[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 30 (Wednesday, March 18, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H1241]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                A DEMOCRATIC VIEW OF MEDICARE EXPANSION

  (Ms. DeLAURO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, Americans nearing retiring age are one of 
the most uninsured populations because in fact they have less access to 
and they are at greater risk of losing employer-based health insurance. 
There are 30,000 such folks in my State of Connecticut alone. I might 
add that the group that is particularly at risk are women who are 
between 62 and 64 years old, lacking health insurance, nearing 
retirement, not at 65 yet, not eligible yet for Medicare.
  This is only going to get worse, Mr. Speaker, as baby boomers near 
retirement. Democrats do have a proposal to expand that access to 
health care to Americans between 55 and 64. It would provide the 
opportunity to buy into the Medicare program, to pay the premium, to 
pay a cost in order to get the access to that kind of coverage. It does 
not draw on the Medicare trust fund resources needed to provide care to 
those who are over 65. This Congress has a responsibility to address 
this growing problem. Let us have the Republican leadership follow the 
Democrats.

                          ____________________