Is AARP Worth It? An In-Depth Review

One way to receive a discount is to join an organization such as the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). But is AARP worth it?

Being smart with your money means weighing each expense. Can you find the same tools and information without having to pay for a membership? In this review, I will outline the membership costs and benefits to help you make an informed decision. 

What is AARP?

AARP is a membership organization that offers discounts at various places for its members. While AARP targets individuals aged 50 and older, there are no age requirements for membership. Anyone can pay the annual fee and get the perks, regardless of age. 

How Much Does AARP Cost?

For just $20 per year, you can get access to all membership benefits and discounts. If you set up your membership for auto-renewal, the annual cost drops to $15. You can also add your spouse to the membership for free. 

Let’s look at what AARP offers with and without a membership.

Key AARP Membership Benefits 

The benefits AARP offers for free are nice, but the best perks are reserved for paying members. Below are some discounts and benefits that AARP members enjoy once they sign up:

Discounts

Save on entertainment, including up to 20 percent off at Regal movie theaters, up to 20 percent off at Cirque du Soleil, and exclusive savings through Ticketmaster. 

AARP also offers discounts at popular places such as:

• Bonefish Grill
• Carrabba’s Italian Grill
• Outback Steakhouse
• McCormick & Schmick’s
• 1-800-FLOWERS
• 1-800-BASKETS
• Harry & David
• Simply Chocolate
• The Gift Card Shop
• The Popcorn Factory

The discounts alone can cover the annual membership cost, making it worthwhile.

Related Article: The Best Coupon Sites to Save You Money

Travel Benefits

If you love to travel, AARP offers discounts on a variety of travel-related services, including flights, hotels, and car rentals. You also get access to the AARP travel center, where you can find an insider’s view on vacation ideas. 

Additionally, AARP has partnered with Expedia, allowing you to search and book hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages with exclusive member discounts. There are no booking fees, and you can also get a cash rebate on hotel reservations. 

Get up to a 30 percent discount on car rentals through Avis, Budget, and Payless. Enjoy up to $200 off on round-trip tickets booked through British Airways. 

Hotel perks include up to 15 percent off at Best Western hotels, up to 10 percent off at Choice Hotels, and up to 20 percent off at Wyndham properties, among other benefits. 

For those who enjoy cruising, AARP offers discounts through its travel center. Members also receive special pricing from two cruise companies, including those offering European destinations.

Health & Wellness Benefits

Several health and wellness benefits are available for members. These include dental, hearing, and vision plans, prescription medication discounts, and more. 

Members also gain access to health tools that help them monitor their medical symptoms, calculate their BMI, and check for potential drug interactions.

They enjoy exclusive savings at:

• LensCrafters
• Target Optical
• Sears Optical
• CVS
• Walgreens
• Walmart
• Rite Aid
• Kroger

For members eligible for Medicare, AARP offers supplemental insurance plans through UnitedHealthcare, including prescription drug coverage. If you’re in the market for a Medicare Supplement Plan, AARP has one of the better options.

You must be a member to qualify since UnitedHealthcare has an exclusive partnership with AARP. The premiums do not depend on your health, age, or gender, which is a rare finding.

This is especially important for older adults and those with health conditions that typically result in higher premiums. 

AARP Home and Auto Insurance

Getting insurance to cover your home and cars can be pricey. AARP has partnered with The Hartford to offer its members a discount on owner and renter policies for homes and condominiums. Members enjoy added savings when they bundle home and auto policies. 

If you own a mobile home, AARP offers an insurance program from Foremost that covers nearly every type of mobile and manufactured home. Policies come with a 24/7 claim service. 

AARP auto insurance coverage from The Hartford comes with savings and discounts that reward members for being safer, more experienced drivers.

Other insurance coverage includes motorcycles, collectible vehicles, motorhomes, and boats. AARP also offers discounts on life insurance from New York Life and Petplan pet insurance.  

Pro tip: Don’t assume that your AARP quote is the best deal out there. Make sure you get quotes from different companies and compare prices to ensure you’re getting a good deal. 

Financial Benefits

Want to get your finances in order? Since AARP’s target membership age is 50 and older, they offer tools to help older adults. This includes a three-part program that covers budgeting and goal setting, creating a savings plan, protecting your assets, and managing debt. 

Check out AARP’s money tools for ways to maximize your Social Security benefits. You can also track healthcare costs and determine when you will pay off your mortgage. The Social Security Resource Center answers questions about retirement benefits, family considerations, and more. 

Members receive exclusive perks, including the AARP credit card from Chase. It offers 3 percent cash back on restaurant and gas station purchases, and 1 percent on all other purchases. However, keep in mind that this card may not be suitable if you’re traveling, as it comes with a 3 percent foreign transaction fee.

Other perks include resources to help you avoid scams and identity theft. Plus, you can get help when meeting with a financial advisor, with tax preparation and filing services, and a variety of retirement resources.

Obtaining free tax help can be a valuable benefit, especially for older adults. From February to April each year, AARP offers Tax-Aid, a national volunteer-staffed program to help older adults with their tax preparation. 

Job Search Assistance 

As you get older, navigating the job market gets more difficult. AARP understands the challenges that older adults face and offers assistance to members seeking employment. 

Membership comes with access to a job board that matches your years of experience with employers committed to hiring older adults. 

Additionally, explore our collection of resources tailored to navigating the job market at age 50 and beyond, featuring skills development, resume and interview tips, career events, and more.

If you’re looking to get back in the workforce, check out the Back to Work 50+ program. It offers information, training, support, work experience, and employer access for individuals looking to re-enter the workforce. 

Other tools and benefits include online job fairs, interactive videos, monthly webinars, and in-person workshops specifically designed for individuals 50 and older to learn job search skills. 

Free Benefits of AARP

Not everything AARP offers requires a paid membership. There are several free benefits and tools available to anyone. 

Ace Your Retirement Tool

No matter how old you are, it’s essential to get on the right track for retirement. AARP’s Ace Your Retirement tool features Avo, a digital retirement coach. Avo asks you a few questions to help you prepare for retirement. 

The questions only take three minutes, and you get personalized advice on action items and the next steps. Below are Avo’s three high-priority tasks for me:

• Do It Yourself – As a freelancer, the first point of counsel was to ensure I set up a SEP-IRA. This is an individual retirement account for the self-employed. Avo recommended that I set up a monthly contribution to a fund that reflects my risk tolerance.
• Picture Yourself Post-Retirement – The second suggestion was to estimate my monthly retirement income and expenses. Avo recommended that I ensure my budget and projected income will support my retirement goals.
• What’s Your Number – The final point of advice focused on how much I would need for retirement, i.e., my retirement number. Avo recommended I review my assets (cash, retirement accounts, home, etc.) and liabilities (mortgage, car loans, student loans, etc.). Additionally, I should create a plan to reach my retirement goal. 

For more detailed information on getting ready for retirement, visit the AARP website. The site provides free information and guides on Social Security, retirement planning, and saving. 

Get answers to common questions about Social Security eligibility, claiming benefits, how it affects your spouse, and more. The information is available in both English and Spanish. 

AARP Brain Games

If you’re looking for fun games to keep your mind sharp, check out the Games section of the AARP website. 

Maintaining your brain in optimal condition is especially crucial as you age. Games that work out your math, vocabulary, and problem-solving skills can keep your mind sharp. 

The AARP website offers a variety of popular games, including Mahjongg, Blackjack, Solitaire, crossword puzzles, and more—all available for free. However, several games are only available to members. 

The AARP Staying Sharp section features more than a dozen games designed to keep your brain active as you age. You must log in to your account and activate your access before you can play any of the games. 

AARP Now Mobile App

You can access AARP on the go with their mobile app, available for both Android and iOS devices. The app is free to download, although its functions are limited without a membership. Use it to access more information about AARP, including local news and events. 

Both the AARP mobile app and website offer current events and information relevant to older adults. There’s everything from Medicare benefits and the latest health research to celebrity news. 

While some tools and information require a membership, much of the AARP website is available for anyone to read.

Check out the money section for information on:

• Living on a budget
• Managing debt
• Saving
• Investing
• Taxes
• Retirement planning

For those getting close to retirement age, head over to the retirement and Social Security sections for great information on how to make sure you’re covered. While the AARP Now mobile app offers some free content, select features are reserved for members.

Once you download the app, you will need to sign in to your account to access your membership card through the app. You can use it to renew, join, register, and manage your membership. 

Get local deals and discounts through the app, including neighborhood-specific offers. The app will even alert you when you are near your favorite deals. Use your device to explore hundreds of events near you, including movie showings, kid-friendly activities, career workshops, and more.

AARP on Amazon’s Alexa

AARP is now on Amazon’s Alexa devices, including the Echo, Tap, or Dot. If you add AARP as a skill on any of those devices, you can get daily news and top stories with your Alexa Flash briefing. 

AARP The Magazine

Membership includes a subscription to AARP The Magazine, featuring health and tech news, celebrity interviews, book and movie reviews, financial advice, recipes, and more. The magazine also comes in a digital format that can be read using the AARP mobile app on your iPad.  

Is AARP Worth It? 

Being smart with your money is crucial at every stage of life, especially as you approach retirement. An AARP membership may be a good deal to some but a waste of money for others. 

Here is a quick summary of the pros and cons of an AARP membership to decide if it’s worth it for you:

Pros

• Low annual cost, as low as $15 per year for auto-renewals
• Savings on dining, movies, and entertainment
• Discounts on home, auto, and renters insurance
• Financial tools to help you get ready for retirement
• Health savings and discounts
• Travel offers and savings on hotels, flights, car rentals, cruises, and more
• Help with finding a job and learning work search skills

While the discounts that AARP offers are nice to have, make sure they are for places that you already plan to attend. To use your discount, please bring your AARP membership card and ask for it before payment.

The savings on home, auto, and renters’ insurance can be beneficial, so make sure to compare them with your current policies. 

AARP also has its own points system that rewards you for engaging with the community by taking quizzes, using financial calculators, exercising, and so on. Rewards include restaurant gift cards, travel gift cards, electronics, and more. 

Cons

• Annual fee, even if you don’t use the membership
• Resources skewed toward those aged 50 and older
• You can find similar discounts without a membership
• Savings may overlap with other discount programs, such as AAA
• Members complain about an increased amount of junk mail

Many of the discounts and benefits offered by AARP are specifically targeted toward individuals aged 50 and older. This makes sense since it’s their target demographic, but it may not be a good fit for younger members.

If you have a membership, such as AAA, that also offers discounts, you may find considerable overlap between the two. Many of the restaurant discounts you get with your membership are also available with a senior discount, so it’s not a good enough draw. 

Members have also complained about an increase in advertising and junk mail after joining AARP.

The company sells members’ information to companies that use it to target members through ads. Let’s be honest – no one needs more junk mail in their lives.

AARP Reviews from Actual Customers

Here is what people who actually pay for AARP have to say about AARP. The good and the bad.

“I get the newsletter and magazine on the website when I signed up the website was full of information and occasionally I find a good article to read but I don’t use the other benefits though.”

– Steve

“This story will let you know exactly how much AARP cares about the elderly. A man came to the assisted living facility 2/7/24 where my 90 year old mother lives and handed her a summons while she was in the dining room with the other residents. She is to appear in court in March regarding a 2011 credit card debt in the amount of $1,600 (the details of the initial charge, plus twelve years of added penalties and interest is unknown ). She said she’s never had a credit card with AARP, and because I am her Power of Atty., I know for certain she has never received a statement in all these years nor a letter from a debt collection agency. The summons has no birth date listed nor the last four digits of a social security #, which is more than unusual.”

– Sandy

Review Site	Rating	# of Reviews
Better Business Bureau	1.3 out of 5	166
Trustpilot	1.21 out of 5	183

Summary

You don’t have to be 50 or older to enjoy the benefits of an AARP membership. Since there is no age restriction for joining, anyone can subscribe and take advantage of discounts and savings. 

While you can become a member at any age, most resources and tools are skewed toward an older crowd. Evaluate the pros and cons of joining AARP and weigh them against other memberships you may have, such as AAA. 

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