AARP Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit charity that helps people over age 50 who are at social and economic risk

AARP, Inc., formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is a United States-based interest group with a membership founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy Andrus, Ph.D., a retired educator from California, and Leonard Davis, later the founder of the Colonial Penn Group of insurance companies.[3][4]

AARP is a 501c4 non-profit organization with a mission to enhance the quality of life for all as they age. The association advocates for positive social change and delivers value to members through information, advocacy and service. With nearly 38 million members, AARP is one of the most powerful lobbying groups in the United States.[5][6]

Approximately seven million people have AARP-branded health insurance, including drug coverage and Medigap, as of April 2007[43] and AARP earns more income from selling insurance to members than it does from membership dues.[44] In 2008, AARP plans to begin offering several new health insurance products: an HMO for Medicare recipients, in partnership with UnitedHealth Group; and a PPO and "a high-deductible insurance policy that could be used with a health savings account" to people aged 50–64, in partnership with Aetna. AARP will likely become the largest source of health insurance for Medicare recipients, and AARP estimates the new products will increase its health insurance customers to 14 million by 2014.[43][45]

While AARP is not an insurer, in that it does not pay insurance claims, it does allow its name to be used by insurance companies in the sale of insurance products, for which it is paid a commission.[46]

http://crouton.net