[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 128 (Wednesday, September 14, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 14, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    FACES OF THE HEALTH CARE CRISIS

  Mr. RIEGLE. Mr. President, over the last 2 years I have profiled 64 
Michigan individuals and families who have faced the severe 
consequences of the health care crisis. Today I rise to tell my 
colleagues about Linda Clark, a courageous woman from Flint, MI who has 
been struggling to maintain the emotional and physical well-being of 
her family since her husband was brutally murdered last year.
  Until early May 1993, Linda and Kevin Clark were typical parents 
working to support their two children, 7-year-old Wesley and Kasey, age 
5. Kevin Clark owned a small residential construction business that 
provided the family a modest middle income.
  The family depended completely on Kevin's earnings. Linda cared for 
their children, did bookkeeping and general office work for Kevin's 
business and attended the University of Michigan at Flint. She was 
pursuing a bachelor's degree in early elementary education with an 
emphasis on early childhood development, and had just 1 year of classes 
left. Linda funded her education through a Pell grant and was awarded 
an academic scholarship from the university after she earned a high 
grade point average.
  Neither Linda nor Kevin had health insurance or life insurance. 
Although they had looked into purchasing health insurance coverage for 
their family, the least expensive policy they found still would have 
cost them $350 per month and they simply could not afford it on their 
income. And so, like thousands of American families, the Clarks hoped 
they could get by without insurance.
  Then tragedy struck the Clark family. On May 10, 1993, while he was 
out shopping, Kevin fell victim to a random, senseless, and cruel 
crime. He was shot by five teenagers who had just robbed a store and 
were fleeing the scene. After the shooting, Kevin was rushed to Hurley 
Hospital but it was too late, and he died from his gunshot wounds. 
Linda Clark was left a widow with a $24,000 debt to the hospital for 
its emergency services.
  The Clark family had no income at all for almost 16 weeks after 
Kevin's death. Unable to afford to continue her studies, Linda dropped 
out of the University of Michigan. The family now depends completely on 
their Social Security survivors benefits. The Clarks have already 
experienced the financial hardship of incurring a huge hospital debt 
because Kevin was not insured for health care. But Linda now must live 
in dread of a similar crisis occurring again because she is not able to 
purchase health insurance coverage for herself or her children. Their 
monthly Social Security payment is high enough to disqualify them for 
Medicaid coverage, yet too low to afford a monthly health insurance 
premium. Linda stretches the survivors benefit to cover the house 
payment, utilities, groceries, clothes, and all the other expenses of 
raising two young children. And the tremendous hospital bill leftover 
from Kevin's murder remains a source of strain for Linda, who is trying 
to negotiate a reduction in the amount, as well as a modest payment 
plan.

  Beyond her grief over her husband and her concerns for the financial 
predicament that followed his death, Linda worries about not being able 
to provide the medical care that Wesley and Kasey may need. Both of her 
children are prone to strep throat infections and need medical care for 
this problem several times a year. When one of them is ill, it can cost 
$250 for an office visit, lab tests, and prescription drugs. And, as 
happens in families, when one child is sick, the other often catches 
the illness. Linda must make health care decisions that balance the 
need to seek medical care against what that care will cost. What will 
she do if serious and costly health services are needed by her 
children?
  Linda herself has a degenerative hearing problem that requires her to 
use a hearing aid, but she will not even consider replacing her old one 
because she does not want to spend money on herself. Linda also has had 
a long term, very painful wrist problem. She recently consulted a 
doctor for it, but after spending $200 for this initial visit and x-
rays she cannot afford the cat scan or ultrasound which are needed to 
diagnose and treat her condition. Linda does not know what she will do 
if the pain continues untreated.
  Since her husband's murder, Linda has begun a statewide citizens 
petition for juvenile law reforms and enactment of truth in sentencing 
laws. Her courageous efforts have attracted nationwide attention, and 
Michigan is very proud that she was invited to Washington for the 
signing of the crime bill yesterday. But Linda also serves as a 
reminder to us all of the need for health care reform to protect 
families like hers.
  Working parents like the Clarks could not afford to buy basic 
insurance and were forced to leave themselves and their families at 
risk. Mr. President, we must improve the health care system so that 
families do not face financial ruin from catastrophic health care 
costs. We can pass reforms so that all families have access to 
affordable insurance. We can provide subsidies for lower-income 
families who need help to buy health insurance, and we can ensure that 
every child is covered for the preventive medical care they need to 
stay well so mothers like Linda are not forced to make impossible 
choices. Mr. President, I will continue working toward passage of some 
type of reform in this Congress.

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