Hearing of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions - "What Women Want: Equal Benefits for Equal Premiums"

Statement

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Senator Murray's full opening statement follow:

"Thank you, Senator Mikulski, for holding this hearing.

"And thanks to all of our colleagues for attending to discuss a topic that impacts not only women, but families and entire communities.

"Because when the rising cost of health insurance hurts women, it hurts our nation.

"And for the millions of women across America who open the mail each month to see premiums go up, who can't get needed preventative care like mammograms because the co-pays are too much, who work part time or for a small business that doesn't provide insurance, who can't get covered for critical maternity care, or who are forced to stay in abusive relationships because if they leave, they or their children will lose health care coverage…We are their voice. And today we are asking the questions that women and families and businesses across America are asking.

"Many of you in this room have heard me tell the story of a little boy named Marcelas Owens from my home state of Washington whose mom, Tifanny, got sick and lost her life because of the high cost of health insurance.

"Tifanny was a single mom who felt strongly about working to support her three children. She had health care coverage through her job at a fast food restaurant. But, in September of 2006 she got sick and started to miss a lot of work.

"Her employer gave her an ultimatum: make up the lost time or lose your jobs. Well, because of her illness, Tifanny physically couldn't make up the time and she lost her job and with it went her insurance.

"As we have seen time and time again, women are charged nearly 50 percent more than men in the insurance market -- and with a pre-existing condition it would be almost impossible to get coverage anyway.

"Without the coverage and care she needed, in June of 2007, Tifanny lost her life and Marcelas and his sisters lost their mom. Our health care system is broken.

"It's broken for women and moms like Tifanny who work to provide for their families burt are charged nearly 50 percent more than men for health care in the individual market.

"It's broken for women who are denied coverage or charged more for "Pre-Existing Conditions" like "Pregnancy," "C-Sections," or "domestic violence."

"It's broken when insurance companies charge women of child-bearing age more than men but still don't cover maternity care. Or only offer it for hefty additional premiums.

"The status quo isn't working. Women and their families and businesses need health insurance reform now.

"Reform will help women by ending discrimination based on gender-rating or gender-biased pre existing conditions, covering maternity care, covering preventative care and screenings -- including mammograms and well-baby care, expanding access to coverage even if an employer doesn't offer it and making family health decisions - which are frequently made by women - easier by setting up a health insurance exchange

"So, for women across this country, and for their families, our businesses, snd our nation's future strength, we have to reform our health insurance system this year.

"I want to thank Senator Mikulski again for her dedication to this issue and I look forward to hearing from all of today's witnesses."

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