[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 118 (Thursday, July 20, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10434-S10435]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE

  Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, the need for comprehensive health care is 
apparent in the numbers. We have 41 million Americans without health 
care coverage.
  But these are not just numbers.
  We are talking about real people and real problems.
  When you look at the individual cases, you see the tragedy of our 
present policy.
  At the end of my remarks, I am inserting into the Record a letter 
from Mrs. Mary Davis that is largely self-explanatory.
  It tells what is happening in one family.
  Why we cannot respond, I do not know.
  As some of my colleagues know, I have introduced a bill calling for 
health care coverage for pregnant women and children six and under.
  I am pleased that Senator Chafee of Rhode Island has expressed an 
interest in the legislation.
  I hope we can emerge with a bipartisan consensus to at least cover 
pregnant women and children six and under. That would take care of the 
needs of this one family, at least for a short time, and protect a 
great many others.
  It is not a substitute for universal coverage, but it is a step in 
the right direction.
  I ask that Mrs. Davis' letter be printed in the Record.
  The letter follows:
                                                    June 19, 1995.
     Hon. Paul Simon,
     U.S. Senator, United States Congress, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Simon: I am writing to you with a very 
     distressing problem.
       Our granddaughter was born May 2, 1994 16 weeks premature. 
     At the time of her birth, her mother had been unemployed 
     because of medical problems; her father was laid off in April 
     of that year from his job. They applied for assistance and 
     received care for mother and baby. Bethany was in the 
     hospital for 4 months, and although doing well, she has lost 
     her eye sight. She is in therapy for work on her hip joints 
     and she had allergies and has a history of respiratory 
     problems. They moved in with us shortly after Jennifer was 
     dismissed from the hospital, because they had no income. We 
     are in the ministry and live in a parsonage.
       In November of last year, Andy went back to work and they 
     were able to secure a house for $150.00 per month. Andy 
     brings home about $150 after taxes. As it should be, Jennifer 
     was picked up by Andy's insurance, however, Bethany remained 
     on a medical card because her dad's insurance, Blue Cross and 
     Blue Shield, refused to cover her. Bethany is in therapy for 
     her legs, regular doctor visits, and she has had two 
     surgeries on her eyes last October in Detroit. She is 
     scheduled to have more surgeries. However, it is understood 
     that she will probably only have light vision.
       Cost of living became so that Jennifer was forced to return 
     to work just to keep rent and utilities paid. This past week, 
     Jennifer and Andy were notified that Bethany would be losing 
     her medical card and all coverage as of July 1, just because 
     her mother had gone back to work. Jennifer works for Kentucky 
     Fried Chicken and brings home about $150 per week. Beth does 
     receive SSI of about $401 per month. By losing these medical 
     benefits, she will not be able to keep regular office visits, 
     because the clinic requires payment each and every time, she 
     can no longer go to Detroit for eye surgery because the 
     doctor won't take her without coverage, and she probably will 
     have to give up the therapy on her legs, because they cannot 
     afford the costs.
       Tell me what they are suppose to do. Both insurance 
     coverage that their jobs provide, refuse to insure Bethany 
     and now she is losing her assistance. These two young kids 
     and Bethany have been through a lot this last year. Now they 
     have a blind child who cannot get assistance. Can something 
     be done?
       I wouldn't have your job for nothing. Being in the 
     ministry, we realize just how difficult it is to please 
     everyone, but I don't care if you are Democrat or Republican, 
     I am neither, but someone has to do something about medical 
     coverage.

[[Page S10435]]

       I believe you are trying. But tell me where do you go to 
     get help for the innocent children. She cannot go on medicaid 
     or medicare, because she has not worked and not put anything 
     into the system. She will never be able to read, drive or get 
     around on her own. I realize that technology may be available 
     in years to come that will be beneficial to her, but what is 
     going to happen to her now.
       I hope that you will be able to read this. I know that we 
     are just a small amount of the millions you must hear from 
     daily, but I just couldn't sit and do nothing with my 
     distress and care for this beautiful little girl who is 
     struggling to live.
       God bless you and your family. May you gain the wisdom and 
     the ability to lead us to a better way of life for everyone.
       Respectfully yours,

                                            Mary F. Davis.
     

                          ____________________