[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 13 (Wednesday, February 5, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H290]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              PROVIDING PORTABILITY FOR MEDIGAP ENROLLEES

  (Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, in the last session of 
Congress we passed important legislation giving Americans access to 
portable insurance coverage regardless of their health status, but we 
did not extend these same protections to our senior and disabled 
constituents who are on Medicare. Yet no senior should be required to 
live in fear that unexpected medical bills will deprive them of 
financial independence.
  That is why today I am introducing, along with 30 of my colleagues 
and with the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Dingell] of the Energy and 
Commerce Committee, a portability bill for the millions of senior 
citizens who supplement their Medicare coverage with private insurance.
  I am pleased to say that a bill is being introduced in the Senate, 
sponsored by Senators Rockefeller and Chafee, that is identical to this 
bill to speed the action of Congress to provide these critical 
protections to our seniors.
  An estimated 10 million senior citizens, one-third of the total 
number of seniors on Medicare, rely on Medigap coverage to meet 
important health needs. Medigap insurance typically paid for 
prescription drugs and skilled nursing care. These are protections that 
our seniors deserve, and I ask your cosponsorship of my legislation.

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