2009 AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are AARP and Walgreens announcing?
2. Why are AARP and Walgreens involved in this?
3. What screenings will the tour offer?
4. Do appointments need to be scheduled for the tour?
5. How do you find out more information about where the tour bus will be traveling?
6. Who will be conducting the free health screenings?
7. How many people are able to receive the health screenings at each Wellness Tour stop?
8. Are the free health screenings for AARP members only?
9. Is any follow-up care or information provided to those who visit the tour
10. Will arrangements be made for people with disabilities or those requiring special assistance
11. I understand that as a part of the tour, free AARP memberships will be available to participants that have received a health screening. I am under 50 years of age. Can I still redeem the one-year free membership?
12. I took advantage of the Walgreens promotion and received a FREE one-year AARP membership. Can I cancel my membership?
13. Does AARP have a toll-free telephone number?
14. Can I speak with someone in Spanish using a toll-free telephone number?
15. What happens if an existing member activates a free membership that was given out on the Wellness Tour?
16. How are the Wellness Tour stops determined?
17. Walgreens has offered screenings before. How is this tour different?
18. Does the Wellness Tour replace the current Walgreens programs with AARP?
19. Many people are aware of AARP's commitment to the aging population, but is the focus on the 50+ consumer new for Walgreens?
20. How will AARP state offices support the Wellness Tour?
21. Does the Wellness Tour have a Bilingual (Spanish/English) crew member at every stop?
22. Does the Wellness Tour offer any type of medication review?
23. I've been told to consult with my doctor, but I don't have a doctor or can't afford health insurance. What do I do?

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2. What are AARP and Walgreens announcing?
   AARP and Walgreens are launching a two-year national mobile health screening tour called The AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour. The goal of the tour is to deliver more than 2.5 million free health screenings for early detection and prevention of diseases, as well as health education, with a special emphasis on underserved areas. The total value of the screenings to be administered over the course of the tour is estimated at over $60 million.
   
   The nationwide tour will visit more than 3,000 communities in 300 cities in 45 states and Puerto Rico via nine customized, traveling education and health-screening buses. One of the nine buses is solely dedicated to Puerto Rico and is called the AARP/Walgreens La Gira Del Buen Vecino.
   
   The tour officially kicks off on April 14, 2009 in New York City's Rockefeller Plaza. (The tour had a soft launch in February 2009 in the Puerto Rico market).

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4. Why are AARP and Walgreens involved in this?
   Both AARP and Walgreens are focused on improving the health and quality of life in communities across the nation. Many diseases can be detected long before symptoms are even noticed, which is why early detection is the key to staying healthy. With AARP's help, Walgreens will be able to provide these free health screenings to people who are most in need of affordable health care.

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6. What screenings will the tour offer?
   The Wellness Tour will offer six free health screenings, for a total value of over $140 including:
   
   • Total Cholesterol Levels - Screenings raise awareness of high blood cholesterol as a risk factor for coronary heart disease, the first step toward modifying lifestyle to reduce risk.
   • Blood Pressure - High blood pressure is one of the most common chronic conditions in adults; however, people with high blood pressure usually don't have symptoms, so they often don't know that they have it until it is measured.
   • Bone Density - Bone density testing is a valuable tool in the diagnosis of osteoporosis and is a fairly accurate predictor of a person's risk of fractures.
   • Glucose Levels - Blood glucose testing is used to screen healthy individuals for diabetes and pre-diabetes because diabetes is a common disease that begins with few symptoms.
   • Waist Circumference, Body Composition/Body Mass Index - The nation's scales are going up and therefore raising public awareness about the problem of obesity and the risk of excess weight is critical.

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8. Do appointments need to be scheduled for the tour?
   No appointment is necessary for the health screening, and visitors do not need health insurance. Certified medical technicians, provided by Walgreens, will be conducting the screenings on a first-come, first-serve basis. For specific information about tour hours and other details, visit www.aarpwalgreens.com/tour or call 1-866-484-TOUR (1-866-484-8687).

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10. How do you find out more information about where the tour bus will be traveling?
    To find out more information about the AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour, visit www.aarpwalgreens.com/tour or call 1-866-484-TOUR (1-866-484-8687).

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12. Who will be conducting the free health screenings?
    Certified medical technicians, provided by Walgreens, aboard the specially outfitted AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour buses will perform the six free screenings. All screenings take place inside the customized bus and participants will receive their results upon completion.

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14. How many people are able to receive the health screenings at each Wellness Tour stop?
    Although the hours of each event may vary and no appointment is necessary, each bus has the capacity to screen approximately 20 people per hour. It is recommended that participants arrive at least one hour prior to the end of each event to best ensure getting screened before the event ends. Screenings take between 20-25 minutes, depending on the wait.
    
    Participants who are unable to receive their free screenings can talk to the tour staff on the bus to receive information about additional tour stops that may be conveniently accessed.

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16. Are the free health screenings for AARP members only?
    No, a guest does not have to be an AARP member to receive the free health screening. Our screening service is convenient, free and important for adults of all ages.

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18. Is any follow-up care or information provided to those who visit the tour?
    After receiving the results, visitors to the Wellness Tour are encouraged to see their doctor or health care provider regarding any concerns. Participants will also receive a reusable bag to collect educational materials available on the event site to empower them to take charge of their health. Additionally, visitors will receive a free one-year AARP membership offer (see # 11 -13).

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20. Will arrangements be made for people with disabilities or those requiring special assistance?
    Yes. Although the health screenings take place on the bus, if a person is disabled or needs assistance the Wellness Tour staff will make the necessary accommodations, which may involve conducting select screenings in a private area outside of the bus.

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22. I understand that as a part of the tour, free AARP memberships will be available to participants that have received a health screening. I am under 50 years of age. Can I still redeem the one-year free membership?
    Yes. Free, one-year AARP memberships will be given to all adults who receive screenings as a gift from Walgreens. Participants under the age of 50 can either give the free membership to an eligible adult or join as an Associate member. Existing members will receive a one-year extension on their current membership status. Associate membership is designed for those under 50 who support the association's goals and objectives, and offers many, but not all member benefits. Once an Associate member celebrates a 50th birthday, they automatically become a full member and can take advantage of all AARP benefits and services. Associate members do not receive an official membership card, but a confirmation letter of membership should be received within 8 to 12 weeks. In all cases, the free membership must be activated by filling out and mailing the postage-paid application on the brochure. Please note that the tour staff cannot collect membership applications, they must be mailed by the individual.

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24. I took advantage of the Walgreens promotion and received a FREE one-year AARP membership. Can I cancel my membership?
    Yes, you can cancel your membership. However, because the promotion was a free membership there will be no refund for any unused portion of the membership.

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26. Does AARP have a toll-free telephone number?
    Yes. Call us toll-free, 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277), Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. EST.

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28. Can I speak with someone in Spanish using a toll-free telephone number?
    Yes. Call us toll-free, 1-877-MAS-DE-50 (1-877-627-3350), Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. EST.

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30. What happens if an existing member activates a free membership that was given out on the Wellness Tour?
    This free membership offer applies to both new and existing AARP members. Existing members will get a one-year extension to their membership. This promotion can not be combined with other offers and is separate from the in-store membership promotion that typically runs each fall. The free one-year membership extension must be activated by filling out and mailing the postage-paid application on the brochure, which includes a space for existing members to supply their AARP membership number.

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32. How are the Wellness Tour stops determined?
    The AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour's aim is to bring free services and health awareness directly to those who may otherwise not have the resources for and access to affordable health care. AARP and Walgreens will collaborate to develop a schedule that puts a special emphasis on underserved communities. By reaching out to people in communities that are traditionally underserved, the Tour is targeting areas that need the most attention and care. Also, the screenings provided represent some of the most critical health data needed for the early detection and prevention of diseases.

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34. Walgreens has offered screenings before. How is this tour different?
    To maximize the impact and reach of its fifth annual community outreach campaign, AARP is helping Walgreens present the new tour: the AARP/Walgreens Wellness Tour.

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36. Does the Wellness Tour replace current Walgreens programs with AARP?
    No. AARP's alliance with Walgreens on the Wellness Tour only helps expand the work both organizations are doing to positively impact the health of consumers and provide excellent value to AARP's members and others in the community.

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38. Many people are aware of AARP's commitment to the aging population, but is the focus on the 50+ consumer new for Walgreens? Walgreens has had a long-standing commitment to providing valuable products and services to the aging population. Many Walgreens stores are convenient to mass-transit, have ample parking and train their pharmacy professionals in issues related to geriatric medication.
    
    Other examples of Walgreens focus on the aging population include:
    • Easy-open prescription bottle caps
    • Large print prescription directions
    • Medicare Part D free report
    • ExpressPay^? for even faster service

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40. How will AARP state offices support the Wellness Tour?
    AARP's state offices will participate in activities and events that may be included in the tour schedule. At certain stops, state office staff and/or volunteers will communicate about the social impact and member value agendas of AARP, including their diversity and member engagement initiatives.

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42. Does the Wellness Tour have a Bilingual (Spanish/English) crew member at every stop?
    Yes, each Wellness bus has at least one Bilingual crew member on staff.

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44. Does the Wellness Tour offer any type of medication review?
    After receiving the results, visitors to the Wellness Tour are encouraged to see their doctor or health care provider regarding any concerns; or visitors may also wish to speak to their local Walgreens pharmacist

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46. I've been told to consult with my doctor, but I don't have a doctor or can't afford health insurance. What do I do?
    There are federal and state programs to help people access health care, even if they cannot afford health insurance. To find out more about these programs, you can call AARP's toll-free number 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277). Tell them what state you are in and ask for assistance with Benefits. Benefits QuickLINK can help identify programs in your area that may help you get the health care you need. You can access Benefits QuickLINK yourself by going to www.aarp.org/quicklink. Your AARP state office is also a great resource and may know of some additional, local resources to help you get the care you need, please contact 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277) and ask to be transferred.

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