[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 144 (Monday, October 12, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2093]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR THE NEAR ELDERLY ACT

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                           HON. DAVID DREIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 12, 1998

  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I am concerned by the large number of near-
elderly individuals who cannot afford insurance. According to a recent 
study by the General Accounting Office (GAO), those without health 
insurance face a nearly impossible task of obtaining affordable and 
adequate health care. For many, their age, health status and income 
force them to go without health care until they reach 65 when Medicare 
coverage begin. The GAO concluded that the problem will only worsen as 
more individuals retire early without health insurance coverage from 
their employer.
  In response to this growing problem, President Clinton proposed 
permitting the near-elderly to buy into the Medicare program by paying 
a large annual premium. To qualify for Medicare, elderly couples would 
have to pay nearly $10,000 a year which is too expensive for many 
retirees on fixed incomes. In a recent study, the National Coalition on 
Health Care concluded that the high annual premium means that the 
President's proposal would have ``little impact'' in providing coverage 
to the 3 million near-elderly individuals without health insurance. 
Furthermore, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that only 
320,000 individuals, approximately 10% of the affected group, would buy 
into Medicare. In addition, the President's plan may also hasten 
Medicare's solvency crisis. The American Association of Retired Persons 
recently expressed their concern that the proposal could threaten the 
current Medicare program.
  I believe that Congress can expand access to affordable health care 
for the uninsured near-elderly without harming Medicare. Today, I have 
introduced H.R.--, which allows the near-elderly to enroll in the 
Federal Employees Health Benefit Program, which gives participants a 
wealth of health care choices at lower prices. To participate, a near-
elderly individual would pay the total cost of the premium, the 
employees share and the federal subsidy, which is up to $2,000 less per 
year than the President's proposal. The lower premium could mean that 
more uninsured individuals would enroll in a health plan that provides 
services, like prescription drugs and dental care, not offered by 
Medicare. My bill also allows younger Americans to access Medical 
Savings Accounts to prevent a loss of health insurance before they 
qualify for Medicare.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation addresses the need of three million 
uninsured near-elderly individuals who need an affordable health care 
option. I believe that this common-sense approach can help the 
vulnerable near-elderly without requiring them to sacrifice their 
entire pension for health care.

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