[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 68 (Thursday, May 26, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 26, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 A POLICY THAT COSTS ME OVER $2,900 A YEAR, AND HAS A LIFETIME CAP OF 
                          $20,000 IN BENEFITS

                                 ______


                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 25, 1994

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to stress once again the 
importance of health care reform. The American people continue to face 
high insurance premiums, a lack of benefits, and excessive medical 
costs. I speak in reference to a letter I received from a man in 
Florida, who lost his job, and consequently his medical and life 
insurance.
  Here is an excerpt from his letter:

       For more than ten years, I worked for [a large 
     corporation]. I was told by human resources people that 
     should I ever be terminated or laid off, I could continue my 
     medical coverage. ``Don't worry,'' they said, ``nothing can 
     happen.''
       Then I got my HIV-positive test result.
       Then I was laid off.
       Then my medical and life insurance went away.
       What was a one-million dollar major medical and 
     hospitalization policy is now a policy that costs me over 
     $2,900 a year, and has a lifetime cap of $20,000 in benefits. 
     I am delighted to report I may be able to survive this 
     disease--but am less happy to report that my lifetime 
     benefits will be exhausted in less than three years. At that 
     point, I will need to pay the $800 per month cost of my drugs 
     and lab tests. As I am now [self-employed], I can only hope 
     that business is good when that happens.

  This letter demonstrates the needs of the American people and 
emphasizes the necessity of a plan which guarantees universal health 
coverage and controls on health care costs.
  ``Please get something done,'' this man writes, ``I do not want to 
plan my own funeral just because I could not afford to continue my 
medication.''

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