AARP

What Is AARP?

AARP is a United States nonprofit membership organization serving adults aged 50 and older. It was founded in the late 1950s by Ethel Percy Andrus, an educator, and it now goes by the initials alone. Although it began with a focus on retirees, its membership is open to people who are still working, and its work covers many issues linked to later life.

How AARP Works

Members pay an annual membership fee. In return, they can access discounts on travel, services, and insurance programs, along with publications such as AARP The Magazine and the AARP Bulletin. The organization also runs the AARP Foundation, a separate charitable arm that focuses on low-income older adults.

Many of AARP's insurance offerings are provided by outside companies. AARP lends its name through an endorsement, which means the products are underwritten and priced by the partner insurer rather than by AARP itself. These include products such as Medicare supplement insurance.

Why It Matters Financially

Much of AARP's content centers on retirement planning, including Social Security, Medicare, and retirement account options. The organization also engages in lobbying, advocating for policies it says benefit older Americans.

Because endorsed products are set by outside companies, their terms and costs are determined by those companies. AARP also earns income from its programs, which is worth keeping in mind when reading its materials. Readers can check program details against official government sources, such as the Social Security Administration's website.

Points to Consider

• Advantages: a broad range of member discounts, educational materials, and a prominent voice in policy debates.
• Considerations: the value of membership depends on which benefits a person actually uses.