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It’s not all blue plate specials.
Key Point
- AARP members have access to a wide range of specialized insurance plans, from sight protection to homeowners insurance.
- AARP’s online resources can help you enjoy entertainment and find work.
When you think of AARP membership, what comes to mind? It might include silver-haired seniors, early bird discounts, and hotel discounts.
Well, there are some problems with that photo. First, you don’t have to be advanced to qualify for AARP membership. Any adult can join for just $16 a year.
What’s more, AARP membership offers a lot more than just travel discounts, but these are very useful (especially when paired with a good travel rewards credit card). You can find a wide range of resources and deals that can easily make up for that small annual fee. Here are just a few of his lesser-known AARP perks.
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1. Compensation
If you have a little extra time on your hands, you can join the AARP Rewards program. Here you can take quizzes, watch financial videos, play online games and earn reward points. Then turn those points into discounted gift cards, exclusive sweepstakes entries, and other prizes.
AARP membership comes with a wide range of career and job tools. For example, you can access his AARP JobBoard, which is designed specifically for workers over the age of 50.
Need a refresher on your resume before you start your search? AARP Resume Advisors review your resume for free so you can be your best. You can also improve your skills with the AARP Skills Builder for Work.
If you prefer to do the work yourself, AARP has resources for that as well. You can learn from how to write a business plan to how to find start-up funds.
3. FREE ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT
If you’re a little bored and looking for something fun, AARP is for you. First, members can play a variety of free online games and puzzles. This includes daily crosswords, the popular Atari game, and classic games like solitaire.
When you’re feeling social, head to the AARP Virtual Community Center for free online events and classes.
If you like your entertainment non-interactive, visit AARP’s digital content library. Watch curated videos, enjoy a variety of podcasts, and read AARP’s exclusive entertainment articles.
Of course, there are also various special discounts you can get with your membership to save even more on your entertainment. You can buy movie tickets through Regal and tickets to concerts and shows through Ticketmaster. There are also many discounts on other activities such as golf, bowling and theme parks.
4. Vision and dental insurance
No matter how good your regular health insurance is, it can still fall short when it comes to vision and dental coverage.AARP membership gives you access to exclusive insurance plans, including:
- AARP® Dental Insurance Plan administered by Delta Dental Insurance Company
- AARP® MyVision Care delivered through EyeMed
You can also get discounts on eyewear and inspections through EyeMed, LensCrafters, and Target Optical.
5. Discount on insurance
In addition to savings on health-related insurance, AARP membership can also save you on other types of insurance. For example, if you are looking for a life insurance plan, AARP has a variety of his AARP co-branded plans for New York Life.
And that’s just the beginning. Members can explore dedicated plans for both homeowners and renters insurance. Plus, find plans that cover all vehicles, from regular car insurance to motorcycles, golf carts and even boat insurance.
AARP hasn’t forgotten your furry family either. Pet owners can save on pet insurance through Fetch by The Dodo Pet Insurance and save up to 10% on lifetime pet insurance premiums.
6. AARP Mastercard
Technically, no AARP membership is required to be eligible for either card. However, the card is beneficial for people who: I want AARP membership. Specifically, you can use your rewards to pay for your own membership, gift a membership to a friend, etc. Additionally, if you have one of these cards, you can 1% of his will be donated to his AARP Foundation.
The AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® is the more interesting of the two as it allows you to earn bonus cashback on gas, drugstore and medical purchases. The latter category is extremely rare and may be helpful for those with regular medical appointments.
The AARP® Travel Rewards Mastercard® is a fairly standard no annual fee travel rewards card. Its bonus categories include airfare, hotel stays, car rentals, and restaurants.
It’s amazing that AARP membership has so many perks and costs less than $20 a year. Between discounts, tools, and resources, most people can easily get their money’s worth from membership.