[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 34 (Thursday, March 4, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E354]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY PROTECTION ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 4, 1999

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Student 
Health Insurance Portability Protection Act of 1999.
  In 1996 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 pre-existing 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 pre-existing 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 workforce. Do not leave college students 
out of health care reform.

                          ____________________