So what about the AARP?

[Longhorn]

I'll be eligible to join next year. Should I? We could use the health insurance, if it's any good. Thanks!

[RebelOne]

1. I am a member, though some here bash it,

I find that you can get quite a few discounts through AARP, such as hotels, motels, car rentals, car insurance, mobile home insurance, travel deals, and a lot more. I carry the car and mobile home insurance.

[naryaquid]

2. ..I've been getting solicitations to join since I was 50, am now

55..but you know what?...I still feel "too young" (!) to join...talk about Denial, huh?

[latebloomer]

3. Looks to me like they only offer health insurance

as a supplement to Medicare.

Doesn't do us boomers much good.

[RaleighNCDUer]

4. I joined right off, last year.

Then when I started getting their literature it seemed to me they were shilling for insurance companies. I've got decent health insurance as a state employee, the car insurance offer was no better than I already had, and I'm too poor to travel and take advantage of hotel, air fare, cruise line benefits.

Then they supported the perscription bill, one of the most convoluted, byzantine pieces of legislation I'd ever seen, which offers benefits that can change at any time but does not allow you to change when the benefits do, and which seems to lock in guaranteed high prices for the pharmaceutical companies.

I did not renew my membership.

[NMDemDist2]

5. good info, thanks! n/t

[TexasSissy]

9. AARP doesn't just shill for ins. cos. It IS the largest ins. conglomerate

in the country. Which is why it backed the Medicare Bill passed by the Repubs.

[LuLu550]

6. I joined at 50

quit in protest last year due to their stand on the prescription drug bill. I may re-join if they get their act together on Social Security. I have heard that Right Wing nuts infiltrated the ranks of the board and that was one reason why they fell in line with the monkey.

[Nite Owl]

7. If you have never heard of

http://www.retiredamericans.org/index.php?tg=topusr&cat=2

take a look. They are progressive and union. You don't have to be a union member to join but if you are it is free. They send a newsletter out on Friday's too which is very good.

[Longhorn]

8. Oh, thanks! I'll check them out! n/t