BajaNomad

AARP question

blackwolfmt - 5-1-2014 at 07:27 AM

Hey Nomads over 50 and members of AARP, Is it really a benefit to be a member when spending 10 months a year in Baja??
lets here those opinions, Thanks :yes:

DENNIS - 5-1-2014 at 08:01 AM

AARP is an insurance company so I guess it will do them a lot of good.

Hook - 5-1-2014 at 08:15 AM

AARP isnt an insurance company, that I am aware of...........but they do get you into a "group" for their insurance connections. We have our US auto insurance through them but it is Hartford Insurance.

TMW - 5-1-2014 at 09:41 AM

AARP does what Hook said. They also have a monthly magazine with info related to people over 50. They regularly request tax deductible donations that they use for elderly care etc. Showing their membership card will get you a discount at many places as will a AAA card. They regularly survey the membership on various topics related to senior citizens. With their membership as large as it is they do have clout in the political arena. To join or not is a decision you must make based on what you would expect from them and how it would help you. Google AARP and see what comes up or go to http://www.aarp.org/

[Edited on 5-1-2014 by TW]

chuckie - 5-1-2014 at 09:49 AM

I don't see that I get much value from being a member, but I continue to be because of their clout and good works.....

blackwolfmt - 5-1-2014 at 04:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chuckie
I don't see that I get much value from being a member, but I continue to be because of their clout and good works.....


yeah chuckie that's why I ask, everybody I know over 50 says sign up my bud just signed up for the cell service deal 30$ a month says he has great service cheaper than verizon ect.. I was just curios if it was a real benefit in the long run

willardguy - 5-1-2014 at 04:27 PM

I've been a big fan ever since they put my picture on the cover!:tumble:



DENNIS - 5-1-2014 at 04:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hook

AARP isnt an insurance company, that I am aware of...........



http://waysandmeans.house.gov/uploadedfiles/aarp_report_fina...

rts551 - 5-1-2014 at 04:32 PM

AARP is an Association made up of members who are over 50. Its benefit is that it can wield influence based on numbers in the marketplace (as in insurance) or politically (influencing decisions that effect the retired and elderly). It could be looked at loosely as a Union for the retired. If you care about legislation affecting you as a retired person, you might want to belong...and you can always take advantage of their marketplace plans.

AmoPescar - 5-1-2014 at 05:11 PM

ANOTHER OPTION IS 'AMAC'


THE ASSOCIATION OF MATURE AMERICAN CITIZENS @ http://www.amac.us


They are a newer and more conservative group that is also concerned with the issues facing older Americans. However...they do not support the Liberal and Left leaning political issues and politicians as AARP does!


They also offer many discounts and benefits for members. About $16 a year or less to join.


Miguelamo :yes: :light: :yes: ;D :yes:

Hook - 5-1-2014 at 07:46 PM

AARP supports politicians? I thought non-profits were precluded from that.

mtgoat666 - 5-1-2014 at 09:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by AmoPescar
THE ASSOCIATION OF MATURE AMERICAN CITIZENS @ http://www.amac.us

They are a newer and more conservative group that is also concerned with the issues facing older Americans. However...they do not support the Liberal and Left leaning political issues and politicians as AARP does!


One party wants to eliminate SS and Medicare, one party doesn't. Which would you choose?

blackwolfmt - 5-2-2014 at 06:19 PM

Well that answers my Question, I am not really a club kinda gringo,, Thanks Nomads:coolup:

Really?

durrelllrobert - 5-2-2014 at 06:58 PM

AARP: Money First, Seniors Second
By Russel Hanson


We've all heard of AARP: that friendly, non-profit organization that just wants to help our seniors? Wrong. While AARP, formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons, is technically considered a private not-for-profit organization, they were founded in 1958 with a primary mission to sell seniors health insurance. That's right, sell. As in to make money.

Obviously, I have no problem with people or businesses selling things; the more products and services on the market, the more selection and the more competition. The free-market system has allowed us to become one of the greatest nations in the history of mankind. But when an organization's primary mission is to sell a product (in this case health care insurance) and spends tons of money on lobbying and political contributions, it should not be eligible for tax-exempt status.

Many Republicans in the 112th Congress recognize this. In fact, in April, Reps. Wally Herger and Dave Reichert released a report entitled "Behind the Veil: The AARP America Doesn't Know" to address the reality that AARP has violated their 501(c)(4) tax-exempt status. As to why it took this long for people to wake up to this fact, who knows? But as least some have seen the light.

The report points out that AARP makes its money primarily from insurance industry royalties, which accounted for nearly 46% of their revenue in 2009, whereas membership dues accounted for a measly 17%. It is highly unlikely that AARP would be such a political behemoth (and bully) if not for these royalties.

What many AARP members don't know is that their money is often being spent on lobbying and political contributions, primarily on Democratic causes. AARP claims that they do "not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates." Of course, because that would be illegal. But its employees do make such contributions. According to Open Secrets, from 2007-2008, AARP employees contributed to twenty federal candidates, 16 of whom were Democrats. Only $550 went to Republican presidential nominee John McCain, while Barack Obama received $30,901. AARP employees also contributed $496,169 to state candidates in 2008.

In addition, in 2009 and 2010, the years in which the roiling debate over health care took place, AARP spent over $43 million on lobbying. In 2010, it directly employed sixty-five lobbyists (and six indirectly) through firms including Quinn Gillespie & Assoc and Williams & Jensen.

AARP is a political juggernaut, and it knows how to toss its weight around. As a result, few dare to challenge the organization. That is why AARP has been allowed to masquerade as a non-profit organization for so long, dodging taxes and hiding its true purpose: to sell insurance.

AARP's political clout helped get Obamacare signed into law. Though initially somewhat quiet, at least publicly, AARP's spokespeople ended up strongly and vocally backing the legislation. After the Senate passed it, the CEO of AARP, A. Barry Rand, said in a press statement that "[p]assage of the Senate health care reform bill clears the way for Congress to enact legislation in the coming weeks that will protect and strengthen Medicare, ensure millions more Americans can get affordable health coverage and sharply curtail discriminatory insurance company practices that keep those most in need out of the system."

This is yet another untruth from AARP. The CEO claims that ObamaCare "will strengthen and protect Medicare." But what he and AARP never mention is that Obamacare cuts nearly $530 billion from Medicare. This is odd, given that AARP claims that its primary mission is to protect seniors' best interests. But ObamaCare amounts to a massive shift of health care funding away from seniors already covered by federal health plans to new non-senior recipients who may now be eligible for coverage under the law.

This certainly does not benefit seniors, so why would AARP support it? Because it financially benefits AARP.

According to the report by Reps Herger and Reichert, "AARP's stated concern about insurance industry practices as the basis for endorsing the health care law directly conflicts with its financial dependence on these same insurance companies and the profits it stands to make from resulting changes to the way seniors will get their health benefits." The report points out that Medicare Advantage will be cut severely and result in fewer benefits for seniors and higher premiums. In addition, as a result of ObamaCare, a projected 4.9 million fewer seniors will be enrolled in Medicare Advantage.

How does this help seniors? It doesn't. In fact, it does the exact opposite: seniors will get less care and will pay more for it. How does it help AARP? These seniors who need insurance will have to turn to the only other available option: Medigap, a private supplemental health insurance plan you can buy from AARP. It's a good thing they're looking out for you, seniors!

That is only one of the ways in which AARP benefits while seniors suffer from Obamacare. The report details several others.

This chicanery says nothing of the scare tactics and propaganda that AARP is pushing on seniors against the Republican budget authored by Rep. Paul Ryan. In one shameful television ad, AARP impliess that Republicans want to cut Social Security and Medicare. "You've worked hard your entire life," the ad says as melancholy music plays in the background. "Paid your dues, raised a family. You've earned a little peace of mind. Now, some in Congress want to make harmful cuts to Medicare and Social Security, cutting your benefits so Washington can pay its bills." The voiceover goes on as seniors look forlornly into the camera. It is obvious that AARP is referring to the Paul Ryan budget, since that is the only high-profile plan yet that attempts to reform Medicare. After all, the Democrats haven't passed a budget at all for nearly two years.

Unlike the ObamaCare plan, which AARP supported, Paul Ryan's budget, The Path to Prosperity, does not cut change Medicare at all for people over fifty-five. It does not even touch Social Security. So it the AARP ad on is entirely misleading. What the Paul Ryan plan does is reform Medicare (which otherwise will be bankrupt in thirteen years) so that future generations won't have to worry about whether or not they will be receiving health care benefits for a program they will be paying taxes for. It helps make the program solvent once again.

Those are the dirty little secrets of AARP, an organization with a penchant for liberalism and a strong tendency to gravitate toward profits instead of the well-being of seniors. Of course, a profit motive is fine so long as AARP pays taxes befitting its true nature -- i.e., not as a non-profit senior advocacy group, but as a corporation bent on churning up big profits

Barry A. - 5-2-2014 at 10:26 PM

I quit AARP years ago. Their political agenda has become way to obvious, and detrimental (leftist), from my point of view.

Barry

Bajahowodd - 5-3-2014 at 05:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
AARP supports politicians? I thought non-profits were precluded from that.


You really need to catch up. There has been a major kerfuffle about the IRS supposedly targeting right wing non-profits. It's all BS.

The IRS on its own, changed the interpretation of a statute back in 1968 that originally said these non-profits must be only for social welfare to primarily for social welfare that opened the floodgates to all kinds of interest groups getting tax free status while funneling money into political issues.

churro - 5-3-2014 at 08:47 PM

That is so Funny! Does your wife Angelina use the discount card Willardguy?

Quote:
Originally posted by willardguy
I've been a big fan ever since they put my picture on the cover!:tumble:



Sounds like the NRA!

baconjr - 5-14-2014 at 06:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by durrelllrobert
AARP: Money First, Seniors Second
By Russel Hanson


We've all heard of AARP: that friendly, non-profit organization that just wants to help our seniors? Wrong. While AARP, formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons, is technically considered a private not-for-profit organization, they were founded in 1958 with a primary mission to sell seniors health insurance. That's right, sell. As in to make money.

Obviously, I have no problem with people or businesses selling things; the more products and services on the market, the more selection and the more competition. The free-market system has allowed us to become one of the greatest nations in the history of mankind. But when an organization's primary mission is to sell a product (in this case health care insurance) and spends tons of money on lobbying and political contributions, it should not be eligible for tax-exempt status.

Many Republicans in the 112th Congress recognize this. In fact, in April, Reps. Wally Herger and Dave Reichert released a report entitled "Behind the Veil: The AARP America Doesn't Know" to address the reality that AARP has violated their 501(c)(4) tax-exempt status. As to why it took this long for people to wake up to this fact, who knows? But as least some have seen the light.

The report points out that AARP makes its money primarily from insurance industry royalties, which accounted for nearly 46% of their revenue in 2009, whereas membership dues accounted for a measly 17%. It is highly unlikely that AARP would be such a political behemoth (and bully) if not for these royalties.

What many AARP members don't know is that their money is often being spent on lobbying and political contributions, primarily on Democratic causes. AARP claims that they do "not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates." Of course, because that would be illegal. But its employees do make such contributions. According to Open Secrets, from 2007-2008, AARP employees contributed to twenty federal candidates, 16 of whom were Democrats. Only $550 went to Republican presidential nominee John McCain, while Barack Obama received $30,901. AARP employees also contributed $496,169 to state candidates in 2008.

In addition, in 2009 and 2010, the years in which the roiling debate over health care took place, AARP spent over $43 million on lobbying. In 2010, it directly employed sixty-five lobbyists (and six indirectly) through firms including Quinn Gillespie & Assoc and Williams & Jensen.

AARP is a political juggernaut, and it knows how to toss its weight around. As a result, few dare to challenge the organization. That is why AARP has been allowed to masquerade as a non-profit organization for so long, dodging taxes and hiding its true purpose: to sell insurance.

AARP's political clout helped get Obamacare signed into law. Though initially somewhat quiet, at least publicly, AARP's spokespeople ended up strongly and vocally backing the legislation. After the Senate passed it, the CEO of AARP, A. Barry Rand, said in a press statement that "[p]assage of the Senate health care reform bill clears the way for Congress to enact legislation in the coming weeks that will protect and strengthen Medicare, ensure millions more Americans can get affordable health coverage and sharply curtail discriminatory insurance company practices that keep those most in need out of the system."

This is yet another untruth from AARP. The CEO claims that ObamaCare "will strengthen and protect Medicare." But what he and AARP never mention is that Obamacare cuts nearly $530 billion from Medicare. This is odd, given that AARP claims that its primary mission is to protect seniors' best interests. But ObamaCare amounts to a massive shift of health care funding away from seniors already covered by federal health plans to new non-senior recipients who may now be eligible for coverage under the law.

This certainly does not benefit seniors, so why would AARP support it? Because it financially benefits AARP.

According to the report by Reps Herger and Reichert, "AARP's stated concern about insurance industry practices as the basis for endorsing the health care law directly conflicts with its financial dependence on these same insurance companies and the profits it stands to make from resulting changes to the way seniors will get their health benefits." The report points out that Medicare Advantage will be cut severely and result in fewer benefits for seniors and higher premiums. In addition, as a result of ObamaCare, a projected 4.9 million fewer seniors will be enrolled in Medicare Advantage.

How does this help seniors? It doesn't. In fact, it does the exact opposite: seniors will get less care and will pay more for it. How does it help AARP? These seniors who need insurance will have to turn to the only other available option: Medigap, a private supplemental health insurance plan you can buy from AARP. It's a good thing they're looking out for you, seniors!

That is only one of the ways in which AARP benefits while seniors suffer from Obamacare. The report details several others.

This chicanery says nothing of the scare tactics and propaganda that AARP is pushing on seniors against the Republican budget authored by Rep. Paul Ryan. In one shameful television ad, AARP impliess that Republicans want to cut Social Security and Medicare. "You've worked hard your entire life," the ad says as melancholy music plays in the background. "Paid your dues, raised a family. You've earned a little peace of mind. Now, some in Congress want to make harmful cuts to Medicare and Social Security, cutting your benefits so Washington can pay its bills." The voiceover goes on as seniors look forlornly into the camera. It is obvious that AARP is referring to the Paul Ryan budget, since that is the only high-profile plan yet that attempts to reform Medicare. After all, the Democrats haven't passed a budget at all for nearly two years.

Unlike the ObamaCare plan, which AARP supported, Paul Ryan's budget, The Path to Prosperity, does not cut change Medicare at all for people over fifty-five. It does not even touch Social Security. So it the AARP ad on is entirely misleading. What the Paul Ryan plan does is reform Medicare (which otherwise will be bankrupt in thirteen years) so that future generations won't have to worry about whether or not they will be receiving health care benefits for a program they will be paying taxes for. It helps make the program solvent once again.

Those are the dirty little secrets of AARP, an organization with a penchant for liberalism and a strong tendency to gravitate toward profits instead of the well-being of seniors. Of course, a profit motive is fine so long as AARP pays taxes befitting its true nature -- i.e., not as a non-profit senior advocacy group, but as a corporation bent on churning up big profits
:fire:

danaeb - 5-14-2014 at 07:37 PM

TEAARP.

Hook - 5-14-2014 at 08:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
You really need to catch up. There has been a major kerfuffle about the IRS supposedly targeting right wing non-profits. It's all BS.

The IRS on its own, changed the interpretation of a statute back in 1968 that originally said these non-profits must be only for social welfare to primarily for social welfare that opened the floodgates to all kinds of interest groups getting tax free status while funneling money into political issues.


Funneling money into political ISSUES is different than supporting "politicians", which is what Amo Pesca is claiming.

And employees of AARP have every right to donate to candidates. THAT'S NOT AARP MONEY!!!!! That's their own personal money.

But I dont recall AARP giving money to political candidates.......and the article admits that. But the author of the article tried to link employee contributions to AARP, which is different. Of course, that would be contrary to HIS obvious agenda in the article. Set me straight on this, either you or Amo.


BTW, I'm pretty sure that the conservative AMAC supports political causes, right?

TMW - 5-15-2014 at 12:00 PM

The above article was written for the American Thinker and it says Russel Hanson is the pen name for a writer in Washington DC. So who is Russel Hanson and what is his or her real agenda.

dorado50 - 5-15-2014 at 02:26 PM

AARP is a well known" LEFTIST" organization, therefor, I am out.:fire: