[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 80 (Wednesday, June 22, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


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

 
      GUARANTEED COVERAGE IS KEY TO MEANINGFUL HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Mr. RICHARDSON asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, President Clinton made it 
clear that as Congress continues to debate health care reform, he will 
not compromise on the issue of guaranteeing coverage for every single 
American.
  The President is right--without guaranteed coverage, there is no 
meaningful health care reform.
  The fact is, while we do not have guaranteed coverage in this 
country, we do have guaranteed treatment. When an uninsured American 
shows up at the emergency room, we do not turn them away--even if they 
cannot pay. But then who pays for the uninsured? Those of us who have 
insurance.
  The head of one major insurance company says that uncompensated care 
accounted for almost half of last year's cost increases.
  And the real losers under this cost-shifting scheme are the hard-
working families and employers who take the responsibility to pay their 
own way. A full third of employers' health care costs subsidize 
companies that do not bother to offer insurance.
  Guaranteed coverage is the only way to stop it. First of all, 
everyone will have access to decent, ongoing, primary health care. We 
can prevent some of those emergency room crises before it is too late--
and at a fraction of the cost.
  Second, by bringing everybody into the system, sharing the costs and 
the benefits, we will make sure that those costs are spread fairly and 
evenly--no more free subsidies, no more hidden taxes.
  I think that makes a lot of sense. After all, if you are in business, 
you are in business to compete. And free competition means you do not 
subsidize your competitors. Guaranteed coverage will level the playing 
field, once and for all.
  So let us stop pretending that we can have real health care reform 
without guaranteed coverage--and let us start the debate about the 
programs and principles that will actually help us to reach that goal.

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