The AARP dates back to 1947 when Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, a retired high school principal, founded the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA). The NRTA was set up to promote Dr. Angus’ philosophy of productive aging, and in response to the need of retired teachers for health insurance. At that time, private health insurance was virtually unavailable to older Americans. In fact, it was not until 1965, that the government enacted Medicare, which provides health benefits to persons over age 65. Early in 1958, Dr. Andrus realized the time had come to create a new organization open to all Americans, and the AARP was founded.

Today, the AARP has over 35 million members in the United States alone. The organization has over 35,000 members living outside the US. Their mission is dedicated to “Enhancing quality of life for all as we age. We lead positive social change and deliver value to members through information, advocacy and service." In 1999 the organization changed its name from the American Association of Retired Persons to simply AARP. It turns out that more than 44% of its members still work full or part time, meaning you don’t have to be retired to join.

AARP informs members and the public on issues important to this age group, advocates on legislative, consumer and legal issues, promotes community service and offers a wide range of special products and services to members. It’s also the largest lobbying group for seniors in Washington DC.

Annual membership dues cost a mere $12.50 per year, which works out to about $1.04 per month. So what do you get for your $12.50? In my opinion you get a lot. Benefits include discounts galore and a lot of information that may help seniors make informed decisions on topics like banking, insurance, investment, retirement, and healthcare. Discounts are available in the areas of, travel and lodging, car rentals, insurance, drug plans, eyewear, legal advice, AOL, shopping, home security services and the list literally goes on and on. AARP also has an incredibly comprehensive website, www.aarp.org , which does a good job in putting this information all together in an easy to use format.

AARP members also receive an annual subscription to AARP Magazine which is published six times a year. The magazine, which claims to have the largest circulation of any periodical in the world, is also available at newsstands for $3.50 per copy for non members. In actuality, magazine is worth the $12.50 cost of membership by itself. For example, the current edition of AARP Magazine contains articles on, the best places to retire, 7 ways fitness makes you smart, sexy and pain free (that’s worth more than $12.50), back to college at 50 plus,55 ways to slash your health costs, just to name a few. AARP Magazine has something for everyone whether you are 50 or 90.

As if that were not enough, members also receive the AARP Bulletin, which is published eleven times a year and is packed full of information members can use right away. More recently, AARP has launched yet another magazine called “AARP Segunda Juventud” (Second Youth). This is the first and only national publication created just for Hispanics 50 and over.

Now to be fair, there are other organizations out there that cater to seniors. NASCON, (National Association for Senior Concerns) for example is the newest. However NASCON membership costs more, members get less in return and they have been around for less than a year. One would be hard pressed to find an organization that’s been around longer, has more experience, has more members and more political clout than the AARP. So why not go with the big kid on the block?

In the 48 years since its inception, the AARP has done a great job in communicating what’s important to the ever growing senior community. With some 70 million Baby Boomers nearing retirement in the next 10-15 years, AARP will become a more important force for seniors than ever before.

Even if you are a wealthy widow or widower living on Park Avenue with a cadre of financial advisors and health professionals at your beck and call, you still can benefit from AARP membership. While one may not agree with all of its politics, AARP is a good choice for those in the 50 plus group and you can’t beat the value of the $12.50 annual membership fee! Publications aside, if you take advantage of just one of the discounts they make available, the cost of membership is more than paid for several times over. Joining AARP is money very well spent.

Having said all of this, I still have one question. When does one become a “senior” citizen? I hope it’s not really fifty. I don’t feel like a senior citizen. I don’t get discounts to movies, I still pay full fare on the busses and subways, I am not a greeter at Wal-Mart and I don’t receive Social Security benefits, at least not yet. So I am wondering, do you just wake up one morning as a Senior Citizen? I think I will just leave that one alone for at least the time being, and enjoy my golden years whenever they might arrive. Now, while I am waiting, does anyone know if I can get this article in large print?

Lee Degenstein is a Columnist at Large for HealthNewsDigest.com. He has covered the financial markets for print and broadcast media for more than 15 years. Mr. Degenstein was also the news director and morning anchor at two major radio stations in New Jersey. He has been a reporter/contributor to United Press International, The Associated Press, The Mutual Broadcasting System and New York 1 News. A former winner of the Associated Press award for 'best business story' he lives and works in New York City. Mr. Degenstein can be reached by email at: lee@healthnewsdigest.com

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