AARP Activities
AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is an organization that provides information, benefits, products and services for Americans age 50 and over. AARP has more than 40 million members, as of 2011, whose financial support allows the organization to promote and protect the rights of individuals who approach and reach retirement age.
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Benefits
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Individuals who hold an AARP card receive discounts on prescriptions, fitness memberships, dental care, glasses and contact lenses and health and beauty items. Travel benefits through AARP include car rentals, cruises, vacation packages, hotels and tours. AARP members can use their membership to obtain discounted insurance policies as well as discounts on financial planning services.
Updates
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AARP keeps its members and supporters updated on issues that affect individuals as they approach middle age and move into retirement. AARP publishes articles in its monthly magazine, which members receive. The magazine covers work-related issues for the over-50 population and social policy and legislative issues.
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Health Care
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AARP offers members free online health tools, including a body mass indicator calculator, a tool to find money-saving drugs, information about medications and ideas for making the most of Medicaid benefits. AARP also makes available a health encyclopedia, a tool to review possible drug interactions, a pill identifier, a symptom checker and a tool that allows users to compare the similarities and differences between any two over-the-counter or prescription medications. The "AARP Rx Watchdog" newsletter covers trends in the prescription drug marketplace and how those trends impact members.
Advocacy
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AARP promotes the needs and rights of America's aging population through Government Watch, AARP's advocacy watchdog. Launched in 2009, Government Watch is an interactive website designed to help AARP members hold Congress and the Obama administration accountable on issues that concern them the most. AARP does this by monitoring elected officials, proposing legislation, reviewing government actions, lobbying and reporting back to members regarding public policy advances and issues.
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References
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