History of AARP in Timeline

AARP is a United States-based interest group advocating for individuals aged 50 and over. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., it boasts a membership of over 38 million as of 2018. AARP provides resources and advocacy on issues relevant to older adults. Its magazine and bulletin are the two largest-circulation publications in the U.S.

1944: Discovery of Retiree Hardship

In 1944, Ethel Percy Andrus found a former Spanish teacher living in a chicken coop, highlighting the financial struggles of retirees who lacked adequate pensions, housing, and healthcare. This spurred Andrus to seek ways to improve older adults' health and financial security.

1947: Formation of NRTA

In 1947, Ethel Percy Andrus formed the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA) to secure affordable group health coverage. She was initially rejected by 42 private insurance companies who deemed adults over 65 to be "uninsurable".

1954: Grey Gables Retirement Home

In 1954, Ethel Percy Andrus created one of the first modern retirement homes called Grey Gables, located in Ojai, California. It was designed to keep older residents healthy, active, and socially engaged.

1955: NRTA Health Plan Launch

In 1955, The NRTA Health Plan insured by Continental Casualty Co. was established by Ethel Percy Andrus and Leonard Davis. This was a national version of a pilot program for retired teachers in New York and was a financial success.

1958: Establishment of AARP The Magazine

In 1958, AARP The Magazine (known until 2002 as Modern Maturity), a lifestyle magazine for people 50+, was established and distributed bi-monthly to AARP members.

1958: Publication of Modern Maturity Magazine

In 1958, AARP began publishing its magazine called Modern Maturity to spread the word about the association, keep members informed, and publicize issues affecting older adults.

1958: AARP Formation

In 1958, AARP was formed by Ethel Percy Andrus and Leonard Davis. Davis later founded Colonial Penn's insurance companies. AARP became an influential lobbying group that sells paid memberships and markets insurance and other services to its members.

1958: Creation of AARP as NRTA Sister Organization

In 1958, Ethel Percy Andrus created the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) as a sister organization to the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA). This allowed the general population age 55 and older to gain access to insurance benefits previously limited to former teachers.

1958: White House Conference on Aging Legislation

In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation creating the first White House Conference on Aging and named Ethel Percy Andrus to the National Advisory Committee.

1959: AARP Advocates for Lower Prescription Drug Costs

As early as 1959, AARP began advocating for lower prescription drug costs to ease the burden on older consumers.

1959: Senate investigation into prescription drug prices begins

In 1959, U.S. Senator Estes Kefauver led a congressional investigation into prescription drug prices, which lasted until 1962. Ethel Percy Andrus testified four times during the investigation.

1961: First White House Conference on Aging

In 1961, the first White House Conference on Aging was held in Washington, D.C. More than 2,500 delegates addressed challenges facing older adults and developed policy recommendations for the administration. This laid the groundwork for Medicare.

1962: Combined AARP and NRTA Membership

By 1962, the combined membership of AARP and NRTA had grown to 400,000, making it one of the largest membership organizations in the United States.

1962: Ethel Percy Andrus Testifies on Pharmaceutical Industry Pricing

In 1962, AARP Founder Ethel Percy Andrus testified during Senate hearings on pharmaceutical industry pricing practices, expressing concern over high profit margins.

1962: Senate investigation into prescription drug prices ends

In 1962, U.S. Senator Estes Kefauver's congressional investigation into prescription drug prices, which began in 1959, concluded. Ethel Percy Andrus testified four times during the investigation.

1963: Leonard Davis Forms Colonial Penn

In 1963, Leonard Davis bought out Continental Casualty's AARP/NRTA insurance policies and formed Colonial Penn, which became the sole provider of insurance to AARP/NRTA.

1965: Lack of National Healthcare Before Medicare

Before 1965, there was no national program like Medicare in the United States to provide health insurance for people aged 65 and older. The poverty rate for Americans 65 and older was 35 percent higher than any other age group at the time.

1965: AARP Supports Medicare Program

In 1965, AARP testified before Congress in support of the Older Americans Act and the amendments to Social Security that created the Medicare Program, which President Johnson enacted into law.

1967: Advocacy for the ADEA

AARP has advocated for the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) since its passage in 1967. The ADEA protects workers at or over the age of 40 from bias in the workplace.

1967: AARP Advocates for Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967

In 1967, AARP advocated for the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.

1967: Death of Ethel Percy Andrus

In 1967, Ethel Percy Andrus, who ran AARP, died of a heart attack at age 82. She wrote her final column for Modern Maturity four days before she died. Today, the NRTA is a division within AARP.

1968: AARP Tax-Aide Launched

In 1968, AARP launched Tax-Aide, which matched low and moderate-income people with trained volunteers who provided free tax preparation and filing services.

1973: AARP Andrus Foundation Created

In 1973, AARP created a charitable affiliate, the AARP Andrus Foundation, to award research grants in gerontology.

1975: AARP Advocates for Age Discrimination Act of 1975

In 1975, AARP advocated for the Age Discrimination Act.

1975: AARP Membership Size

In 1975, AARP had over seven million members, making it one of the largest membership organizations in the country.

1977: Ten Millionth Member

In 1977, AARP enrolled its ten millionth member.

1979: Driver Safety Course

In 1979, AARP began offering a driver safety course for any licensed driver, taught by volunteers.

1979: AARP Introduces Driver Safety Course for Older Adults

In 1979, AARP introduced the nation's first driver safety course geared towards older adults.

1982: NRTA Merger with AARP

In 1982, the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA) formally merged with AARP.

1984: AARP Auto Insurance

In 1984, AARP licensed its brand name to affordable auto insurance that members could purchase and could not be canceled solely because of age.

1984: Membership Age Reduced

In 1984, AARP reduced its membership age from 55 to 50. It began sending "birthday" cards and membership invitations to Americans approaching their 50th birthday.

1988: Career Planning Workshop

In 1988, AARP formed a career planning workshop for older Americans who were unemployed.

1995: AARP Exposes Telemarketing Fraud

In 1995, AARP helped expose a series of boiler room operations targeting potential phone fraud victims across the country, working with the National Association of Attorneys General and the FBI. AARP members volunteered to collect evidence for the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Operation Senior Sentinel.

1995: Senator Simpson Investigates AARP's Finances

In 1995, Senator Alan K. Simpson launched an investigation into AARP's finances, describing it as an empire profiting from nonprofit laws and questioning members' awareness of the organization's agenda.

1996: Baby Boomers Turning 50

In 1996, 78 million baby boomers began turning 50, contributing to AARP's growth.

1997: AARP Mutual Funds Introduced

In 1997, AARP introduced a series of AARP mutual funds.

1997: Top Lobbying Organization

In 1997, AARP topped Fortune's first annual list of the most powerful lobbying organizations.

1999: Name Change to AARP

In 1999, the organization changed its name from the American Association of Retired Persons to AARP, dropping the word "retirement." AARP no longer requires that members be retired, and there are no longer any age restrictions even for full membership.

2002: Modern Maturity Renamed AARP The Magazine

In 2002, Modern Maturity was renamed AARP The Magazine.

2003: Support for Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage

In 2003, AARP supported legislation proposed by President George W. Bush that included partial coverage for prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries. This led to protests and membership cancellations.

2003: AARP Influences Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act

In 2003, AARP's public stances influenced the United States Congress' passage of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act, which created Medicare Part D.

2004: Opposition to Social Security Privatization

Beginning in 2004, AARP opposed attempts to undermine the guaranteed nature of the Social Security program through privatization or diverting Social Security payroll taxes to private accounts.

2004: BusinessWeek Questions AARP's Commercial Interests

In 2004, BusinessWeek raised questions about potential conflicts between AARP's commercial interests and its members' interests, suggesting its marketed funds and insurance policies offer less benefit than seniors could obtain independently.

2005: AARP Resists Changes to Social Security

In 2005, AARP influenced Congress by resisting changes to Social Security.

2005: Start of AARP Purpose Prize

In 2005, CoGenerate started the AARP Purpose Prize, which is awarded to people 50 and older who are making a social impact.

April 2007: AARP Health Insurance Statistics

As of April 2007, approximately seven million people have AARP-branded health insurance, including drug coverage and Medigap, and the association earns more income from selling insurance to members through licensing arrangements than from membership dues.

2007: AARP Launches "Divided We Fail" Campaign

In 2007, AARP launched the "Divided We Fail" campaign with other organizations, urging presidential candidates to commit to affordable health insurance and strengthening Social Security.

November 2008: Criticism of AARP as a Lobbying Group

In a November 2008 editorial, The Des Moines Register and the Canada Free Press criticized AARP as a lobbying group masquerading as a non-profit, charging high membership fees and selling expensive private health care plans.

2008: Senator Grassley Criticizes AARP's Insurance Plans

In 2008, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) stated that the "limited benefit" insurance plans offered by AARP through UnitedHealth provided inadequate coverage and were marketed deceptively.

October 2009: Health Care Reform and Medigap Policies

As of October 2009, health care reform contained a proposal to trim an associated program Medicare Advantage, which was expected to increase demand for Medigap policies, causing some to accuse AARP of conflict of interest.

2009: AARP Backs POWADA

Beginning in 2009, AARP backed the "Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act" (POWADA), which aims to restore fairness for workers aged 40 and over by treating age discrimination as seriously as other forms of workplace discrimination.

2009: Endorsement of the Affordable Care Act

In 2009, AARP endorsed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) proposed by President Barack Obama, which protected those with pre-existing health conditions, limited the amount that insurance companies could charge because of age, provided tax credits, and improved drug coverage in Medicare. This also prompted membership cancellations.

2009: Supreme Court Decision Adversely Affected Age Discrimination Employment Act

In 2009, a Supreme Court decision adversely affected the Age Discrimination Employment Act.

March 2012: AARP's "You've Earned a Say" Campaign

Since March 2012, AARP's "You've Earned a Say" campaign has sought to foster nonpartisan conversations about how to strengthen Social Security and Medicare.

2012: AARP Driver Safety Course Completion Statistics

In 2012, over a half million drivers completed the AARP Driver Safety course.

2013: Decline in Defined Benefit Pensions

By 2013, only 18 percent of private-sector workers had a defined benefit pension, down from 35 percent in the 1990s, as American businesses scaled back retirement benefits.

2013: Release of 2013 Longevity Economy Outlook Study

In 2013, AARP released a Longevity Economy Outlook study.

2014: AARP staff salaries and travel expenses under scrutiny

In 2014, AARP faced criticism regarding its staff's salaries and travel practices. CEO Addison B. Rand received $1,698,289 in salary and benefits. AARP spent $8,694,890 on compensation for officers, directors, and key employees during 2014. Concerns were raised about first-class travel for short trips.

2014: AARP Study on Brain Health Priorities

In a 2014 study conducted by AARP, 93% of people identified maintaining brain health as a high priority as they age. AARP created a brain health assessment and program called Staying Sharp and it formed the Global Council on Brain Health.

2016: AARP Publication Statistics

As of 2016, AARP The Magazine and the AARP Bulletin are the two largest-circulation publications in the United States, with circulations of approximately 37 million and 30 million, respectively.

2016: AARP Creates Staying Sharp Program

In 2016, AARP created Staying Sharp, a program that allowed people to evaluate their brain health through a scientifically based assessment and receive tips for slowing cognitive decline.

2016: AARP Takes Over Purpose Prize

In 2016, AARP took over the Purpose Prize from CoGenerate.

2016: AARP Driver Safety Program

In 2016, the AARP Driver Safety Program taught 360,000 older drivers in classrooms and another 130,000 through its online course.

2017: AARP and U.S. Postal Inspection Service Launch Operation Protect Veterans

In 2017 the AARP and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service launched Operation Protect Veterans. This national campaign uses local outreach, ads, emails, social media, a website, and phone calls to warn the military about scams.

2017: Online Jobs Board and Employer Pledge Program

In 2017, AARP created an online jobs board to connect job seekers over 50 with employers. AARP also created an employer pledge program, where more than 1,000 employers promised to adhere to a set of age-friendly hiring and employment practices.

2017: AARP Opposes American Health Care Act of 2017

In early 2017, AARP strongly opposed the American Health Care Act of 2017, stating it would unfairly burden older Americans with higher premiums and smaller tax credits.

2018: AARP Consolidated Financial Statement

According to AARP's 2018 Consolidated Financial Statement, the largest sources of income were reported this year.

2018: AARP Helps Pass Laws to Lower Drug Prices

From 2018, AARP helped pass more than 35 laws aimed at lowering drug prices at the local level.

2018: AARP Foundation Lawsuit

In 2018, AARP Foundation lawyers represented two employees of the Ohio State University who were forced out of their jobs because of their age, resulting in a settlement that helped the employees regain their positions and receive back pay. The university was required to hold training sessions with its staff on preventing age bias.

2018: AARP Donates to Dementia Discovery Fund for Alzheimer's Research

In 2018, AARP donated $60 million to the Dementia Discovery Fund for research into the causes and treatments of Alzheimer's Disease.

2018: Class Action Lawsuits Filed Against AARP

In 2018, AARP faced several class action lawsuits related to AARP-branded Medigap insurance policies, alleging undisclosed licensing revenue. One lawsuit claims that AARP was acting as an unlicensed insurance agent.

2018: AARP Invests in Dementia Discovery Fund

In 2018, AARP invested $60 million in the Dementia Discovery Fund, which supports research into diagnosis, treatments, and cures for dementia.

2018: AARP Membership

In 2018, AARP reported having more than 38 million members. The magazine and bulletin sent to members were the two largest-circulation publications in the United States.

2018: AARP Works to Change Portrayals of Older People in Media

In 2018, AARP worked to change how older people are portrayed in media and advertising to reduce age discrimination. AARP worked with Getty Images to introduce 1,400 images of older people running businesses, playing sports, and spending time with younger generations as part of the Disrupt Aging Collection.

2018: Age Discrimination Cost the U.S. $850 Billion

In 2018, a joint project with The Economist Intelligence Unit reported that age discrimination cost the U.S. $850 billion in lost gross domestic product.

2018: Launch of Sisters from AARP

In 2018, the digital publication titled Sisters from AARP was launched, aimed at African American women.

2018: AARP Speaks Out Against Age-Specific Job Targeting

In 2018, the organization also spoke out against employers who use age-specific targeting features on online platforms, denying all age groups the ability to see job opportunities.

2019: AARP Helps Pass Laws to Lower Drug Prices

From 2019, AARP helped pass more than 35 laws aimed at lowering drug prices at the local level.

2019: Release of "The Longevity Economy Outlook" Report

In 2019, AARP and The Economist Intelligence Unit jointly released "The Longevity Economy Outlook: How people age 50 and older are fueling economic growth, stimulating jobs, and creating opportunities for all." The report focuses on the impact of the 50-plus population on the economy.

2019: Lobbying for Lower Prescription Drug Costs

In 2019, AARP began lobbying for legislative and industry changes to lower prescription medication costs. AARP supported a bipartisan bill by Sens. Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) that set caps on drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries and increased pressure on drug companies to lower prices.

2019: AARP Launches "Stop Rx Greed" Campaign

In 2019, AARP launched the multi-million dollar "Stop Rx Greed" campaign against the pharmaceutical industry and its high drug prices. AARP also supported a bipartisan bill by Sens. Charles Grassley (R-IA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) that set caps on drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries and increased pressure on drug companies to lower prices.

2019: Further Class Action Lawsuits Against AARP

In 2019, a lawsuit was filed against AARP, claiming the organization used its status to claim the AARP-branded insurance policies were "best for seniors".

2020: Work and Save Programs

As of 2020, AARP's research indicated that nearly half (57 million) of American workers have no access to a retirement savings plan through their employers. Eighteen states had signed Work and Save programs into law due to AARP advocacy, which made it easier for businesses to create a private retirement savings account for employees.

2020: POWADA Status

As of 2020, the "Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act" (POWADA), which AARP backs, has been passed by the House of Representatives and is with the Senate.

2020: AARP Supports Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA)

In 2020, AARP supported the passage of the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA), which aimed to restore protections under the Age Discrimination Employment Act that were adversely affected by a 2009 Supreme Court decision.

2020: Publication of Global Longevity Economy Outlook

In 2020, the Global Longevity Economy Outlook was published, focusing on how much older adults contributed to the global gross domestic product.

2021: AARP Launches "Fair Rx Prices Now!" Campaign

In 2021, AARP launched the "Fair Rx Prices Now!" campaign to support legislation enabling the Medicare Program to negotiate prices with drug companies to lower prices for consumers, limit price increases for certain drugs, and cap out-of-pocket spending by Medicare beneficiaries.

2021: AARP Backs House Democratic Bill for Lower Drug Prices

In 2021, AARP supported a House Democratic bill that would allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices with manufacturers, among other things.

August 2022: Inflation Reduction Act Signed Into Law

In August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act, which AARP pushed for, was signed into law. It requires HHS to negotiate drug prices, penalizes companies that raise prices faster than inflation, and caps out-of-pocket drug spending for Medicare beneficiaries.

2022: AARP Brings Class Action Lawsuit Against Alden Group

In 2022, AARP and others brought a class action lawsuit against Alden Group, a healthcare provider based in Illinois, alleging understaffing and neglect in its nursing facilities.

2022: AARP Backs Legislation for Lower Drug Prices

In 2022, AARP backed legislation proposed by President Biden and passed by Congress to enable Medicare to negotiate drug prices, cap out-of-pocket drug spending for Medicare recipients, and cap insulin prices at $35.

2022: AARP Holds "The World's Most Expensive Tailgate"

In 2022, AARP held "The World's Most Expensive Tailgate" to highlight problems with rising drug prices, sharing what popular tailgate items would cost if their prices had increased at the same rate as drug prices over the last 15 years.

2022: AARP Employer Pledge Program

In 2022, over 1,000 companies signed the AARP Employer Pledge program which is for employers who publicly pledge to work to end ageism. To join the program, employers must not have any discrimination lawsuits within the past five years and must agree to recruit across diverse age groups and consider all applications equally.

2023: AARP Campaigns for Increased SSA Funding

In 2023, AARP started campaigning for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to receive a $1.4 billion increase in funding to improve its "woeful" customer service and called for the SSA to "step up non-monetary measures to improve customer service and quality."

2023: AARP Holds Nationwide Social Security Forums

In the summer of 2023, AARP held a series of nationwide forums to help educate people about social security and debunk social security myths. The forum in Richmond was held alongside The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM).