Is AARP free for seniors?
Is AARP free for seniors
AARP means American Association of Retired Persons. It is one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the United States, boasting over 38 million members. AARP has the mission of advocating for the well-being of individuals aged 50 plus through information and services as well as membership privileges.
Perhaps the most frequently asked question about AARP is – is AARP membership free? The short answer to the question is that yes, you can become an AARP member for free. But of course, there is always the question of what you are getting for free versus what you are paying for.
This is what the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) offers free when you join them
An example of free AARP membership is the basic membership, which only provides a limited number of member benefits. People 50 and over, employed or not, can join the AARP for free.
The free AARP membership gives you access to
- AARP news and views on different subjects concerning seniors; health, medicare, social security, caregiving, fraud prevention, and other topics of interest.
- Options to become members of local chapters of AARP and engage in the activities of that chapter. Thus, local AARP chapters provide community internet service, companionship, and insights from fellow retirees.
- A few discounts to restaurants, grocery delivery services, rental cars, hotels, and a few other consumer goods and services. Free members also have a few privileges compared to paid members and they cannot get many discounts that paid members can get.
- Services such as restaurant coupons and updated newsletters, for instance, have been part of AARP membership benefits right from the beginning. So of course, nothing has changed there.
The Benefits You Get to Enjoy When You Join AARP
Though there is free basic membership, the members pay for enhanced AARP membership to avail more facilities.
Here are some of the key benefits that require paid AARP membership, which starts at $16 per year.
- Member discounts on dining, groceries/food, entertainment, shopping, hotels, and other services under the AARP Member Advantages program. Huge savings can emanate from membership-only discounts that are often many times more than the cost of the membership itself.
- Member-only discounts on all AARP-branded health products, home services, and courses. For instance, the paying member receives a special rate on hearing aids, Medicare supplement insurance, meal delivery subscriptions, online tutors, and many others.
- Unlimited access to AARP’s complete line of lifestyle magazines such as AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. Free members are only allowed to access samples of publications.
- Additional features that are associated with paid membership in AARP include free preparation of taxes, free webinars, membership cards, and special deals from partners. Those with the highest membership level also receive benefits such as free identity theft insurance.
In conclusion, it is clear that AARP indeed has a free plan but most of the members pay $16 or even more for additional functions. If you are an active individual with interests in different activities, the discounts and privileges are enough to recover the cost of an upgraded AARP membership per year.
The Gift Membership and the Reason to Join AARP
An additional frequently asked question is whether an AARP membership can be gifted to another person. The answer is yes!
If you have parents, grandparents, or other seniors you care for, become an AARP member – it’s a present that pays for itself with all the discounts included. You have a few options to give AARP as a gift.
1. Complete the signup form with their name and as a gift, pay the membership dues of $16 per year or $43 for 3 years.
2. Purchase an AARP gift membership card from Amazon, Walmart, or any other store where they are sold. These cards contain a code through which the recipient is allowed to pay $16 to get a 1 or 2-year membership with AARP.
3. One can also speak to a representative at AARP Member Services or use the chat feature on their website to ask about giving options as well.
An AARP membership is also useful in case one wants to gift someone on his or her retirement or birthday. It tells the new retiree or older person in your life that you wish for them to save money as well as get some benefits in their elderly years!
Is AARP Membership Worth It?
For most people in America over 50, this service is well worth the cost of membership and is a bargain to have. The discounts offered for eating out, groceries, clothing, insurance, health care, and many other things usually offset the initial membership fee several times for new members.
Plus, AARP membership includes intangible benefits for retirees like.
- Keeping abreast of issues that affect seniors
- Reconnecting with friends
- Having a chance to get advice on how to live longer independently.
Finally, after considering all the savings opportunities and social benefits, it is clear that the cost of $16 or so for an AARP membership is justified for the majority of new members – making it beneficial for any retiree or a soon-to-be retiree!
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