As a former member of AARP, are there any other similar organizations?

After reading Krugman's article regarding AARP, I canceled my membership to that "insurance/financial/pharmacuetical company".

Now I am looking for an organization that actually represents the age group of 50+. Does anyone know of a legitimate group? They seem to be hard to find anymore.

Thanks......


For those that haven't read Krugman's article, here's the link....

www.nytimes.com/2003/11/21/opinion/21KRUG.html

Alliance for Reitred Americans

http://www.retiredamericans.org/

I never joined AARP. I wish I had now, so that I could quit. I'll join this organization, instead. Maybe I can get the dh to join, too.

My mom just signed up with Retired Americans. She also cancelled her AARP membership, mailed her cut up membership card to them and told them she wanted a refund of her prepaid dues.

We can post to all of the message boards - put the word out...

AARP = American Assoc. of Rupublican Patsies

Just saw that on the AARP board!

AARP obviousily does not care about their members or they wouldn't be spending millions to campaign for a rip-off drug bill.

This is such an important issue, perhaps we need to post something similar to this thread in the meeting room since it seems to keep a topic alive longer. The 50+ crowd needs a group that truly cares about their concerns and not just an organization like AARP that wants to make money off their members.

suffered a republican take over. I agree with quitting or letting them know you will not join now. If their leadership changes then consider returning, but not until leadership change. The GOP killed two birds with one stone with this take over. They moved to privitize medicare and they rendered the AARP (opponents until recently) obsolete.

Sad couple of days for seniors and those who care for seniors.

Don't forget to contact your congress people. They need to hear what you think. This bill must be blocked.

that AARP started out as a way for an insurance company to sell their medicare supplements. So they created AARP to be a "group" as a marketing tactic. It grew, sold lots of insurance, but the original company didn't want it anymore so Prudential took over the medicare supplement part in the 80's. But they really fouled up the underwriting requirements, (None) and quickly had to raise the rates dramatically. Finally AARP outgrew their insurance masters and actually became a real organization, and they still market insurance.

But all the insurance company advertising money had made them huge. Easily far larger than the closest several competitors combined.

Hey, big insurance money involved, what do you expect?

Needless to say, that explains their lack of interest in actually representing the 50+ group. Are you aware of any similar organization that aren't tied to insurance/financial/pharmacuetical companies? If so please post.

sheez! our nation's largest "lobbying" organization is a for-profit, tax-exempt shill for big insurance.

Three years ago, I would've been shocked.

I've posted the link twice and here it is again.

<http://www.graypanthers.org>

spoke to their exec director and she signed me up over the phone ...

they seem like a great organization ...

You beat me by seconds, mere seconds I say, Isongbird. Barbara KENNELLY kicked the AARP dude's butt on C-Span the other day. She said she was a U.S. Rep for 17 years and that the NCPSSM is the second largest next to AARP, that they don't "sell" anything.

******QUOTE*****

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=744144
http://www.ncpssm.org/

Statement by Barbara B. KENNELLY
"While we await the specifics of the Medicare conference agreement, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare is deeply troubled that the proposal continues to include the seeds of Medicare privatization.

"Beginning in 2010, the agreement would expose millions of seniors to new cost and benefit uncertainties in as many as six major metropolitan areas. Since February 2003, the National Committee has collected nearly 750,000 petitions opposed to Medicare privatization. We also remain opposed to spending triggers, means-tested premiums and inadequate protections for low-income seniors contained in this agreement.

"The members and supporters of the National Committee expect Congress to enact prescription drug legislation that is available to all, affordable and provided through the Medicare program. This legislation is supposed to be about providing seniors affordable drug coverage. Unfortunately, this conference agreement not only provides insufficient prescription assistance, but it also lays the groundwork for the demise of the Medicare program."

*****UNQUOTE****

I hope her membership increases as a result of the AARP's defection.

This looks like a legitimate organization and actually takes to heart the concerns that many of us have regarding SS and Medicare. I will look into further.

*******QUOTE*******
Thank you for contacting AARP about our position in the current debate on Medicare coverage of prescription drugs. As you may know, AARP has endorsed the bipartisan Medicare bill offered by the conference committee, which includes a voluntary prescription drug benefit for everyone in Medicare.

We believe that millions of older Americans and their families will be helped by this legislation. The bill is not perfect, but the
legislation represents an historic breakthrough and important
milestone in the nation's commitment to strengthen and expand health
security for its citizens at a time when it is sorely needed.

The bill will provide the following:

- Prescription drug coverage at little cost to those who need it most: people with low incomes, including those who depend on Social Security for all or most of their income;
- Substantial relief for those with very high drug costs, and modest
relief for millions more;
- A substantial increase in protections for retiree benefits; and
- New mechanisms to push down prescription drug prices.

An unprecedented $88 billion will encourage employers to maintain
existing health retiree benefits. The legislation will also help speed generic drugs to market and add important new preventive and chronic care management services. This legislation helps to protect poor seniors from future soaring prescription drug costs.

AARP is a strong advocate for expanding Medicare to cover prescription drugs, but your help can make us even stronger. We encourage you to call and to write your elected representatives immediately, to let him or her know that you support measures that add an adequate, affordable prescription drug benefit to Medicare.

Addresses for written correspondence are:

The Honorable (name)The Honorable (name)
U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20515

I hope this information is helpful to you. If AARP staff can assist
you in the future with any issue, product or service, please do not
hesitate to contact us.


Patricia
Member Service
Member@aarp.org

*******UNQUOTE*******

From their website:


"Welcome to the Alliance for Retired Americans—a strong voice for retired workers and their families. The Alliance is not a senior citizens social club and it is not an organization formed to sell you things. It is a way for retired union members and others to make their voices heard. We have more than 3 million members and growing with chapters and affiliates all over the country.

Get active today and help create an America that protects the health and economic security of seniors, strengthens families and builds safe and thriving communities.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Alliance for Retired Americans is to ensure social and economic justice and full civil rights for all citizens so that they may enjoy lives of dignity, personal and family fulfillment and security. The Alliance believes that all older and retired persons have a responsibility to strive to create a society which incorporates these goals and rights; and that retirement provides them with opportunities to pursue new and expanded activities with their unions, civic organizations, and their communities.

A primary objective of the Alliance is to enroll and mobilize retired union members and other senior and community activists into a nationwide grassroots movement advocating a progressive political and social agenda – one that respects work and strengthens families. The long-term goal of the Alliance is to become the voice for all older Americans. By engaging in important political battles to protect and preserve programs vital to the health and economic security of older Americans, the Alliance will gain recognition as the country’s leading progressive grassroots senior organization.

In pursuit of these values, the Alliance will:

build a strong organization of seniors with a viable structure, ample resources and clear objectives – a structure compatible with that of the labor movement and community-based groups at local, state and national levels.

create programs and membership organizations designed to promote a commitment by retired workers and older persons to the concept of lifelong participation in their unions, and in their community, political and civic organizations.

encourage all segments of the senior population to act with unity on legislative, political and policy issues of importance to retirees and their families in order to maximize their influence on federal, state and local governments and on private organizations that affect their interests."