[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 124 (Thursday, August 25, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 25, 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 need for health care reform. Today, I would 
like to tell the story of Carrie Fowler of Plainwell, MI. Carrie is a 
19 year old student at Kalamazoo Valley Community College who is 
studying to be a surgical technician. She lives with her parents, 
Bonnie and David. Carrie also works as a hostess at a Big Boy 
Restaurant. Her mother is a teacher's aide working with autistic 
children at a local school, and her father works for the State of 
Michigan as a construction technician.
  When Carrie was 12 years old, she noticed that her hands were shaky 
and that it was impossible for her to write neatly. Her parents took 
her to see a neurologist, who first thought she had a brain tumor. 
After more testing, Carrie was diagnosed with hydrocephalus.
  Hydrocephalus is usually a congenital condition. Abnormal build-up of 
fluid in the head causes compression of the brain, brain damage, and 
often causes death. Carrie's case is very unusual because it did not 
occur until she was 12. No cause has been found for her condition.
  Carrie had surgery to install a shunt in her head to drain the water 
through a tube to her abdomen, and to monitor the pressure of the water 
on her brain. She has received therapy since then to help her regain 
the ability to memorize and deal with short term memory loss.
  Since age 12, Carrie has had six surgeries to adjust and clean the 
shunt. The shunt becomes blocked by something as small as the head of a 
pin. Her last surgery was 20 months ago, when the shunt became blocked 
and she went into a coma. The bill for that hospital stay totaled over 
$40,000, all of which was paid for her by her HMO. In fact, her 
insurance has paid more than $230,000 for her medical care over the 
last 7 years.
  Fortunately, Carrie's father works for the State of Michigan and 
therefore has excellent family health coverage through an HMO. But this 
insurance will only cover Carrie until she is 25 or is married, 
whichever comes first. Carrie must also remain a full-time student to 
maintain coverage.
  Although she leads a very normal life, Carrie will always need a 
shunt to survive. She does not need any medication or regular medical 
treatment. She is able to recognize the symptoms, such as certain 
headaches, that mean she must seek medical care. But because of this 
condition and the incredible expense of its treatment, Carrie does not 
look forward to an independent life when she finishes college. She 
lives in fear of being without health coverage.
  Carrie has met a young man, Jon, whom she would like to marry when 
she is 22. But she is afraid to marry him because if she does, she 
would lose her health insurance. Jon is also a student now, and knows 
that they cannot marry, unless one of them finds an employer that 
provides health insurance that would cover her. Even then, they would 
be locked into that job for the health benefits it offers.
  Because of the pre-existing condition exclusions contained in most 
health policies, it is unlikely that Carrie will be eligible for any 
health insurance coverage at all when she reaches age 25.
  Carrie is a very courageous young woman who has had to deal with 
memory loss and six surgeries since the age of 12. She knows that she 
could face surgery again tomorrow. She wants to marry and have a 
family, but insurance protection is crucial for that dream to come 
true.
  Mr. President, we must pass a health care bill that will allow young 
people like Carrie and Jon to live full lives without the desperate 
fear of not having health coverage affecting their every decision. We 
need to get rid of pre-existing condition clauses that would deny 
individuals coverage if they have a chronic condition. And we need 
community rating, so that everyone can afford to buy coverage they 
need. I will continue to work with my colleagues to pass a health care 
reform bill this session.

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