However, as a younger member of the association, you won’t be eligible for every benefit or service the AARP offers. Learn what the AARP provides and which features are only available for older members.
When Can You Join AARP?
While the AARP provides discounts and services for people ages 50 and older, membership isn’t limited to those who’ve reached that age milestone. This means that no matter how old you are, you can join. If you decide to join early, you won’t have access to some benefits and services offered by the organization. Moreover, vendors can set their requirements, and some require you to be at least 50 to be eligible for their discounts. When you turn 50, you’ll automatically become a full-fledged member. At that age, you’d get a more comprehensive range of benefits, including health insurance options and additional savings opportunities.
Benefits for AARP Members of All Ages
The AARP offers a plethora of benefits for its members. Here’s a look at some ways to save with your membership.
Travel Discounts
When you become an AARP member, you’ll get access to many travel-related discounts. For example, you can save on car rentals, hotels, and airfare. You can also take advantage of special rates on cruises and vacation packages. The AARP Travel Center, powered by Expedia, also allows members to search for and reserve travel deals in one place, as well as gain access to exclusive discounts.
Restaurant Discounts
An AARP membership can help you save on your next meal. With its membership, you’ll get discounts at popular restaurants, such as Denny’s, Outback Steakhouse, and Bonefish Grill. The deals vary by company, so always check the deal’s latest terms and conditions. For instance, some only offer a discount to customers dining in and won’t allow you to use the offer for curbside or delivery orders.
Shopping and Grocery Discounts
In addition to travel and dining deals, you can also find savings on everyday purchases. Retailers offering member discounts include Shari’s Berries, the UPS Store, and Schwan’s Home Delivery. There are also exclusive printable coupons you can access to save even more money.
Entertainment Discounts
The AARP also offers member discounts on movies and other forms of entertainment. For example, you can get up to 20% off Regal ePremiere tickets purchased online. At the concession booth, you can also save on a popcorn and soft drink combination. If you enjoy playing online games, the AARP Games site offers a variety of options, including Mahjongg, Solitaire, and crossword puzzles.
Health and Wellness Discounts
While some of the benefits in this category are limited to members who qualify for Medicare, they aren’t all restricted. For example, you can enjoy a discount on eye exams, frames, and lenses if you show your AARP membership card to participating optometrists. You can also save money on prescription drugs by getting a card from OptumRX. While it does have a savings plan available to anyone, AARP members get a deeper discount.
Work and Jobs Discounts
The AARP partnered with MindEdge Learning to help members gain job skills for today’s marketplace. As a member, you get 40% off the list price for each online course you purchase. AARP members can also get a free resume review, and qualify for a discount if they purchase a resume package from the AARP Resume Advisor.
Gas and Auto Discounts
AARP members can save 20% on an Allstate Roadside plan, and will also qualify for a discount at Valvoline for an instant oil change. Link your AARP membership to your ExxonMobile Rewards program and save even more money.
Insurance
If you’re a full AARP member, you can save on things such as health, pet, life, house, and car insurance when purchasing from a partner company.
How Much Is AARP Membership?
With all the benefits available, you might think that joining the AARP would cost a lot. However, it’s pretty affordable. The standard price is $16 a year; if you sign up with auto-renewal, your first year is only $12. You can also save by purchasing a multi-year membership. For example, you can get three years for $43 ($5 savings) and five years for $63 ($17 savings).
Alternatives to AARP Membership
Here are some popular alternatives to consider.
American Automobile Association (AAA)
While there aren’t many nationwide organizations providing an AARP-type association for younger people, AAA comes close. It’s mostly known for offering roadside assistance, but its members also get savings and discounts on shopping, dining, entertainment, travel, and numerous other categories. Clubs may even offer home, life, pet, or other insurance.
Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC)
Like the AARP, AMAC offers its members discounts on travel, entertainment, and dining. It also partners with a number of insurance providers, as well as credit cards, medical supplies, and more with discounted pricing. You can become an associate member of the AMAC at any age; however, you won’t unlock all of the benefits until you’re at least age 50.
American Senior Association
The American Senior Association is another organization for people over age 50. The organization selects products, services, and benefits designed to help members save money, offering them access to discounts on travel, insurance, health and wellness products, and more. Want to read more content like this? Sign up for The Balance’s newsletter for daily insights, analysis, and financial tips, all delivered straight to your inbox every morning!
title: “How Old Do You Have To Be To Join Aarp " ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-27” author: “Carl Haney”
While AARP is dedicated to empowering people over 50 years, there’s actually no minimum age to join. Americans of all ages can enroll in an AARP membership for $12 for their first year if they sign up for automatic renewal (charged $16 when membership renews). Looking to be a card-carrying AARP member? Read on to learn when you can join, the cost of membership, and the benefits of being a member of the club.
When Can You Join AARP?
There’s no age requirement to join AARP. Anyone aged 50 and over qualifies for full membership with AARP; people under 50 years old can also join AARP and access membership perks that aren’t subject to vendor restrictions, such as age-restricted insurance products.
Benefits for AARP Members of All Ages
AARP membership gives you access to a range of programs, discounts, and services:
Travel
An AARP membership gives you access to exclusive discounts on travel, plus vacation ideas with the AARP travel website, powered by Expedia. You’ll enjoy 10% discounts on specific hotels, up to 30% off the standard rates on car rentals, and up to $300 in additional onboard credits on specific cruises. You’ll also pay no booking fees on flights, get $10 off activity bookings exceeding $100, and get a 5% cash rebate (up to $350) on eligible group hotel bookings of nine or more rooms.
Health and Wellness
A range of programs and policies for health and wellness are available through AARP:
Long-term care insurance: Members of any age can access AARP’s custom long-term care options from New York Life.AARP dental insurance: Administered by Delta Dental, PPO plans and a dental HMO are available in most states for family or individual coverage. The AARP Hearing Care Program: Provided by HearUSA, members get 20% off hearing aid retail prices and receive other benefits, including a free hearing checkup, a free ear cleaning, a check of current hearing aids, a free demonstration of the latest hearing aid technology, one year of extended follow-up care at no extra cost, and a three-year manufacturer warranty.AARP MyVision Care: Available through EyeMed, members can access three vision plans starting at $4.38 per month. Comprehensive eye exams with a $10 copay and diabetic and loss-of-sight benefits are included in all plans. Free prescription discount card: AARP members receive discounts on medications, home delivery, and coverage for dependents at over 66,000 pharmacies nationwide.
Life, Car, and Pet Insurance
AARP endorses discounted products from various insurance carriers to its members. Members can apply for up to $100,000 in term life insurance coverage through New York Life. Members who buy pet insurance via Pet Plan will get up to 10% off premiums when they sign up online and they’ll also receive a $35 Prepaid Visa card. Car owners can get up to a 10% discount on their premium through the AARP auto insurance program from The Hartford.
Finances
AARP members have access to a few financial perks, which may or may not be better than what’s available to non-members:
Banking products from Marcus by Goldman Sachs: An eight-month, no-penalty certificate of deposit (CD), high-yield savings account, and digital banking services are available to AARP members. Both the savings account and CD offer special rates for AARP members. AARP’s Barclays Mastercards: AARP members can apply for either the Essential Rewards or Travel Rewards Mastercards from Barclays. Cardmembers can earn a $100 cash back bonus for making purchases worth $500 within the first 90 days, plus up to 3% cash back on eligible purchases. AARP fraud watch network: Sign up for free watchdog alerts and to search for scams in your area. AARP Money Map: This free tool can help you manage your finances and debt.
Work and Jobs
AARP manages a job board on which members can look for and be matched with employers who are committed to an age-diverse workforce. Webinars, online career expos, interactive videos, and virtual seminars are also available to help the 50-plus population. Members can also get résumé help with the AARP résumé advisor, powered by Top Resume, which provides feedback on your résumé’s layout, design, and the use of proper keywords to get noticed by employers.
Gas and Auto Services
The AARP auto buying program is a way for AARP members to shop online for new and used cars at a guaranteed upfront price. You can also get up to 20% off the annual membership fee for Allstate roadside plans. If you link your AARP membership to your ExxonMobil Rewards account, you can earn points for fuel, car washes, and convenience store purchases, plus double the points when you fill up on AARP member days. You can also get a 15% discount on drive-through Valvoline instant oil changes and preventative maintenance services.
Technology and Wireless
AARP members are eligible for a number of tech and wireless services, including:
AT&T plans and accessories: AARP members can save up to $45 in waived activation and upgrade fees, get discounts on AT&T wireless plans and 15% off select accessories. Norton LifeLock: AARP identity theft protection by Norton LifeLock gives members 20% off the monthly rate for plans offering identity theft protection and restoration. Norton 360 protection: Plans are priced up to a 25% discount off the regular monthly rate. Consumer Cellular: Members can get 5% off monthly service and usage charges and 30% of select accessories.UPS Store: Members receive a 5% discount on international and domestic shipping plus 20% off online printing.
Shopping, Groceries, and Entertainment
AARP members who produce their membership cards at any Tanger Shopper outlets get a free coupon book with up to $1,000 in savings. As an incentive to try Schwan’s home delivery, if you spend $50 or more on your first order, you get $20 off as well as double Schwan Rewards points on all online orders thereafter. If you’d like to try a different delivery service, you can get free shipping and 25% off your first Silver Cuisine by BistroMD home delivery order worth $99 or more plus 10% off and free shipping on all subsequent orders worth at least $99. There are also numerous discounts on flowers and gifts bought from affiliated retailers.
Family Caregiving
AARP members who are new to CareLinx, a nationwide online network that connects families with caregivers, receive a 3% discount on in-home caregiving services. You can also get $60 off per year on Lively Mobile medical alert plans when you buy either a Lively Wearable2 or Lively Mobile Plus medical alert device. The Philips Lifeline medical alert service comes at a monthly 15% discount, plus free shipping and activation for AARP members.
Home Services
AARP members who use a Realogy brand, such as Century 21 and Coldwell Banker, to buy or sell their home can receive up to $5,500 in benefits based on the sale or purchase price. Homeowners can also save 15% off new security systems from SimpliSafe and 5% on small jobs with a Porch handyman.
How Much Is AARP Membership?
The AARP membership starts at $16 per year, but you can get a 25% discount on your first year if you choose to automatically renew your membership. Multiyear membership plans are also available. You can cancel your membership at any time. Your membership lets you add a partner or spouse for free, so you’ll both receive membership cards and enjoy AARP benefits.
Alternatives to AARP Membership
Although it’s restricted to American citizens 50 years and older, the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC) was designed to be an alternative to AARP and, likewise, offers a range of benefits, such as life insurance products, travel discounts, personalized assistance for Medicare recipients and new enrollees, exclusive restaurant offers, discount hotel bookings, discount vision care, and more.
