[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 40 (Thursday, April 14, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 14, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    FACES OF THE HEALTH CARE CRISIS

 Mr. RIEGLE. Mr. President, I rise today in my continuing 
effort to put a face on the health care crisis in our country. I would 
like to share the story of Robert from Lansing, MI. Robert has a 
chronic medical condition, is unemployed, and he lost his health 
insurance in a recent divorce. Robert does not want his last name used 
because he fears it might hurt his employment search.
  Robert is 55 years old. Last summer during a routine physical 
examination he was diagnosed with type II diabetes. This is the most 
common type of diabetes and affects about 13 million Americans. This 
type of diabetes can be well controlled. But if left untreated, type II 
diabetes can lead to kidney failure, gangrene and amputation, blindness 
or stroke. It is important that people with diabetes follow a daily 
treatment plan that includes monitoring their blood-sugar levels and 
seeing a health care practitioner regularly. Robert monitors his blood 
sugar at home and has a borderline level. But he does not see a 
physician because he has no insurance and he cannot afford one.
  In January of this year, Robert lost his health insurance when his 
divorce was finalized. Prior to the divorce, he and his family had 
obtained coverage for the past 15 years through his wife's employer, 
Michigan State University. Their plan provided excellent, comprehensive 
benefits with limited copayments to the employees. Robert's 14-year-old 
son, John, continues to receive benefits through this policy. Because 
he is unemployed, Robert could not afford to continue his health 
insurance policy by paying the $200 a month premium.
  During Robert's career he has been a science and math teacher, an 
elected local public official and, most recently, the owner of a small 
business. Robert has never needed to obtain benefits through his own 
employment because of the comprehensive benefits offered through his 
former wife's employer. For 5 years he was a co-owner of a small solar 
energy conservation firm that failed in 1993. Since that time he has 
been looking for employment as a teacher, but the market is saturated 
and he has not found a position yet. He has been told on several 
occasions that his masters degree makes him overqualified and 
unaffordable for the school district.
  Robert would go to the doctor for his borderline blood sugar level, 
but since he no longer has insurance, he feels he cannot afford it. 
After losing his health insurance benefits, Robert was forced to cancel 
a followup appointment with a nerve specialist for a pinched nerve 
condition that developed last summer.
  Robert had been seeing this specialist when he had coverage, but 
after losing his benefits, he could not afford to pay for the $75 
office visit out-of-pocket.
  Robert is concerned about his future as an uninsured individual. At 
55, he is getting to the age where it is difficult to find a job. 
Currently, he is living on savings and borrowed money while he looks 
for a teaching position. Because of his unemployed status, Robert is 
unable to purchase a health insurance policy.
  In addition, Robert fears that diabetes will be considered a 
preexisting condition by health insurance companies and prevent him 
from obtaining the coverage he needs when he becomes financially able 
to purchase it.
  Robert is in a situation facing many Americans across the country. 
Because health insurance coverage is usually tied to the employment of 
an individual or spouse, unemployment and divorce leave many people 
struggling to get affordable coverage. Robert has a chronic medical 
condition that can be controlled with proper treatment but can lead to 
devastating and expensive complications if not medically monitored. 
Lack of insurance means that cost-effective opportunities to prevent 
serious medical problems are missed. And preexisting condition 
exclusions in health insurance policies means that individuals with 
great need for care will be denied coverage.
  Robert and every American deserve to have affordable health care 
coverage regardless of their unemployment or marital status. Existing 
medical conditions should not pose a barrier to getting coverage for 
care. Mr. President, I will continue to work with my colleagues in the 
House and Senate, and with the White House to make sure that 
comprehensive health care reform is enacted this year.

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