Don't miss out on massive discounts and financial resources

SAVING & SPENDING - BUDGETING & EXPENSES
Discover the power of an AARP membership.
Updated Dec. 17, 2024
Fact checked

Do you know the value of an AARP membership? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks for everyday essentials and more.

When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on things like travel, meal deliveries, eyeglasses, prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance and more.

    • Huge discounts on travel, groceries, prescriptions and more
    • Access to financial planning resources and health tools
    • Join AARP and get 25% off your first year

Did You Know?
While AARP is dedicated to people over 50, there is no minimum age to join.

How to become a member today:

  • Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today” 
  • Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions 
  • Start enjoying your discounts and perks!

You’ll also get insider info on social security, job listings, caregiving, and retirement planning. And you’ll get access to AARP’s Fraud Watch Network to help you protect your money, as well as tools to help you plan for retirement.

Important: Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (Do not skip this step!) Doing so will allow you to take up 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $12 per year with auto-renewal.

Become an AARP member

What is AARP?

AARP is the largest non-profit, nonpartisan organization in the U.S. focused on issues impacting people aged 50 and older. The organization started as the American Association of Retired Persons, founded in 1958 by retired California teacher Ethel Percy Andrus.

AARP's original mission was to help provide health insurance coverage for retired teachers. Medicare wasn’t available until 1966, and no other programs provided health insurance for retirees 65 and older.

Today, AARP still advocates for adults over 50 on issues such as healthcare, age discrimination, affordable prescription drugs, financial security, affordable housing, and long-term care. But its almost 38 million members also benefit from discounts on travel, restaurants, entertainment, insurance, and more.

AARP member costs

AARP membership costs just $12 for the first year, with automatic renewal at $16 per year thereafter. There are also discounts if you prepay for a membership for multiple years. The multi-year memberships cost $43 for three years and $63 for five years.

One of the most significant benefits of AARP membership is that you get a free second membership for someone in your household, such as your partner or spouse.

AARP benefits

AARP membership has a plethora of benefits. There are so many, in fact, that it can be overwhelming to read through.

As an AARP member, you can score discounts on everything from groceries, restaurants, and travel to resume services and car insurance. The organization also has tools to help you learn how to manage your money.

There are certain AARP benefits that people join the organization just to access. If you are curious about how to save money with an AARP membership, here are the most popular AARP benefits that make membership worth the cost for many people.

Travel

Travel discounts are among the most popular perks of an AARP membership. AARP has its own Travel Center, powered by Expedia, where you can search for flights, hotels, vacation packages, car rentals, and more.

Here are some examples of travel discounts you could get with an AARP membership.

  • $65 to $200 off British Airways round-trip tickets
  • Up to $200 onboard credit on select Holland America Line cruises
  • Up to 30% off base car rental rates with Avis and Budget

Restaurants

AARP members can also save up to 15% when they dine out at select restaurants that partner with AARP. Discounts include national chain restaurants like Bonefish Grill, Cinnabon, and Papa John's as well as restaurants that are local to your area.

Here are some examples of the restaurant discounts you could get with an AARP membership.

  • 10% off at Bonefish Grill
  • 10% off at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
  • 25% off your first DoorDash order of $15 or more

Entertainment

If you like to go to concerts or amusement parks, you can also get discounts on entertainment with an AARP membership. Members can also get discounts on national and local entertainment venues. Discounts apply to everything from television streaming services like Paramount+ and Book of the Month Club membership to theme parks like Walt Disney World and Legoland.

Here are some examples of the entertainment discounts you could get with an AARP membership.

  • Up to $60 off Walt Disney World theme park tickets
  • Concert and sporting event tickets with no service fees through All Savings Tickets
  • Up to 25% off at LEGOLAND Florida

Health care and insurance

In line with AARP’s original mission to provide affordable health insurance, members have access to various health insurance options from dental and vision coverage to pet insurance.

Membership also includes healthcare discounts for prescriptions, eyewear, and virtual fitness classes.

Here are some of the health benefits you get with an AARP membership.

  • Discounted dental insurance through Delta Dental
  • Discounted vision plans through VSP
  • 10% off monthly premiums for Fetch Pet Insurance

Other insurance benefits with AARP include:

Medicare coverage

For seniors aged 65 and older, AARP offers several Medicare coverage options through a partnership with UnitedHealthcare.

Those options include a Medicare Advantage, or Medicare Part C plan, that provides Medicare Part A (hospital) and Part B (outpatient care and doctor visits) coverage plus additional benefits like dental, hearing, and vision coverage. Monthly premiums for AARP’s Medicare Advantage coverage are as low as $0.

AARP also provides Medicare Supplement plans, or Medigap insurance, for out-of-pocket expenses that aren’t covered under Medicare Part A or B, such as copays, deductibles, and coinsurance.

For seniors who have Medicare Part A and B or a Medigap plan, AARP provides a Medicare Part D prescription plan with monthly premiums as low as $41.60. (Note these plans are not available if you have a Medicare Advantage plan because those usually include prescription coverage.)

Life insurance

AARP provides life insurance products through a partnership with New York Life Insurance Company. Life insurance offers financial security for your loved ones when you pass away. It can help your beneficiaries pay your outstanding debts and cover the costs of your funeral and burial.

Through New York Life, AARP offers:

  • Term life insurance coverage up to $150,000 that ends at age 80
  • Up to $50,000 in permanent life insurance coverage with no premium increases
  • Guaranteed acceptance life insurance up to $25,000 in coverage with no premium increases

Other note-worthy benefits

AARP offers so many discounts and benefits for its members that it can be hard to keep track of them all.

Here are a few more noteworthy benefits of an AARP membership.

  • Car insurance through The Hartford which can save you an average of $577 on your premiums
  • Other insurance products through The Hartford such as homeowners, renters, motorcycles, boats, and more
  • Roadside assistance through Allstate starting at $5.50 per month
  • Resume assistance through TopResume
  • An online job board
  • 15% off Lifeline medical alert service
  • Free online workout videos
  • Shopping discounts at national retailers and local stores
  • An auto buying program through TrueCar that can save you at least $100
  • Fuel discounts through Exxon Mobil
  • Discounts on cell phone plans through AT&T; and Consumer Cellular
  • An AARP Perks browser extension that can save you money when you shop online
  • Real estate benefits by Anywhere where you can receive $300 to $7,200 when you buy or sell a home

AARP Benefits

  • Huge discounts on travel, groceries, prescriptions and more
  • Access to financial planning resources and health tools
  • Join AARP and get 25% off your first year