Did you ever think you could find great reading material on the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) website? Neither did I, especially since I’m 24 years old and really have no purpose being there in the first place. While looking for information to write this article, however, I stumbled across a travel article about one staff writer’s trip to Spain , “guided by Salvador Dali.” It was a fascinating article about the country and the many places the Surrealist painter spent much of his life. Since I happen to be a huge Dali fan, I read on and ended up browsing around the AARP website on my own accord in hopes to find more such articles. This not being the National Geographic website, I found something other than just travel literature; I found a wonderfully designed website with endless amounts of information, from helpful articles on grand-parenting to legislation and the presidential race to book reviews.
Something else that I found interesting was the endless information about the organization itself. Here you can read about the organization’s 40-year history, its achievements, current projects, current annual report, and even read about the CEO and the AARP Board of Directors; there is nothing kept from the public here, and for that it has become an organization trusted by thousands (35 million to be exact) in the aging community.
Aside from well-written and highly useful articles, the AARP website also offers supreme membership to the leading non-profit, non-partisan membership organization for people over 50. For one, it gives its members a strong voice on capital hill. Members are also entitled to a plethora of discounts to various online stores, airlines like U.S. Airways and America Online. Perhaps what members have come to value most, however, are AARP health insurance plans.
AARP health insurance has become beneficial in a time when Medicare seems to be cutting people short on health care. In addition to Medicare supplement plans, AARPalso offers Medicare select, supplemental hospital and long-term insurance plans. Dali, who would have been 100 this year, would definitely have had AARP health insurance.
In addition to health care options, AARPplans offer competitive prescription discounts at thousands of local pharmacies and online prescription services. As a member, you also have medical supply services shipped directly to your door free of shipping.
The AARP recently launched a pilot personal health insurance plan. This health insurance product is designed specifically for those age 50 to 64 and consists of recent advances in health care delivery. According to research, roughly 15 percent of these people are uninsured. The pilot launch will allow the AARP to learn more about this group and their health insurance needs. This AARP health insurance plan is expected to be piloted through 2004. Before now, AARP insurance consisted of supplemental health care. This is a new venture in the AARP that is expected to yield positive results. If the pilot is successful, a broader, roll out health insurance plan will be developed based on the results.
By Kelley Caner
Other Resources:
Stuck wearing glasses? Learn about your options.