(Updated December 27, 2009) Two groups, both representing senior Americans, are at polar opposites when it comes to philosophy and two prime issues;  the President's one-time $250 payment to seniors instead of a regular 2010 cost of living (COLA) increase, and the government health care reform as it is currently proposed by Congress.

House Bill HR-3572, introduced by Rodney Alexander (R-LA) would provide the average Social Security recipient with a 2.9% increase in 2010 or approximately $403 for the year compared to Obama's one-time $250 payment. The Bill was referred to the House Ways & Means Committee on September 15.

Jordan McNerney, Media Relations Manager for liberal AARP, formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons, told us that, at this time, AARP supports the one-time $250 payment rather than the cost of living increase.  

American Seniors Association (ASA), a conservative group, is supporting the COLA increase, according to Phil Kent, the organization's media consultant.

The cost of membership in either association is about the same; $15 a year for ASA with about 150,000 members and $16 for AARP's reported 35,000,000 members. Both groups provide similar member services and access to insurance programs for seniors.

Kent also told Grass Roots Annie that ASA has hired additional processors to handle a substantial increase in membership applications submitted recently by former AARP members. Reports vary about the number of members lost by AARP. There is a reported 40,000 to 60,000 who resigned between July 1 and August 18, and some say that the fallout continues although there are no official numbers from AARP.

Just as they are at polar opposites on the cost of living issue for seniors, these two groups do not agree on the current health care reform bills.

AARP supports Obama's health care plan. McNerney stated that the proposed savings in Medicare are not actually cuts in services. He continued, “To be clear, AARP strongly supports legislation (H.R. 3961) that would permanently fix the Medicare physician payment system as a part of health care reform.  This bill would ensure seniors can continue to see their doctors by stopping a drastic cut in physician pay scheduled for next year.

“Health care reform proposals would also add important preventive benefits to Medicare at no additional cost, and they would completely close the Medicare prescription drug program’s doughnut hole—a dangerous gap in coverage that forces seniors to pay the full cost of their medicines out-of-pocket.

“We can pay for these improvements without adding to our deficit by rooting out waste, fraud and abuse.  That includes cutting over payments to insurance companies that don’t meet high quality standards, rewarding hospitals and doctors for providing follow-up care to prevent unnecessary re-admissions to the hospital and lowering the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs.”

ASA reflects the opposition to this reform as voiced by the millions of seniors who have attended tea parties and town hall meetings this summer and fall. A recent ASA press release criticized AARP's support for Obamacare and stated, "The AARP continues to lose thousands and thousands of members because of its sympathy toward Obamacare, higher taxes and big government . . . "

No one has really explained how the drastic cuts in Medicare will be paid for, and many say that if waste fraud and abuse could be rooted out, why hasn't this already been done? Actions speak louder than words and therefore, it can be assumed that there will be no elimination in fraud and abuse. Something's got to give and that leaves cuts in services.

If you or someone you know is receiving Social Security, visit these web sites.