue that wouldn't find their way into most other magazines. I learned this in the most recent issue: Medicare will pay for a second opinion. And if the second opinion disagrees with the first doctor's opinion, Medicare will pay for a third opinion. It's the normal 80/20 split -- Medicare covers 80% and your supplement covers the remaining 20%. Medicare Advantage plans might vary in how or if they cover it, so if you have Advantage they said to verify with your plan ahead of time.
I have the AARP UHC plan G supplement and it's fine with me that they get a royalty cut. They lobby for our interests in Washington and can't do that for free.
It didn't use to be this way but society seems much more focused on young people now, as if they're more interesting or newsworthy (they're not). If someone wants to advocate for and present articles for the over-50 crowd, count me in. We're the fastest growing demographic and an advocacy group like AARP can only help.
As to the magazine, there are usually useful bits in each issue that wouldn't find their way into most other magazines. I learned this in the most recent issue: Medicare will pay for a second opinion. And if the second opinion disagrees with the first doctor's opinion, Medicare will pay for a third opinion. It's the normal 80/20 split -- Medicare covers 80% and your supplement covers the remaining 20%. Medicare Advantage plans might vary in how or if they cover it, so if you have Advantage they said to verify with your plan ahead of time.
I have the AARP UHC plan G supplement and it's fine with me that they get a royalty cut. They lobby for our interests in Washington and can't do that for free.
Same. I have Plan G as well (through Cigna). They will have to pry it from my grubby little hands or on my deathbed LOL
It didn't use to be this way but society seems much more focused on young people now, as if they're more interesting or newsworthy (they're not). If someone wants to advocate for and present articles for the over-50 crowd, count me in. We're the fastest growing demographic and an advocacy group like AARP can only help.
As to the magazine, there are usually useful bits in each issue that wouldn't find their way into most other magazines. I learned this in the most recent issue: Medicare will pay for a second opinion. And if the second opinion disagrees with the first doctor's opinion, Medicare will pay for a third opinion. It's the normal 80/20 split -- Medicare covers 80% and your supplement covers the remaining 20%. Medicare Advantage plans might vary in how or if they cover it, so if you have Advantage they said to verify with your plan ahead of time.
I have the AARP UHC plan G supplement and it's fine with me that they get a royalty cut. They lobby for our interests in Washington and can't do that for free.
I'm planning to get that same supplement in 1.5 year when I go on Medicare (I assume it has a high deductible variant, which is what interests me). I don't need any other insurance, so I don't even notice what else they advertise. I don't get any other mailings from AARP except for the bulletin and magazine.
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