The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is a popular advocacy group that is supposed to be dedicated to lobbying. With its wide range of services, including health insurance products, healthcare, social security advice, and Medicare advocacy, the nonprofit organization has secured its place as a crucial resource for older Americans.
However, despite its significant reach and extensive services, the organization has faced criticism from various groups. Some potential AARP members have previously expressed discontent with the perceived political leanings of the organization, for instance. The organization has been politically vocal in the past and played an active role in Medicare reform advocacy. But while the AARP is supposed to be non-partisan, not everyone is convinced this is the case.
Among the diverse population the AARP serves, a significant portion identifies as Christian. This is no surprise. About two-thirds of Americans, approximately 210 million people, still self-identify as Christian.
Like any religion, Christianity encompasses a broad spectrum of beliefs and values, with followers ranging from liberal to conservative and everything in between. Unsurprisingly, many Christians, particularly those leaning towards conservatism, seek alternatives that cater to their age-related needs and align with their faith-based values.
Because AARP is perceived as liberal and left-leaning, and not aligning with the faith and values of some Americans, many seek a Christian alternative to AARP. There are several potential options for older Americans to explore.
Christ Above Politics (CAP)
Christ Above Politics (CAP) is presented as a Christian alternative to the AARP, as its name suggests. Geared towards people over 50, CAP offers various features intended to cater to its members' needs.
CAP says its primary objective is to connect Christians with Christian business owners and service providers, creating a network of shared faith and mutual support. This focus on fostering a strong Christian community sets CAP apart from other senior-focused organizations.
How CAP is a Christian alternative to the AARP
CAP highly emphasizes family, health, music, and the arts. Members can benefit from discounts for live performances, for instance, promoting the appreciation of creativity and culture within a Christian context. Like the AARP, it offers access to insurance companies, financial services, and general advice.
Grounded in the gospel, CAP's service offering is distinctively Christian. They claim to offer more life and health insurance options compared to AARP, providing members with a broader range of choices to suit their specific needs.
Also, CAP differentiates itself from AARP by claiming it does not fund politicians or lobbyists, ensuring members' fees are used solely for services that benefit them. They also respect members' privacy and promise not to sell personal info.
And, unlike the AARP, CAP offers “prayer” as an additional benefit. The implication seems to be that CAP prays for all its members. It also asks that its members pray for CAP in return.
Is CAP truly “above” politics?
CAP adopts a conservative Christian stance and, despite claiming to be non-political, it firmly opposes the pro-choice movement and refrains from making donations to organizations such as Planned Parenthood. This raises questions about whether CAP can truly be seen as “above politics”.
Similar to the AARP, CAP has a nominal membership fee. Seniors often opt to join multiple organizations to meet their various needs, and CAP offers a conservative alternative grounded in Christianity.
The Alternative Association for Retired People (AltARP)
The Alternative Association for Retired People (AltARP) presents itself as a unique alternative to the (AARP). While the organization claims to be for retirees, it then goes on to say it’s really for older adults as everyone is “too busy working to retire”. It sets itself apart as a libertarian, constitution-based alternative to the AARP.
While it doesn't overtly emphasize its Christian orientation as much as CAP, for instance, several biblical excerpts on its webpage indicate Christianity is a core value.
AltARP defines itself not merely as an association of retired people but as a "partnership between retired people and future generations." This framing reflects a desire to foster intergenerational connections and shared wisdom. AltARP aims to explore what its older members have learned that's important to pass on to younger generations and what they need to know to make the latter half of their lives happier, healthier, and more productive.
How is AltARP different from the AARP?
Unlike the AARP, membership in AltARP is free, which adds to the appeal. However, their stance against the AARP truly defines them as an alternative. On their "Don't join the AARP" page, they encourage potential members to thoroughly investigate what the AARP advocates before joining, suggesting better ways to secure the same discounts without paying a membership fee to an organization they might disagree with.
AltARP positions itself as a community dedicated to preserving the US Constitution and sharing principles of freedom, particularly with future generations. They assert that the AARP has “forgotten” about its members.
AltARP doesn’t offer some of the “traditional” benefits associated with senior citizens’ membership groups, such as insurance products and discounts. It’s also a private corporation rather than a non-profit organization, which means it is freer to say what it wants without fear of losing its tax-free status by the IRS. This means the organization can tackle controversial topics.
Instead, to sustain the association, AltARP relies on selling products and advertising from organizations that share their values. This business model enables them to offer free membership while providing value to their members.
Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC)
One of the primary conservative alternatives to the AARP is The Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC), which aligns with right-leaning values. This alignment may appeal to individuals with conservative Christian perspectives, as AMAC features content on its blog that clearly targets a conservative readership.
Their core values are listed on their homepage and include faith, family, and freedom, a key indication that religion is an important aspect of AMAC membership.
Other than their differing political leanings, AMAC offers many of the same things you might expect from your AARP membership. If you don’t want to join AARP for political or religious reasons, AMAC may be one of the closest alternatives in terms of benefits in America.
With AMAC, you’ll get access to their Senior Resources Network, which comes with features like:
- Medicare advisory services, including information on prescription drug insurance.
- Life insurance options.
- Long-term care quotes.
Health and wellness, travel, auto insurance, and other benefits are also available through AMAC.
Other potential Christian alternatives to the AARP
Many other conservative alternatives to the AARP may or may not espouse Christian values. However, because conservative values often align with Christian values, these may appeal to you nonetheless.
The American Seniors Association (ASA) advocates against the “liberal left”, big pharma, and big insurance, for instance. The Seniors Coalition (TSC) is involved in a lot of advocacy around social security and Medicare reform, too.
Plenty of options are available if you’re looking for a faith-based or politically conservative alternative to the AARP. But if you’re looking for something a little different, you may want to consider AgeGroup.
AgeGroup: We look after you rather than following an agenda
At AgeGroup, we provide an alternative to the AARP and all other politically and religious-leaning organizations.
We maintain an objective, non-partisan stance by being very careful not to include any political messaging in our content. We’re not interested in pushing a specific agenda. We’re interested in creating innovative solutions that meet your needs instead.
We provide unbiased reviews of products and services to help you make informed decisions on quality and value. Plus, we offer tailored ad packages to companies that want to advertise to you. Advertising in places like the AARP can be prohibitively expensive for innovative startups that may solve your problem. We ensure you get access to them too, so that you can make a real choice.
We offer many of the same benefits you’d get with the AARP but none of the political baggage.
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