Your AARP Membership Comes With Many Benefits

I am participating in a membership campaign for AARP. I am receiving a fee for posting; however, the opinions expressed in this post are my own. I am in no way affiliated with AARP and do not earn a commission or percent of sales.

I woke up on January 1, 2012, dreading the coming year. I was turning 60 years old! I was having a really hard time with that fact, and as each passing day took me closer to my birthday, the feeling of dread just got worse. Then, a few days before my birthday in May, I was admitted to the hospital due to a blocked intestine. I had no health insurance, so I was hoping it would be a short stay. Things went from bad to worse, and I wound up in the hospital for 34 days. It was not just a medical emergency. It was also a financial nightmare.  Fabgrandpa and I wound up having to file bankruptcy, and I had an entirely different outlook about being alive at age 60.

When I got my latest issue of AARP The Magazine, I read with much interest the article on page 54 entitled Broke From Cancer. The article showed how one woman’s cancer treatment ruined her financially. While she did have health insurance, she had many expenses related to her cancer care that were not covered by insurance. The problems she faced financially sounded a lot like the ones Fabgrandpa and I had back in 2012, even though my health issues did not include cancer. The article made me feel less alone in how I feel about losing my money along with my health.

My whole life changed due during the time I spent in the hospital.  I live life now with a disability, and going to doctors several times a month is the norm. It took me more than three years of mental therapy and ongoing treatment by a pain specialist to get to the place I am today.  It has been a real struggle to learn to live life happily again. Now, I celebrate each birthday to the fullest, knowing each one is a gift in itself. My benefits as a member of AARP helped me learn more about different types of insurance coverage.

Articles such as Broke From Cancer are not the only reason I like AARP The Magazine, which comes as a bi-monthly benefit with AARP membership. There are interviews with famous people. This month’s cover story was about Willie Nelson. Last month it was Melissa McCarthy. There are pieces about ways to save money; health and wellness; movies and TV; and more. Every issue is packed with informative, entertaining, and interesting articles.

AARP The Magazine is not the only benefit I like about being a member of AARP. I have used my AARP discounts to save money on travel, eating out, and everyday purchases.  The information in Family Caregiving was very useful when we had to find a home for my Mother, who has dementia.  I have recently thought about volunteering, and found that the Volunteer section in the AARP Benefits guide offered several suggestions for giving back to your local community that I plan to look into. I’m excited to be an AARP member! Join AARP now and save 25% off membership, plus get access to Personal Assistants Service from Maestro and a free day bag.