[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 14 (Thursday, February 6, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E186]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page E186]]



         INTRODUCTION OF MEDIGAP PORTABILITY REFORM LEGISLATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 6, 1997

  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker. Over the course of the last 2 years, we 
have spent a great deal of time in Congress debating the future of 
Medicare. The debate between my colleagues from both sides of the aisle 
has been sharply partisan and at times bitter. It is my hope that we 
can move past the rhetoric and begin to work on legislation which will 
improve the health care coverage of seniors in our country. I am happy 
to say that the legislation we are introducing today accomplishes these 
goals.
  I am proud to join Congresswoman Johnson and Senators Chafee and 
Rockefeller in introducing this legislation. Our targeted Medigap bill 
will provide the same guarantees of portability and pre-existing 
condition protections to seniors enrolled in Medigap, achieved in the 
health insurance portability and accountability law. This very 
important legislation will improve the health care coverage of 
America's seniors. This legislation embodies a policy I have always 
supported to ensure that seniors can get continuous coverage for their 
Medigap policies. With this legislation, seniors will be able to 
explore options such as managed care, secure in the knowledge that they 
can return to Medicare as they know it. Seniors are now free to try new 
health managed care options without being permanently locked into 
potentially costly out-of-pocket expenses from which they were 
previously protected by their Medigap policies.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues in passing this 
legislation and I commend Congresswoman Johnson and Senators Chafee and 
Rockefeller for their work on this issue.

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