[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 50 (Tuesday, May 2, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E685-E686]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 NATIONAL HEALTH CARE: THE TIME IS NOW

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 2, 2006

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise to address the serious 
health care crisis our Nation is facing today. The time is now for 
Congress to address health care in America. Too many of my 
constituents, like many other hard working Americans across the 
country, are suffering unnecessarily due to our flawed health care 
system. There are now more than 46 million Americans without health 
insurance. Our system of private health insurance that fails to provide 
coverage to so many of our citizens also contributes to the double-
digit health care inflation that is making America less competitive in 
the global economy.
  The only real solution to this crisis is National Health Care. In 
this most powerful nation in the world, lack of access to health care 
should not force local and state governments, companies and workers 
into bankruptcy, while

[[Page E686]]

causing unnecessary illness and hospitalization. The sentiments that 
will be shared tonight have been echoed in citizen congressional town 
hall meetings my democratic colleagues and I have held in 93 cities 
across the country. The response to our call for stories was 
tremendous, and the uninsured turned out in great numbers. Colleagues, 
we must not forget that for every story we hear tonight, there are 
thousands, even millions of stories that will go unheard.
  What follows are excerpts from letters I have received.
  (1) Kate L. wrote: I was left with $70,000 in uncovered medical bills 
as a result of an episode of severe depression ten years ago. This 
coverage deficit was not the result of a miserly employer; I was the 
President of an environmental consulting firm and I chose the policy. I 
reviewed more than 10 policies and was surprised to find that they all 
severely limited mental health coverage through higher deductibles and 
co-pays and restrictive annual and lifetime maximums. The policy we 
purchased was great for everything except it had a separate $750 
deductible, 50/50 co-pay, $1,500 annual outpatient maximum and $2,500 
inpatient maximum for mental health treatment.
  My bills started to pile up as my psychiatrist and I tried numerous 
medications and combinations of medications. Because my doctor was 
concerned about my suicidal behavior, he recommended that I be admitted 
to a hospital while we continued to experiment with medications. 
Although I was in the hospital for eight weeks, I spent my inpatient 
maximum after only several days. It took me over five years to pay of 
the $70,000 I owed and the stress of the financial burden slowed my 
recovery. In addition, the medication that I take to treat my illness 
costs approximately $800 per month. I was recently forced to leave a 
job I loved with a small consulting firm because they could not provide 
the insurance coverage I needed.

  (2) Mrs. White wrote: I am an Army mom, who can't afford health 
insurance while my husband and I agonize over our son's precarious 
fate. The psychological and emotional toll on us both is paralyzing. 
While I frantically look for a job, I still must support my mother and 
sister financially. I pay $300 monthly for catastrophic health 
insurance, but cannot afford prescription drugs, lab tests, and 
specialist visits. I cannot survive with these stresses for much 
longer.
  (3) Jo L. wrote: I have a brain tumor. Naturally, the health 
insurance industry has labeled me as having a ``pre-existing'' 
condition and will not provide my coverage. I pay $255 a month for 5 
pills to subdue my tumor. For the time being, I am paying for this out 
of pocket, but I need a permanent solution.
  Even health care providers in my District have written to express 
their concerns.
  Dr. Scott wrote: As a physician in Michigan I see many patients with 
no health care and it saddens me. Many people who cannot afford health 
care will delay going to any health care provider if injured, or 
shorten treatment plans due to the lack of funds. Many insurance 
companies have raised premiums out of reach here and even Medicaid and 
Medicare have decreased coverage due to the lack of funding. We need to 
rally together to get every citizen health care. By doing this we can 
help eliminate discrimination in health care and this can lead to 
eliminating other forms of discrimination.
  How many stories do we have to read before Congress realizes that it 
is time for change? We can do better for our citizens. My bill, H.R. 
676 and National Health Care is the answer.

                          ____________________