AARP

[Paulette]

Okay, here's the question...should I or shouldn't I enroll? I'm thinking of enrolling to see if I can get less expensive health insurance. Right now I have BC/BS Individual coverage with a $500 deductible and I pay $500 a month! I'm in good health, but would never like to be without health insurance because you just never know! So, is it reasonable to think that thru AARP I may be able to get health insurance less expensively? I also wonder if by enrolling I will simply open myself to 10x more junk mail than I currently receive.

So, ladies...opinions/experiences please! The good, the bad and the ugly!

Thanks bunches!

[Sandersmr]

My mom (and dad before he died) have the AARP health insurance and mom has had nothing but good things to say about it. I don't remember what she pays for it. But all through my dad's stroke and recovery - 3 weeks of ICU, 4 months of hospitalization, then about 1 1/2 years of nursing home care with occasional hospitalizations and trips to the doctor; and then through my mom's breast cancer treatments and surgery - she said she never had an issue with the insurance or payout.

And I've had AARP for 5 years and the junk stuff is somewhat minimal. You can opt out of getting all their offers.

I like having the AARP discount when I'm traveling, especially without the trailer. I'm not eligible for a lot of discounts because I'm not yet a "senior" but they have to give me the AARP discount at hotels, motels, etc. I've had the AARP since I was eligible at 50.

[Bethers]

I don't get junk mail from AARP - not sure if I had to opt out of mail, but they send me NONE - which I love. I do everything online. I cant promise you'll get good rates on health insurance - I did until I moved to SD - as they don't have coverage in SD. And I get better rates from them on car and rv insurance. Plus I like reading lots of their stuff (online). And it's not expensive to join - so for me worth it.

[BarbaraRose]

Good question Paulette! I keep getting notices from them to sign up too, but wasn't sure if it was worth it or not. May look into it again...

[Birdie]

Paulette, I have my Part D of Medicare thru them and my supplement is also thru them. I re-up three years at a time. Get discounts lots of places which include hotels/motels when I travel without the rig, many restaurants and campgrounds too. Anywhere they have discounts I ask if they honor AARP. Most times they will give it to you even if they aren't on the list. Those places are looking for a way to give you a discount.

Only stuff I get from them other than the newletter and magazine is for Long Term Care. Someday I'll send them a note to stop that nonsense too.

I recommend the program for saving dollars. I don't always agree with their point of view, but then I'm a cranky old lady!!

Have you tried to get a quote without being a member? You might want to try that first to see what happens. Call them if nothing else. Your dime is important to you!

[AlmostThere]

I signed up at age 50 and can't say they ever saved me any $$
Saving 10% is next to nothing and I do get a fair amount of their junk mail even though I "opted out".
Also AARP doesn't cover WA state for individual health insurance.
That said, I do have my car and house insurance with them. They tout giving a break on your premiums if you have no claims but at the same time they raised my rates which negated the whole thing.
I went with Progressive for my RV.

[retiredhappy]

Last year I switched my car insurance to Hartford Ins THRU AARP and it was cheaper. My ins agent checked with Hartford and it was more expensive than going thru AARP. As for only 10% discount on stuff, its better than nothing. Good Sam is only 10% and a lot of campgrounds give the same discount to AARP members. As for junk mail, they're not as bad as Good Sam who buried you in junk mail and renewal notices. I also have their drug program for years now. Premiums go up and it doesn't matter who you have. Actually for 2010 my AARP drug pgm went down a couple of dollars but then this year it went up $4.

[JoanE]

Paulette, I only know of AARP sponsored insurance for people on Medicare but I could be wrong about that. I have my personal health insurance through BCBS too. I'm probably older than you so my premiums are higher than yours however the company I work for just added a new employee to our group plan and it is costing the company $40,000 per year to add him. Shocking, isn't it? But it is a small company with only 12 employees and the majority are under 30 years old. This guy is 64.

I have helped various people on Medicare sign up for supplemental insurance and the AARP plans are usually the best.