AARP is proud to represent and serve 131,347 AARP members age 50+ in the state.

For 50 years, AARP has had one mission:  making life better for older Americans. AARP was created after its founder discovered a retired teacher in poor health living in a chicken coop, unable to afford medical care and with barely enough money to live on. Since then, AARP has been fighting for health and financial security for all Americans.

In 2010, AARP Rhode Island will be working with legislators from both parties to protect lifeline programs that provide seniors with food, health care and other necessities from deep budget cuts.  We will also be working to federally strengthen state laws to prevent banks and credit card companies from taking advantage of older Americans and to protect Rhode Island consumers from unfair utility hikes.

Age 50+ voters: 71 percent of Rhode Islanders age 50+ voted in the 2008 election, sending a clear message that it’s time for elected officials from both sides of the aisle to come together to solve our nation’s problems.

AARP:  Working To Improve the Lives of All Rhode Islanders

Strengthening Social Security:  We are fighting to strengthen Social Security for current and future generations by:

• Providing relief for 181,295 Rhode Islanders who won’t receive a cost of living increase (COLA) this year.

Protecting Medicare:  We are fighting to protect guaranteed benefits for the 177,279 Rhode Islanders who receive their health care through Medicare.

Improving Health Care:  We are fighting to stop insurance abuses and protect the Medicare benefits seniors have earned by:

• Lowering drug costs for 77,691 seniors by closing the Medicare Part D coverage gap or “doughnut hole.”

• Preventing insurance companies from denying affordable coverage to up to 15,000 Rhode Islanders age 50-64 based on age or pre-existing condition.

• Expanding access to home and community-based services through Medicaid – the largest payer of long-term services and supports – which, in 2007, spent only 11 percent of long-term care dollars in on home and community based-services for older adults and adults with physical disabilities and 89 percent on institutional care for the same population.

Supporting Caregivers:  AARP is fighting to ensure more Americans can receive the services they need to live independently in their homes and communities by:

• Valuing and supporting the 171,000 family caregivers in – individuals who provide help to their loved ones to enable them to live at home and whose unpaid contributions are valued at $1,470,000,000.   

Promoting Retirement Savings:  We are fighting to help Americans save for retirement by:

• Enacting Automatic IRA legislation, which would help many of the estimated 282,000 Rhode Islanders who don’t currently have a retirement plan at work to have simple access to a retirement savings account.