Although AARP remains more than 40 million strong, the new American Seniors Association has gained more than 50,000 members in the past two months, according to the New York Times.
It is not the first time that healthcare issues have caused splinter groups to form among advocates for the elderly: the group lost nearly 100,000 members in 2003 and 2005 because of support for Medicare Part D and Social Security privatization efforts, reported the newspaper.
The ASA offers a drug discount card, and unlike the AARP is open to membership from any age group.
The chief difference between the organizations is the ASA philosophy.
"We don't just take the government's side like some other associations," notes the organization on their website. "We are not some big liberal bureaucracy here to try to scare you into going along with 'Big Government' all the time or telling you what to think."
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