Aarp Health Insurance

Making health insurance work for you

2009-12-25T00:09:00.000-08:00

No matter how avidly you healthy, there you can land in the hospital a day or two take care of unexpected situations. If you are not ready do not have adequate health insurance, your savings and good deals can. Therefore, it is very in the case of an emergency you can to help you choose the best health care is important.

First, check your health insurance options for every click. Health, as well as the needs of families considering signing up for insurance plans. You can already sign up for health insurance plans: two types of private and government health insurance options. Private health insurance for the individual is personally signed ups. Also, if you have health insurance are employed. Insurance companies as part of your employee benefits will be provided.

Health insurance provided by the government, local, state or national level can be provided. Medicare provides health insurance plans on a national level is an example. Medicare benefits for people aged 65 and over who, and the disabled can use. Other government health insurance programs include: health care, national health insurance program for children, health care for veterans and military benefits, as well as American Indians began.

If you want to sign up for private health insurance, it ranges all the information you need to know about the rules of your contract. Except for information, read the press section to see a statement. One or more of the exclusion would not cover anything up, do not have a long list. More importantly, it is expected to sign any contract make sure you have a copy. It is your personal information is accurate and valid, see note. Both everybody, that's for you whenever you need to be sure you have adequate medical insurance

AARP Reverse Mortgage: Lead A Hassle Free Retired Life

2009-11-30T20:53:00.000-08:00

AARP is the American association of retired person, which aims at helping out people over the age of 50 years, to enhance their life after retirement. Life after retirement can get really difficult money wise, if the senior person does not have provisions to take care of all his monetary needs. Aarp reverse mortgage is a financial scheme that is very popular among the senior citizens in America. Basically the Aarp reverse mortgage supplements the income of the retired person so that he can lead an independent life, even after retirement. When a person retires from work, the monthly flow of money stops but the needs and requirements of that person and his family remains the same and hence they face a shortage of money. There are lots of benefits associated with taking a reverse mortgage loan and so this trend is becoming popular day by day.

It is understandable that you may be worried whether a reverse mortgage is ideal for you or not. The government also requires that, every senior citizen take a credit counseling class before applying for a reverse mortgage loan and for this you can get all the help you want from Aarp. More than 75% of retired Americans are members of the American association of retired person and this counseling is offered by the agency free of cost, to all its current members. The counseling can help you in understanding the whole concept of reverse mortgage in a better way and also in making a wise decision of opting to take a reverse mortgage loan. You can get to know the whole process of how to apply for the loan and how the whole thing will be processed.

To be eligible for a reverse mortgage loan, a senior citizen must own a house. The whole financial transition is made with a broker on the basis that, the person seeking this loan, owns a house. The amount of money that one can get as loan through the reverse mortgage loan depends on the total equity of the house, among other factors. The money obtained through a reverse mortgage loan is tax free, so there will not be any hassles while using the money for any purpose. The best part about taking a reverse mortgage loan is that, one does not need to repay the loan money. Even if the person who has taken the loan dies, the burden of repayment of the money does not fall on the heir. The broker gets back the money by selling off the house, which comes in his possession after the death of the owner.

However, if the owner decides to no longer stay in the house or to sell off his house, the senior citizen will have to repay the loan money. Only senior citizens above the age of 65 years of age are eligible for the Aarp reverse mortgage loan. The Aarp reverse mortgage counseling is something that you must take, if you want to make sure that you are fully informed about the whole process and method of taking a reverse mortgage loan.

Cresit: Antonio Redford

AARP History

2009-11-30T20:27:00.000-08:00

Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus 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 health insurance for retired teachers. After ten years, Andrus opened the organization to all Americans over 50, creating AARP. Today, NRTA is a division within AARP. According to Andy Rooney, AARP was established by insurance salesman Leonard Davis in 1958, after he met Ethel Percy Andrus. Ms. Andrus was at the time helping teachers get health insurance through the National Retired Teachers Association. According to Rooney, Davis saw the opportunity to sell medical insurance to the elderly rather than just retired teachers and for that purpose put in $50,000 establishing AARP. According to Rooney, Davis established the Colonial Penn Insurance Comapany in order to control AARP, selling millions of dollars in insurance to its members through advertisings in AARP's magazine Modern Maturity and for several years Colonial Penn Insurance Co. became one of the most profitable in the U. S. In 1978, after a 60 Minutes report exposé, AARP got rid of Colonial Penn Insurance Co. and signed up with Prudential Insurance Co.According to critics, until the 1980s 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. In the 1990s, the United States Senate investigated AARP's non-profit status, with Republican Senator Alan Simpson, then chairman of the Finance Committee's Subcommittee on Social Security and Family Policy, questioning the organization's tax exempt status in congressional hearings. These investigations did not reveal sufficient evidence to change the organization's 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"). AARP no longer requires that members be retired.

Credit: Wiki

Obama Signs Law to Insure More Children

2009-02-19T00:15:00.000-08:00

President Obama today signed into law an expansion of health insurance for children, keeping a promise he described during the campaign as a critical first step toward universal health coverage.

The signing came only hours after the House voted, 290-135, to continue and strengthen the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), giving Obama one of his first victories since taking office. The Senate passed the same bill, 66-32, on Jan. 29.

But the victory is bittersweet, as both votes broke mainly along party lines, in a repudiation of Obama’s desire for bipartisanship. The greatest sticking point was a provision allowing certain legal immigrants to enroll in SCHIP, which many Republican lawmakers oppose.

AARP praised the new law as a “historic” boost to children’s health. “Keeping all American children healthy is vital for the future of our country,” said AARP CEO Bill Novelli, who attended the signing at the White House. “Our leaders have shown the political will to make progress on health reform,” he added. “Today represents more of a start than a finish—we must keep pushing to fix the health care system that squeezes all Americans and their employers.”

The SCHIP program, which covers the children of people who can’t afford health insurance but are ineligible for Medicaid, was due to expire March 31. The new law is estimated to cover an additional 4 million children, bringing the number enrolled to about 11 million. It is expected to cost $33 billion over the next four-and-a-half years, and will be paid for primarily by a 61-cent-a-pack increase in the federal cigarette tax, for a total tax of $1 a pack.

President Bush had vetoed the legislation twice, arguing that it cost too much and would expand the program beyond the low-income children it was originally designed to reach.

The new provisions “will allow all American kids to get the care they need to stay healthy,” AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond said. “There can be no economic recovery without acknowledging—and fixing—the role of skyrocketing health care costs on working families. Too many families are being forced to choose between insurance premiums and mortgage payments, between immunizations and groceries.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., noted that Bush had vetoed the bill because of the cost. “Forty days in Iraq equals over 10 million children in America insured for one year,” she said. “We certainly can afford to do that.”

Opponents of the legislation have also charged that while it may help some children now, it will saddle future generations with the cost because the government is operating at a deficit, as are most of the states. The head of the National Governors Association said last month that states face their worst fiscal challenge in 25 years, with the national recession potentially punching a $200 billion hole in state budgets over the next two years, according to Stateling.org, a website that tracks state governments.

“The kids of tomorrow are going to pay through the nose for the things we are doing today,” said Rep. Dan Burton, R-Calif.

But AARP Policy Director John Rother says that paying for care for children is less costly in the long run. “Children who don’t have health insurance and don’t get needed medical care are much more likely to become seriously ill, imposing additional costs on the health system and families,” he says. “Health care investments early in life have significant beneficial effects throughout the life course.”

Credit: Elaine S. Povich

What Is The AARP?

2008-12-05T09:23:00.000-08:00

The AARP used to be the American Association of Retired Persons.

The AARP is known for representing and speaking on behalf of aging populations based in the United States.

It is involved in all kinds of activities such as:

negotiating reduced rates for prescriptions, housing, tourist attractions, automobile rentalsm motels and hotels.

It is at present involved politically with the Medicare Prescription Drug Program.

The AARP was founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy Andrus and hopes to have 70 million members in the next ten years due to the increasing age of the US population.

It is interesting that the AARP is fighting the proposed changes to Social Security.

The AARP has changed its role over the last few decades so as to reflect current living standards and the way in which we now approach age with dignity and purpose.

On its website discounted trips to Hawaii and Alaska are advertised as well as news specifically geared to seniors, such as employment news, legal advice, health and fitness information and other interesting items.

At present some of the hot button items the AARP is working with are:

Prescription Drugs;

Prescription Drugs over the last 5 years have increased much more rapidly in costs than the rate of inflation and as such are a heavy burden on Seniors.

The AARP makes available the results of studies of changes in manufacturers' prescription drug list prices for 200 brand name and 75 generic drugs most widely used by Americans age 50 and over.

Social Security;

President Bush seems to think that there will not be enough money in the future to pay for Social Security benefits for Seniors at today's level.

His private accounts plan would allow workers to invest up to one third of their payroll contributions in the Stock Market.

Based on Stock Market results for the time President Bush has been in office this would have resulted in a loss for the average Senior taking inflation into account.

And the indexing plan that Bush embraced at his April 28 press conference would preserve the present defined-benefit approach only for low-wage workers—those currently earning less than about $20,000.

For everyone else, 70 percent of workers, the system would be flipped upside down—so that the more you earn and pay in, the more your benefits are cut.

Consumer alerts;

Last year Americans spent more than $20 billion on anti-aging products of which a sizeable amount was for so called "snake oil" products such as "human growth hormone " pills which sold for $80 per bottle per month and promised to cure anything that ails you.

The US Food and Drug Administration does'nt regulate over-the-counter products so it is buyer beware.

Frank Hague

Driving After 65: The Aarp Defensive Driving Course

2008-11-06T09:25:00.000-08:00

As the number of Baby Boomers entering their sixties increases, the need for continuing driver education for senior drivers will increase as well. A 2007 USA Today report indicated that drivers 65 and older were involved in 72% more automobile s than just eight years previously. That figure does not necessarily mean that older drivers are more reckless than they were in 1999; it could simply mean that there are more drivers over 65, a statistic which will continue to grow.

While many senior drivers are extremely safety conscious, they may not be able to compensate for the slower reflexes which normally accompany the aging process. The driver’s licensing exams in all stated require that drivers pass a vision test, but they do nothing to test for reaction speed. But millions of seniors lead active, productive lives; many of them still work for a living; and to arbitrarily deprive them of the ability to drive would be disastrous for everyone.

The AARP Solution

AARP, the American Association of Retired Person, offers a solution in the form of AARP defensive driving classes. The AARP Driver Safety Class, which would be more appropriately named the AARP Defensive Driving Class, is designed to protect the rights of senior citizens to drive by teaching them how to avoid s which could cost them their licenses.

AARP defensive driving techniques, because it helps seniors avoid s, will even qualify those who have completed the AARP defensive driving courses for discounted automobile insurance with some insurance companies. The increasing rate among those 65 and older is a great reason for automobile insurance carriers to raise their older clients’ rates to almost unaffordable levels. Those senior drivers who participate in the AARP defensive driving program will show their automobile insurance companies that they are determined to continue to drive safely.

Finding An AARP Defensive Driving Class

AARP defensive driving classes are available all over the US, and you can find one in your area simply by visiting the AARP website at http://www.aarp.org. Search for an AARP defensive driving class by entering your ZIP code in the search box.

You can also place a toll-free call to AARP at 1-888-227-7669, and ask them to find the location of the nearest AARP defensive driving class. You will have to leave a message containing your SIP code, and in three to five business day someone from AARP will contact you by telephone with the class information.

An AARP defensive driving class will require two four-hour sessions over two days, and costs only ten dollars. The instructors will also teach you how to assess your own physical conditions so that you can determine if you will be able to continue to drive safely. And even with AARP defensive driver training, you will still have to pass your driver’s license exam.

Knowing when and where to do defensive driving is crucial if you want to use your defensive driving skills to avoid s or the kinds of situations which can easily lead to s. You put good money and a lot of time and effort into your defensive driving course, and knowing where to use your defensive driving skills will pay you back in no time!

Seekdefensivedriving.com

Useful AARP

2008-11-05T09:21:00.000-08:00

The American Association of Retired Persons, the AARP, is America's leading non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people aged 50 and older. It has over 35 million members, 40,000 of whom live outside the US. Members do not have to be retired; in fact, 40 percent of them work full or part time. Membership is open to anyone 50 or older, and with 25 percent of the American population in this age bracket, nearly half of all people in this group have memberships. The median age of AARP members is 65, and slightly more than half are female. In its mission statement, the organzition says that it is "dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all as we age. We lead positive social change and deliver value to members through information, advocacy and service." The AARP provides information bulletins about news relevent to the older population, acts as a lobby group to advance their interests, promotes community involvement by its members, and offers its members a wide range of products and services such as health insurance.

The AARP was founded in 1958 by retired high school principal Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus. The AARP grew out of the National Retired Teachers Association, which Dr. Andrus had established in 1947 to promote her philosophy of productive aging and to offer health insurance to retired teachers. In that era, health insurance was virtually unavailable to older Americans, since few private insurers would accept these high-risk clients and the American government had not yet established Medicare, which was only enacted in 1965. This association of retired teachers grew to offer membership benefits to all retired citizens. It is now a world-wide organization with headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland and Washington, D.C., local offices in every state, and over 2,500 local chapters.

AARP has 2 affiliated groups. One is the AARP Foundation, which is a charity that runs social programs to help people 50 and older, and also supports AARP Foundation Litigation, a national group focusing on legal issues affecting older Americans. The second is AARP Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of AARP which provides members with products and services such as medical, automobile, home and life insurance, discounts on prescriptions and prescription eyewear, and a travel discount program.

Source of Funds

AARP receives income from memberships, advertising revenue from its publications, royalty fees from companies providing AARP-endorsed products, and extra fees from member programs.

Publications

AARP members receive bimonthly the "AARP Magazine" and also the "AARP Bulletin" printed 11 times per year. AARP also publishes "Segunda Juventud", a quarterly Spanish-English newspaper targeting the Hispanic community. The AARP website also offers information on a wide range of topics. AARP also produces "Prime Time Radio", a weekly interview program focusing on the interests of mature people, and the daily "Mature Focus Radio" which has brief discussions on various topics. AARP's Public Policy Institute researches international issues affecting aging and uses the results of these studies to help draft public policy recommendations.

The AARP as Lobby Group

The AARP has been an effective force in causing the government to become more aware of the interests of the older population. They undertake litigation in cases of age discrimination, pensions, health care, economic security and consumer issues. AARP volunteers often appear before the US congress to testify about the effects of government policies on the elderly. At a local level, the AARP trains volunteers in how to deal with government officials. Though non-partisan, the AARP keeps its members informed on each party's stand on issues affecting older Americans. AARP representatives also participate in international conferences on aging.

Frank Hague is getting there. http://www.aarp-now.info

Individual Health Insurance

2008-09-23T09:17:00.000-07:00

For most people, group health insurance is a better choice than individual health insurance. Group insurance usually costs less and offers more benefits.

However, some people can't get group health insurance because they are self-employed, work for a small company, have run out of COBRA benefits, or for some other reason. They must turn to individual health insurance plans – insurance they buy themselves.

Many insurance companies offer health insurance plans to individuals. However, if you're over 50 years old, there can be problems:

It might be harder to find a company that will sell you a health insurance policy, especially if you have a serious medical problem.
You might have to get a medical exam to prove you are insurable, meaning you don't have a serious medical problem.
Individual insurance usually costs more than group insurance.
You might get fewer benefits than with group insurance.

Compare Plans

It's important to shop around and compare health insurance policies and plans. A first step could be to decide how much you can afford to pay. Then, you can look for health insurance that will give you the best health coverage for you and your family at that price.

The answers to the following questions can help you compare both the cost and the benefits of the plans you are considering:

How much of my doctor and hospital bills will this health insurance plan pay for?
How much will I have to pay each month (premium) for this plan?
How much will I have to pay (deductible) before the plan begins to pay?
How much will I have to pay for office visits to the doctor?
Does this plan pay for preventive health care? This includes routine medical checkups and shots, such as a flu shot, to prevent disease.
Does this plan have rules for people who already have serious, chronic medical problems? Will these rules keep me from getting the care I need? If so, for how long?
What services are covered by this health insurance? Will it pay for care at a hospital emergency room or urgent care center? Does it cover routine surgery, hospital stays, doctor visits, nursing home stays, home health care, and medical equipment and supplies?
Does this plan cover visits to the eye doctor and the dentist?
Does this plan cover prescription drugs?
Does this plan pay for catastrophic medical costs, costs that are so high it would take most of my money to pay for them? Is there a limit to how much I must pay each year?
Is there a yearly or lifetime limit to how much the plan will pay for medical costs?

Individual Health Insurance Options

You have a number of options when shopping for individual health insurance:

Fee-for-Service Insurance
Managed Care Plans
Open Enrollment in Managed Care Plans
Association-Based Health Insurance
High-Risk Pools

Fee-for-Service Insurance

A fee-for-service insurance policy (also called indemnity insurance) is a traditional kind of health insurance. It pays a part of each medical service you get, such as doctor visits or hospital stays. You pay the rest of the cost. You can go to any doctor or hospital you choose. However, you usually pay a higher monthly cost for your medical care than if you were part of a managed care plan. Traditional health insurance is less common than it used to be.

Managed Care Plans

Many people get health insurance through a managed care plan, such as a health maintenance organization (HMO) or preferred provider organization (PPO.)

In managed care plans, health insurance companies contract with doctors and hospitals to provide health care to its members. These doctors and hospitals make up the plan ' s network.
In managed care plans, you may only be able to see the doctors and hospitals that are part of the plan ' s network. Some plans, like PPOs, allow you to use doctors and hospitals outside the plan network, but you usually pay more.
In HMOs, your visits to the doctor are pre-paid by the plan. You only pay a small copayment, for example, $10 to $20, each time you visit the doctor.

Open Enrollment in Managed Care Plans

Some states require managed care plans to have an "open enrollment" period each year. Open enrollment usually is a one-month period during which managed care plans must let people join, even if they have an ongoing, serious medical problem. This can be a very helpful option if you have not been able to get health insurance because of a medical problem. You can sign up for a managed care plan during an open enrollment period without having to get medical exams to prove you can be insured.

FYI: A few states require insurance companies to offer their plans to people who have not been able to get health insurance because of their health. This option can apply to more types of health insurance than just managed care plans. Check with your state insurance department to learn the rules in your state.

Association-Based Health Insurance

You might be able to get health insurance through a trade or professional association. Many professional, community, and religious organizations offer their members health insurance coverage at group rates. If you are a member of any trade or professional association, ask if it offers health insurance coverage. Find out:

How complete the coverage is
How much of your medical expenses from routine doctor visits and prescription drugs to major surgery will the insurance cover
What it will cost each month
If it covers family members
Your state insurance department can tell you what your rights are under association-based health insurance plans.

High-Risk Pools

In some states, high-risk pools might be a source of health insurance for people who have not been able to get health insurance because of a serious medical condition. High-risk pools are considered the last resort, when all other attempts at getting health insurance haven't worked out. To get health insurance through a high-risk pool:

You must have been refused health insurance coverage by at least one or two insurance companies, or
You could not find a health insurance plan with a monthly premium less than the monthly premium in the high-risk pool.
Your state insurance department can tell you if your state has a high-risk pool program.

Health Insurance Brokers

If you are having a hard time deciding which insurance plan is best for you, some people talk to a health insurance broker. An independent broker sells many different kinds of health insurance.

Other brokers sell plans from just one company, so it's best to talk to a few such brokers before choosing one. Be sure you understand how the broker is paid - whether you pay or the insurance company pays the broker a commission. That may affect the plan that the broker recommends. If you decide to use a broker, make sure the broker will work in your best interest, and remember that sometimes this costs more and not all insurance products are available through a broker.

Other Types of Policies

There are other kinds of insurance policies that should not be mistaken for comprehensive health insurance. Specific disease policies, such as "cancer policies," pay for care only for the specific disease. Hospital indemnity policies pay you a set amount of money for each day you are in the hospital.

These policies may sound good but don't really help with your health care costs. You would be better off checking out the other insurance options.

Credit: AARP.org

Dental Health for Adults: A guide to protecting your teeth and gums

2008-09-23T09:14:00.000-07:00

Crunching into a crisp apple, flashing an appreciative smile, and even pronouncing your name all depend on good dental health. Strong, healthy teeth support everyday activities like these. But mouth diseases — and the tooth loss that may follow — can interfere with these important activities and make you feel less confident about your appearance.

The impact of oral disease can extend far beyond the mouth. Research has unveiled potential links between chronic gum infection and conditions as serious as diabetes, stroke, cancer, heart disease, and pregnancy complications. Not only might these ailments provoke oral health problems, but there's evidence that dental problems such as gum disease can contribute to bodily illness.

Fortunately, the landscape of dental health has changed dramatically over the past century. As recently as a generation ago, most people lost their teeth within their lifetime. In 2007, the majority of middle-aged people can expect to keep most of their natural teeth for the rest of their lives. And there's more good news: Children have fewer cavities than in the past.

This transformation in the oral health of Americans reflects a greater understanding of the causes and prevention of dental disease. Just after World War II, fluoride was added to drinking water, leading to a dramatic drop in tooth decay among children. A couple of decades later, researchers discovered that gum disease — as well as tooth decay — was caused by bacterial infection. Suddenly, the two major causes of tooth loss could be countered by attacking bacteria in the mouth using the basic oral hygiene techniques of brushing and flossing. In 2007, scientists are researching methods to prevent tooth decay and gum disease in hopes of making tooth loss as rare as polio and measles.

While prevention remains the key to a healthy smile, the science of dental treatment continues to advance. Thanks to evolving materials and techniques, dentists are more successful than ever before at reversing the disease process and preserving, repairing, and replacing teeth. This report will introduce you to developments like smart fillings that can help prevent cavities and methods for placing dental implants.

It also sifts through the hype surrounding certain dental products and procedures. Can chewing xylitol gum protect against tooth decay? Are silver fillings and fluoridation safe? Which toothbrush really works best? You'll find the answers to these questions below.

Credit: Harvard Health Publications

AARP Dental Insurance

2008-09-06T09:48:00.000-07:00

If you have never heard of AARP dental insurance then now is your chance to learn about the best dental insurance available to you today. AARP dental coverage is one that offers their clients many great advantages and benefits. This company has been in the health care business for many years and has perfected how to please their clients and get them the best coverage possible.

With AARP dental, you are able to keep the dentist that you already have! There are not many insurance policies that allow you to keep your own dentist. This is very important for many people, once you have found a good dentist nobody wants to change. This is their number one benefit.

AARP also provides you with great emergency care and saves you money from your own pocket. The ARRP premiums are guaranteed for two full years! This means that your coverage will not change at all within these two years. This is something that many people are searching for, you have found it with AARP dental coverage.

When you are looking for dental insurance, you are looking for stability, to keep your own dentist, great coverage, and benefits to suit your dental needs. AARP has all of this for you. You do not have to look any further for the perfect dental insurance for you and your family. With AARP, the benefits you receive are benefits that you need. Unlike other insurance companies which provide you with benefits that you will never use. AARP knows what you need and provides it for you with 100% satisfaction.

This dental insurance plan is easy to sign up for and even easier to get started with! Check it out today and find out all the great benefits that you have been missing with your other dental insurance plans.

Credit: David Chandler

Aarp Life Insurance And Medicare Insurance

2008-09-06T09:43:00.000-07:00

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) boasts a membership of over thirty five million people aged fifty years and older. The massive non-profit organization is recognized as a political advocacy powerhouse whose influence seems to grow along with the "graying" of America. AARP, however, does not limit itself exclusively to legislative lobbying for its membership demographic; it also (in conjunction with established companies) provides insurance opportunities to its members. Two of these products include AARP life insurance and AARP Medicare health insurance.

*AARP Life Insurance

For well over ten years, AARP has been offering whole and term life insurance policies to its members in association with the New York Life. The AARP life insurance program offers plans featuring premiums touted as "affordable" that are specifically designed for people age fifty and older. Coverage amounts vary, with policies being available with benefits ranging from only a few thousands of dollars to fifty thousand dollars.

AARP life insurance is available to any AARP member between the ages of fifty and eighty. Spouses of AARP members may also receive coverage, so long as they are forty-five years of age or older. AARP life insurance does not require a medical exam. According to AARP, approval is based on answers to "three simple health questions." Policies can be applied for via mail and the program touts the ease of application and approval as two of its strengths.

*AARP Medicare Insurance

AARP offers a health insurance policy designed to supplement the coverage provided by Medicare. This "Medicare Supplement Insurance" is offered in association with United HealthCare Insurance Company. Premised on the notion that Medicare generally covers slightly more than half of an individual's health care expenses, AARP's Medicare health insurance plan seeks to provide a means by which to cover costs such as co-insurance, deductibles and prescription medications.

AARP's Medicare health insurance program allows members to continue utilization of their own physicians and is promoted with a focus on its ease of use, as well as its coverage. For instance, AARP members using this supplementary insurance plans are not required to fill out claim forms and the coverage is valid across the U.S., making it available for use when traveling and in other similar circumstances. According to AARP, rates for this insurance product are not increased based on age alone. Individuals are not to be "singled out" for rate increases, either. Rate changes are applied to all members of a matching class insured under the plan and residing in the same state.

AARP is one of America's largest organizations and is one of its most politically powerful. In addition to using its membership to wield political clout, AARP has also used its massive membership as a group for insurance purposes. Teaming up with established providers like New York Life and United HealthCare, AARP offers its members insurance packages ranging from AARP life insurance to AARP Medicare supplementary health insurance.

Credit: Evan Davis

A Comprehensive Coverage Plan For Over 50's

2008-09-06T08:44:00.000-07:00

When you get to about 50 years of age, your health insurance rates start really skyrocketing. If you are in that age group, it can be really tough to find decent health insurance at a decent price.

AARP Health Care Options is a program that makes it easier for you. AARP does not only offer health insurance; It gives you insurance, special savings options, and resources for managing your health as you get older.

What Can AARP Do For You?

First, you have to become a member of AARP. Then, all this becomes available to you.

AARP has contracts with companies that offer insurance and insurance products. You can get insurance plans from AARP, including primary health insurance plans, supplemental plans, and long term care plans.

Through AARP you can take advantage of Medicare insurance products and services. Depending on where you live, you may be able to get dental coverage as well. There are also programs within AARP that offer free eye exams and discounts on eye care products.

AARP also sells prescription drugs to members at reduced prices. You can choose to get your prescription drugs either through the mail or at your local drugstore with your AARP membership card.

It also offers a wide variety of health and lifestyle products aimed at people over the age of 50. AARP puts out a catalog that has vitamins, supplements, sleep aids, hair care products, over-the-counter drugs, and fitness goods.

If you have Medicare Part B, AARP can deliver products and supplies for your Medicare package straight to your door. If you have Medicare and suffer from respiratory problems, diabetes or other illnesses, you can take advantage of this program. AARP handles all the paperwork and hassles for you.

Medicare and most regular health insurance policies won't cover nursing care expenses. AARP does, and it offers lots of flexibility in choosing your assisted living facilities and caregivers.

AARP Dental Insurance

If you become a member of AARP, you can also apply for their dental insurance plan. They will let you use the same dentist you've been using, so you won't have to change to one of theirs. They also have special deals on dental insurance, like a two-year guarantee on fixed premiums starting from when you sign up. For more info see http://www.medicalhealthinsuranceguide.org/Health_Insurance_Companies on Health Insurance Companies.

AARP Eyewear Services

Although AARP's health insurance plan doesn't cover optical, they offer lots of great deals on eyewear and eye care products to members. You can save money on frames, contacts and other products, and you can take advantage of these savings at major department stores like Target and JC Penny's. All you need is your AARP membership card.

How To Enroll

If you're interested in enrolling in AARP, there are several options. You can do it by phone, or you can go to their website and download the enrollment forms. Then, you simply send in the forms with payment. The website's online rate finder makes it easy to figure out how much you'll be paying.

If you'd like to enroll, or find out more information, check out the AARP website at http://www.aarp.org. There you will find much more than just information about their health insurance plans. The site has all kinds of news, entertainment, health information and more.

Credit: David Faulkner