[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 22, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
        EXAMPLE 5,734 ON WHY WE NEED NATIONAL HEALTH CARE REFORM

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                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 22, 1994

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, In the last several years, I bet I have read 
5,734 or more letters from Americans giving good, specific examples of 
why we need health care reform.
  I've put a score or so in the Record--but the examples really are 
countless. And unless we act, they will be endless.
  The following letter is from Mr. Sam Alex Bezanis of Chicago. His 
monthly insurance was $489 a month in 1989. In 9 days, it will rise to 
$973.10 per month. He desperately needs health insurance--but he also 
needs to eat and keep a roof over his head. At these ever-inflating 
insurance rates, it is an impossible task.
  Mr. Speaker, we are all in this together as a society, and we should 
enact open enrollment, community rates insurance so that the Sam 
Bezanis's of the world--which could be any one of us at a moment's 
notice--have a fighting chance.
                                                    March 9, 1994.
     Hon. Fortney ``Pete'' Stark,
     Chairman, Health Subcommittee, House of Representatives, 
         Washington, DC.
         Dear Chairman Stark: At 56 years of age I've struggled 
     since age 23 to keep myself alive, well, and a productive 
     member of society and tax payer. I suffer from coronary 
     artery disease and familia hypercloserterima, an inherited 
     disorder, requiring LDL apheresis once every second week 
     superimposed on a drug regime.
       My very existence is now threatened because my insurance 
     coverage which was $489.00 per month in 1989 is now $869.10 
     per month and is increasing by 12% in April of 1994. I do not 
     have the financial resources to continue paying the $869.10 
     let alone $973.10 in April.
       This being the case I started looking for alternate types 
     of coverage.
       Following are the reasons I cannot buy coverage, pursuant 
     to the insurance and managed care companies:
       1. I am an individual--I knew that--not a group and do not 
     belong to a group.
       2. I am too old.
       3. Two preexisting conditions.
       4. Any employer I've talked to about employment will not 
     offer insurance because I'd be a liability to the existing 
     group.
       The long and short of it is that I'd have to attain the 
     financial status of poverty disposing of assets etc., in 
     order to be eligible for Federal or state medical insurance 
     and then there would be no prescription drug coverage.
       As one of the elected officials serving on this committee I 
     sincerely hope you can put aside party differences and 
     politics and make a significant contribution to the citizens 
     of the United States by drafting a truly equitable and 
     affordable health care plan.
       I'd like to hear your thoughts for a solution to my 
     immediate problem and you plans for a comprehensive health 
     care plan.
       Sincerely,
     Sam Alex Bezanis.

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