AARP endorsements not what they seem

Think AARP endorsement means it's looking out for you?

Here's something you should know about long-term health insurance. When I bit, the endorsed company was MetLife. Before it was Prudential. Now it's Genworth. At the end of each endorsed underwriter contract, it's shopped. Good so far?

What you're not told is that once a new underwriter is chosen, solicitation of prospective customers under the former endorsed underwriter's group plan ceases. What does that mean to you? Simply that the insured pool average age increases, raising the economic need to increase your rates more than they otherwise would with the entrance of new younger insureds.

Why doesn't AARP disclose this to you? Why do you think? Try asking AARP representatives yourself, if you can handle runarounds and evasiveness.

AARP surely does do many positive things for seniors. I turn 66 next month. This practice of taking endorsement fees without more candor, however, is not one of AARP's better moments, in my opinion.

Edward D. Tiedeman

Bartlett