[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 10582]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1930
                        DISAPPOINTMENTS PILE UP

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, as we continue to find out 
what is in the health care bill, the disappointments pile up.
  The publication ``Politico'' reported on June 8, ``Part of the health 
care overall due to kick in this September could strip more than 1 
million people of their insurance coverage, violating a key goal of 
President Barack Obama's reforms.''
  These limited benefit plans provide insurance to part-time workers 
and retail and restaurant employees. The plans are called mini-med 
plans. They are priced low to impose a maximum on insurance payouts in 
a year and to restrict the number of covered doctor visits, according 
to the article. The current health care reform would prohibit these 
plans because there is a ban in the law on annual caps.
  Employer and trade associations, like 7-Eleven, the National 
Restaurant Association, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, have asked 
that these low-cost plans be allowed to continue despite the law. In 
their letter, these groups explain that if the ban is strictly 
implemented, this population would likely be left with no coverage 
until 2014. We are talking about 1.4 million people who will not be 
allowed to keep their present insurance.
  So much for promises.

                          ____________________