AARP

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the AppleTalk protocol developed by Apple Computer, see AppleTalk address resolution protocol (AARP).

AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is a United States-based non-government organization (a special interest group). According to its mission statement^[1], it is "a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people age 50 and over ... dedicated to enhancing quality of life for all as we age," which "provides a wide range of unique benefits, special products, and services for our members." AARP operates as a non-profit advocate for its members, one of the most powerful lobbying groups in the United States, and also sells life insurance, investment funds and other financial products. AARP claims over 35 million members,^[2] making it one of the largest membership organizations for people age 50 and over in the United States. Membership is expected to grow significantly as baby boomers age.

Contents 1 History 2 Activities 3 Criticism 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External links

[edit] History

Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, a retired high school principal, founded AARP in 1958. AARP evolved from the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA), which Andrus had established in 1947 to promote her philosophy of productive aging, and in response to the need of retired teachers for health insurance. After ten years, Andrus opened the organization to all Americans over 50, creating AARP. Today, NRTA is a division within AARP.

According to critics, until the 1980s the AARP was controlled by businessman Leonard Davis, who promoted its image as a non-profit advocate of retirees in order to sell insurance to members.^[3] In the 1990s, the U.S. Senate and other government agencies investigated AARP's non-profit status.

The organization was originally named American Association of Retired Persons, but to reflect that its focus had become broader than American retirees, in 1999 it officially changed its name to just "AARP" (pronounced one letter at a time, "A-A-R-P"), if you didn't know.^[4]

[edit] Activities

AARP is widely known for addressing issues affecting older Americans through a multitude of initiatives, including lobbying efforts at the state and national governmental level, an activity permitted by its 501(c)(4) status. AARP claims that it is non-partisan and does not support, oppose or give money to any candidates or political parties.

Its AARP Services (ASI) division negotiates and offers reduced rates for members at various tourist attractions, automobile rental companies, motel and hotel chains, etc. ASI also provides financial services, including opportunities for managing retirement, scam alerts about predatory lending, refinancing, and programs for reduced-cost medical and automobile insurance. AARP earns more income from selling insurance to members than it does from membership dues ^[5]

AARP Services founded AARP Financial Incorporated, a subsidiary that manages AARP-endorsed financial products including AARP Funds. AARP Foundation is also the 501(c)(3) non-profit AARP division raising donated money for such elderly causes as legal assistance, job training, driver education, etc.

AARP's public stances influenced the United States Congress' passage of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act, which authorized the creation of Medicare Part D, in 2003, and the Congress' resistance to changes to Social Security in 2005.

The organization also publishes AARP The Magazine^[6] (known until 2002 as Modern Maturity), a magazine focusing on aging issues. The editor is Steve Slon. Established in 1958, the magazine, distributed bi-monthly, is sent to every AARP member, giving the free magazine a circulation AARP claims to be the "world's largest". AARP also publishes the AARP Bulletin, Segunda Juventud, Live & Learn, and has a books division.

In March 2007 AARP introduced their "Divided we Fail" campaign which will be the largest political effort in the organization's 49-year history. Nancy LeaMond, executive officer for socail impact, said, "We want to really get to these candidates and ask for action, answers and accountability on these questions."^[7]

[edit] Criticism

In an editorial column in the Los Angeles Times, critic Dale Van Atta says AARP does unauthorized lobbying for its membership, and lobbies against the best interests of its membership. Van Atta says that by lobbying for the above-mentioned Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act, AARP leaders betrayed the membership.^[8]

According to an Annenberg Public Policy Center report, critics have said AARP had a conflict of interest in supporting the Act, because AARP “derives income from the sale of health and life insurance policies,” by licensing its brand to insurance dealers such as New York Life,^[9] and would benefit financially from passage of the legislation.^[10]

BusinessWeek magazine says that in the past questions have arisen about whether AARP's commercial interests may conflict with those of its membership, and characterizes many of the funds and insurance policies that AARP markets as providing considerably less benefit than seniors could get on their own.^[11]

[edit] See also

• Aging
• Elderly care
• Geriatrics

[edit] References

1. ^ http://www.aarp.org/about_aarp/aarp_overview/a2002-12-18-aarpmission.html
2. ^ http://www.aarp.org/about_aarp/aarp_overview/a2003-01-13-aarphistory.html
3. ^ Krugman, Paul. "Demographics and Destiny", New York Times, 20 October 1996
4. ^ AARP History
5. ^ Los Angeles Times
6. ^ AARP The Magazine
7. ^ AARP Mobilizing to Hound 2008 Candidates. March 22, 2007.
8. ^ Van Atta, Dale. "This Isn't the Old AARP", Los Angeles Times, 24 Nov 2003.
9. ^ AARP Life Insurance Program, retrieved October 31, 2006
10. ^ Annenberg Public Policy Center report on AARP
11. ^ BusinessWeek.com

[edit] Further reading

• Trust Betrayed: Inside the AARP by Dale Van Atta, Regnery Publishing, ISBN 0-89526-485-4
• The AARP: America's Most Powerful Lobby and the Clash of Generations, by Charles R. Morris, Crown, ISBN 0-8129-2753-2
• Will America Grow Up Before It Grows Old? How the Coming Social Security Crisis Threatens You, Your Family, and Your Country, by Peter G. Peterson, Random House, ISBN 0-679-45256-7

[edit] External links

• Official website of the AARP
• AARP official history, annual reports, and mission statement
• Official website of AARP The Magazine
• Official website of AARP Bulletin
• Official website of AARP Segunda Juventud, AARP's bilingual publication
• Detailed history of recent AARP lobbying from the liberal publication The American Prospect.
• A critical history of AARP by the competing organization, 60 Plus Association
• Demographics and Destiny, by Paul Krugman, New York Times