Title: What Type of Interest Group is the AARP? | Sapling
Headings: What Type of Interest Group is the AARP?
What Type of Interest Group is the AARP?
History
Significance
Function
Considerations
Considerations

Content: What Type of Interest Group is the AARP? | Sapling
The Basics
Insurance
What Type of Interest Group is the AARP? By Michael Hinckley
The AARP is America's largest special interest organization, representing over half of the over-50 population in the nation. The AARP has acted on behalf of its members for over half a century and has advocated for reform on social and financial issues at both the state and federal level. Advertisement
History
The forerunner of the AARP was founded in 1947 by Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus as the National Retired Teachers Association. A retired high school principal herself, Andrus believed that retirees could, and should, lead active lives as well as be able to afford basic insurance. In 1958, the association became the American Association of Retired Persons and opened membership up to residents of all 50 states. In 1999, the AARP expanded by offering membership benefits to people over 50, even if they are not yet retired. Advertisement
Significance
The AARP is considered a special interest group because of its advocacy on behalf of members on a number of important social and financial issues. It has lobbied the federal and state governments on issues such as Social Security reform and the extension of Medicare prescription coverage, commonly called Medicare Part D. THe AARP also lobbies on behalf of retired and older people world wide, building a coalition of associated non governmental organizations (NGOs) and is retained as a counselor to the United Nations' Economic and Social Council, GINA--a Geneva-based group concerned with aging issues--and other organizations in Europe and elsewhere.