[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 108 (Monday, August 8, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                           UNIVERSAL COVERAGE

  Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, last Thursday's Los Angeles Times has a 
paragraph in a story that is typical of many stories I have read. I am 
not picking on the reporter here, David Lauter. Let me read this 
paragraph.

       Although the debate over whether Mitchell's 95 percent 
     constitutes universal coverage has attracted considerable 
     attention in Washington, as a practical matter the question 
     may be moot. All health care analysts agree that a small 
     percentage of the population would fall through the cracks in 
     any program, even one that in theory mandated 100 percent 
     coverage.

  The reality is 95 percent coverage means 12.5 million Americans are 
left out. And universal coverage can mean precisely that. Because while 
everyone is supposed to apply for a little card that we will get under 
the system that I hope we will vote for, if you do not have a card and 
you go to a physician's office or you enter a hospital, you will then 
immediately apply. So every American will be covered. Universal 
coverage means precisely that.
  I hope this body will not be satisfied to leave 12.5 million 
Americans uncovered when we vote a health care bill.
  I appreciate my colleague's yielding on that.
  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senator's 3 
minutes be extended 2 extra minutes, as in morning business.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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