Is an AARP Membership Worth It?
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October 21, 2024
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AARP Membership: What You Should Know
- AARP membership costs $12 for the first year and increases to $16 per year thereafter.
- A person must be 18 years or older to become an AARP member. However, non-seniors may not be able to access certain benefits, like insurance products restricted by age.
- In addition to discounts on retail and travel, an AARP membership gives you access to insurance partnerships. To learn more, read our guide to AARP Medicare Advantage.
Since its founding in 1958 by retired high school principal Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, AARP has grown into a reliable, trusted organization, providing a range of services, from health care to travel discounts, to nearly 38 million members.
Here we’ll cover the benefits members of AARP can access, as well as the cost and sign-up process.
AARP Membership Requirements
AARP is focused on providing benefits to people over 50 years old, but that age is not a requirement for membership. Anyone 18 and older can join AARP, but some programs, especially those dealing with health insurance, may not be available to members under 50 years old.
AARP Membership Cost
AARP membership is quite affordable, considering its large range of benefits. Membership costs $12 for the first year if you sign up for auto-renewal (the price increases to $16 per year after the first year.) Discounts ranging from 10 percent to 21 percent are available if you are willing to sign up for a three- or five-year membership. AARP also offers one additional adult in your household a secondary membership for free.
AARP Lifetime Membership
AARP no longer offers a lifetime membership. The longest you can sign up for is five years, which costs only $63 in a one-time payment.
AARP Membership Discounts and Benefits
AARP membership includes a huge variety of benefits. Members receive discounts on travel, including car rentals at major companies such as Avis and Budget and hotel rooms at chains such as Best Western, Hilton, and Wyndham. Discounts are also available for cruises and air travel. In addition to providing benefits that make travel more affordable, AARP also offers its members travel-planning resources.
Members looking for assistance with financial planning may appreciate AARP’s programs that help with money management, taxes, and fraud prevention. Also available are insurance options, including health, life, and auto coverage, as well as discounts at restaurants, grocery stores, and entertainment venues such as movie theaters.
The AARP website provides a list of all membership benefits and discounts with easy-to-follow links for further information. The website also provides both members and non-members with access to free articles on health, travel, and money, specifically aimed at assisting older adults.
FYI: In addition to auto, property, and life insurance, AARP offers a range of health insurance options, including Medigap plans through UnitedHealthcare.
AARP Health Insurance Gym Membership
For AARP members who sign up for a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement plan, Renew Active provides a free gym membership and other fitness-assistance programs.
How to Get an AARP Membership
The easiest way to sign up for an AARP membership is to visit the organization’s website and click the Join button. If you prefer to speak to someone to complete your registration, call 888-687-2277, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. ET.
AARP Membership Application Form
The membership application form on AARP’s website will prompt you to enter information such as your first and last name, date of birth, and address. You will be asked to provide spouse or partner information if you would like the free secondary household membership. Finally, you will need to choose a membership term of one, three, or five years, and accept the AARP terms and conditions.
Upon completing the form, you will be redirected to a billing page to complete the sign-up process. It can take a few weeks for your membership card to arrive in the mail, but you will have immediate access to your benefits with the digital copy of the card available through the AARP online portal or the AARP mobile app.
AARP Membership Login
Once you have signed up for an AARP membership, you will create an online account that will require you to register a username and password. Once you have completed this process, signing in is easy. On the AARP website you will be prompted to enter your username and password, and you will be directed to your membership and discount information.
AARP Membership Fee
The cost of your AARP membership depends on the length you have chosen. A year-to-year annual membership costs $12 for the first year and $16 for each additional year when you sign up for auto-renewal. A three-year plan costs $43, saving you 10 percent, and a five-year plan costs $63, saving you 21 percent, over the annual rate. You can cancel your membership at any time.
Can You Get a Free AARP Membership?
While in the past, Walgreens has partnered with AARP to offer a free one-year membership if you spend a certain amount, this offer is no longer active. As of this writing, there doesn’t appear to be any way to get a free AARP membership unless you are the spouse of a new member.
Is an AARP Membership Worth It?
At only $12 a month for the first year, or as little as $63 for five years, an AARP membership is definitely worth it and can pay for itself pretty quickly due to the discounts on various products and services, such as:
- Up to $200 off per person on cruises
- Up to $200 off per person on round-trip flights
- Up to 10 percent savings at hotels and resorts
- Up to 15 percent savings at restaurants
- Up to 20 percent on driver safety courses
- Up to 30 percent off on car rentals
- Up to 30 percent off on flowers