<p>thanks, patsmom- will look into it, now that I have my free one year renewal :)</p>
<p>And as for comments about AARP’s politics, since it is what may be the deciding factor to sign up or not sign up for AARP, I think it is appropriate to mention in the thread. FWIW.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>AARP is a political lobby first and foremost. This thread is about joining a lobbying organization pretending to be a provider of discounts. Only if you stick your head in the sand an pretend it is not a lobby group can anyone justify being a member. AARP has only one agenda that that agenda is — more. More government benefits for seniors, more money taken from our children and grandchildren for seniors. I don’t trade stocks in tobacco companies because they are killing people. I cannot send money to AARP who is trying to take as much money as possible from younger generations.</p>
<p>Miami, Can you say more about how they betrayed their membership? I am thinking about joining but will have to look into the politics first.</p>
<p>Like most optional things, if you don’t like it because of politics then join another group. I may not agree will all aspects of AARP’s agenda but I have been enjoying the hotel discounts for 8 years so far. We just stayed in two rooms in Times Square for two days and the AARP discount surpassed a 3 year membership fee.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t mind spending the small amount that it costs for membership, but I get so many discounts on hotel rooms with AAA, that it hardly seems worth it. Plus when I get old enough, seems that many restaurants have senior discounts on their menu. I don’t know if I can bear to carry another card in my wallet.</p>
<p>NYMom, I am guessing that what Miami is referring to is that they supported the latest health care law, which cuts over 700 Billion dollars from medicare, to fund other people into the program. Now people can spin it as much as they want, but I don’t think many really believe that money is coming from “fraud, waste and abuse”, and somehow providers are going to take lower payments and still offer the same services. It seems like they really sold out their membership in this regard. I would be angry if I was a senior and expected them to stand up for my interests. But I’m not, and I really don’t know what I think about that situation, whether it is right or not overall. Just guessing that is why many are angry with AARP.</p>
<p>Thanks for the explanation, busdriver.</p>
<p>Re post #65 – that is simply an untrue characterization. There is no “cut” – there is a reduction of future growth. (If you expected a 3% cost of living increase in your salary for the coming year, and your employer decided that they could only afford a 2% increase - you would get less from your paycheck than you had hoped, but it still would be more than you had been getting before and it wouldn’t be the same as a pay cut)</p>
<p>I don’t want to get into a political debate – but here is what Factcheck says:
Source: [FactCheck.org</a> : Romney, Obama Uphold Health Care Falsehoods](<a href=“http://factcheck.org/2012/06/romney-obama-uphold-health-care-falsehoods/]FactCheck.org”>Romney, Obama Uphold Health Care Falsehoods - FactCheck.org)</p>
<p>I am not planning to join because I do not want to be “represented” by AARP, nor do I support their politics.</p>
<p>"Miami, Can you say more about how they betrayed their membership? "
It was not on a personal basis, it was general. I left when many others were leaving thugh. You have to decide for yourself personally. Sorry, cannot say more than that.</p>
<p>I understand, Miami.</p>
<p>calmom, thank you so much for the information. It’s very helpful.</p>
<p>Thanks calmom, I tell a lot of people to use Factcheck before they believe all the untrue hype that is tossed around these days. I use it often.</p>
<p>Here are some alternatives to AARP.</p>
<p>[Alternative</a> Organizations to AARP | eHow.com](<a href=“http://www.ehow.com/list_7393486_alternative-organizations-aarp.html]Alternative”>http://www.ehow.com/list_7393486_alternative-organizations-aarp.html)</p>
<p>Calmom, thank you for finding the correct info.</p>
<p>I assume, razorsharp, that you’re opposed to all organizations that lobby: the NRA, pro and antiabortion groups, the chamber of commerce, the petroleum industry. Heaven forbid that in a democracy people argue for points of view, especially those you don’t agree with.</p>
<p>My alternative to AARP is to work until I am kicked out. I will not leave on my own. Job provides the biggest entertainment any way. Most of other activities are getting very boring with age and it is sad. I have no idea what I would do if I do not work. AARP will not solve this problem for my ayway.</p>
<p>calmom, I don’t have a dog in the fight as far as AARP and the health care issue go. I really am conflicted on that, but I think I understand why people would be upset about AARP not representing their interests.</p>
<p>“There is no “cut” – there is a reduction of future growth. (If you expected a 3% cost of living increase in your salary for the coming year, and your employer decided that they could only afford a 2% increase - you would get less from your paycheck than you had hoped, but it still would be more than you had been getting before and it wouldn’t be the same as a pay cut)”</p>
<p>Well, you know how it goes. Anything that is reduced from less than what it was expected to be is called a “cut” if you are opposing it, but just a reduction of planned increases if you are supporting it. Though with people living far longer, and the large number of baby boomers soon going on medicare, it is logical that the amount of spending does need to increase for future participants.</p>
<p>"Most of those savings come from a reduction in the future growth of payments to hospitals and other providers (not physicians), </p>
<p>Sounds benign, doesn’t it? But providers are already reluctant to take medicare patients, and really don’t want to take medicaid. How many are going to refuse to take medicare, because they will now be merely charity cases?</p>
<p>“and a reduction in payments to private Medicare Advantage plans to bring those payments in line with traditional Medicare. (MA plans have been paid more per beneficiary than traditional Medicare.)”</p>
<p>And that sounds quite reasonable. But if it limits or does away with Medicare Advantage, a highly popular program for seniors, that certainly doesn’t help them. But AARP will gain themselves many more customers for their medicare supplement insurance plan when people lose Medicare Advantage.</p>
<p>I can see how one could say supporting the health care plan is good for seniors because they consider it helps our country overall. But cutting popular programs for seniors, and taking money that was planned to be spent on medicare out of the system…it just doesn’t jive to me that this is anything but a negative for them as an interest group.</p>
<p>I really never understood why people were entitled to very low cost health coverage merely because they turned 65, whether they had paid a penny into the system or not, whether they were extremely wealthy or not, so I am comfortable with putting restrictions on Medicare so we don’t bankrupt the country. But I can definitely see how seniors would not think it was a great deal for them personally.</p>
<p>^ Not understanding this (post 75), MiamiDAP. If you are alluding to AARP’s support of the new healthcare plans and are suggesting that you have to work for the insurance, this is perplexing as you say you don’t frequent doctors. Regardless, there will be continued Medicare coverage for older adults. Ditto with Social Security, though it will likely change in coming years. AAARP isnt going to provide income or activities. So I am truly confused by what your concerns are.</p>
<p>Busdriver, people DO pay into Medicare through their payroll taxes and must work at least 40 quarters (10 years) over their lifetime to be eligible for Medicare in most instances…they do not get it if they have not paid “a penny into the system”…you may be thinking of Medicaid, which is designed for low-income folks. Also, people over 65 with incomes above a certain level do pay a higher monthly premium for their Medicare coverage than the usual $99.90/month for Medicare B coverage.
I’m a geriatric social worker and the issue that I have with AARP is the amount of trees that they kill with all of their mailings…seniors come into our agency with bags full of mailings from AARP!! They use their membership rolls to market their Medicare supplemental insurance and Advantage plans, and they market their own products HARD. While that is fine in and of itself, I don’t think that they should pretend to be a neutral association only looking out for the good of older people when in fact they have a big financial stake in health insurance.</p>
<p>I stand corrected, twinmama. I don’t know the solution to any of this, I just know it’s a mess and I have no idea who or what will get us out of it!</p>
<p>" I don’t think that they should pretend to be a neutral association only looking out for the good of older people when in fact they have a big financial stake in health insurance."</p>
<p>I totally agree. I may join for the discounts, but it’s good to know what the true purpose is.</p>
<p>They are not neutral by any means, they are out there to make as much $$ as possible, which is OK. What is not OK with me is to make them based on supporting laws that are not going to work for elderly. This showed their true colors.</p>