[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 30 (Thursday, March 7, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H1972]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California [Ms. Eshoo] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, today I introduced a bill in the House of 
Representatives, H.R. 3030, and it is entitled the Christopher Reeve 
Health Insurance Reform Act. I think that that name, rather than the 
number 3030, is a name that Americans know and respect. Christopher 
Reeve is an accomplished actor, someone that has appeared both on stage 
and screen in our Nation and, I believe, now is playing one of the 
great roles of his life as he advocates for the reforms that are 
necessary to our health system. And so I am very pleased that he would 
lend his name to this piece of legislation that seeks to reform a very, 
very important part of our health insurance system in our country.

                              {time}  1930

  What this bill would do would be to lift the lifetime cap limit that 
exists in health insurance policies today. People that own life 
insurance policies may not be, and most are not, aware of the fine 
print that exists within that policy.
  Back in the 1970's, a $1 million cap was placed on the usage or the 
ceiling for health insurance policies. One million dollars in 1970 was 
a lot of money. Today $1 million, when a catastrophic incident happens 
in an individual's life, as it did and came into Christopher Reeves' 
life, $1 million will be used up very, very quickly. So I think it is 
important that that standard lifetime cap on individual health 
insurance policies be raised. That is what this bill accomplishes.
  Specifically, the legislation would prohibit insurers from placing 
limits on health insurance policies of less than $10 million, so those 
that insure themselves, their policy would have a ceiling of not $1 
million, but $10 million. I think this is an important and necessary 
reform measure that needs to be accomplished.
  Last year, Madam Speaker, in our great Nation, 1,500 individuals 
exhausted their lifetime caps under their health insurance plans. Price 
Waterhouse estimates that between 1995 and the year 2000, an additional 
10,000 Americans will reach their lifetime caps because they require 
continual medical care. This legislation will protect frequent users of 
health insurance from being stranded, because a $10 million limit 
better reflects today's medical inflation.

  The $1 million cap, as I said, was adopted in the early 1970's. That 
reflected very much the times. But that has never been adjusted with 
inflationary figures, and we know if there is anything that has 
inflated, that is the cost of health care. Lifting the lifetime caps. 
Madam Speaker, would also save the Federal Government money.
  Price Waterhouse estimates that removing lifetime caps would save the 
Medicaid Program $7 billion over 5 years. The American Academy of 
Actuaries estimates that lifting the lifetime caps will cause only a 
slight increase in premiums, about 1 percent to 2 percent, for 
employers. I think we can all agree that the $1 million lifetime cap is 
something that has outlived itself. That is to say that it does not fit 
with the times. This bill, H.R. 3030, will accomplish that.
  Let me close, Madam Speaker, by paying tribute to Christopher Reeves. 
As I said earlier, he is a recognized name by Americans because of how 
he distinguished himself on stage and screen. He has been a great 
advocate for the arts and the humanities, and now, today, he is moving 
into a new role, and that is being an advocate for the necessary, 
important reforms that we can bring to the health care system. His 
eloquent voice, I hope, will be matched by the eloquent act of this 
Congress.
  That is what I urge my colleagues to support and to cosponsor, so we 
can correct this in the law, and recognize that Americans will be 
helped, and that with that, we help move America forward. I salute 
Christopher Reeves for his courage, and I hope Members of Congress will 
try to match what he has exhibited by supporting this legislation, and 
indeed, making it the law.

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