[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 105 (Wednesday, August 3, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
  THE PROBLEM OF PREEXISTING CONDITIONS AND HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE

  (Mr. TORKILDSEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TORKILDSEN. Mr. Speaker, one of the biggest and cruelest problems 
with our health care system today is that people with preexisting 
conditions are almost always denied health insurance.
  Many people who are laid off or change their jobs lose their health 
insurance. After losing their insurance, many find it impossible to 
purchase new health insurance coverage due to preexisting conditions.
  Many people suffer from preexisting conditions, and even if those 
conditions are minor, they are denied health insurance.
  Also, many people remain in jobs that are personally and/or 
economically unfulfilling, simply to retain whatever health care 
insurance they have.
  True health care reform must create a system in which everyone, 
regardless or prior medical history, has access to affordable health 
insurance.
  As we debate the many health care packages next week, there is one 
reform which we should all agree upon: Let us eliminate deniability of 
coverage for preexisting conditions.

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