[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 42 (Thursday, April 10, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E633]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION

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                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 10, 1997

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Student 
Health Insurance Portability Protection Act of 1997.
  Last year, we made great strides in passing the Kennedy-Kassebaum 
Health Insurance Portability Protection Act. However, 14.3 million 
college students covered by health insurance plans sponsored by their 
college or university are not covered under last year's health 
provisions. It is essential for college students to fall under these 
provisions.
  My bill requires college-sponsored health plans to be portable and 
exclude long preexisting condition waiting periods. College-sponsored 
plans will be considered as group plans and allow students to go from 
college-sponsored plans to work-sponsored plans without loss of 
coverage due to a preexisting condition. Students will also be eligible 
for another school's health plan when transferring from university to 
university. This bill takes an important step in ensuring health care 
coverage for our country's college students at no extra cost to the 
taxpayer.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill and ensuring 
health care for our Nation's college students. Give them the health 
care they need to enter the work force. Do not leave college students 
out of health care reform.

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