Health Care Reform

Floor Speech

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Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I am delighted to join my colleagues from Colorado and Alaska to tackle some of the myths being printed about health care reform. It is startling to stand on the floor and hear increasingly shrill presentations from those who wish to defend the status quo broken system of health care in America. I wonder to myself, do they not hear what I hear from my constituents about the challenges they encounter each and every day if they do not have insurance; who are worried about getting sick or, if they have insurance, are worried about losing that insurance; worried about the problems and challenges faced with utilizing that insurance?

I rise to talk about one of the most prevalent myths--that health care reform is only about expanding access to those who don't have health insurance. Because here is the truth: Health care reform is about improving health care for those who already have insurance. Those with insurance in the United States live in a precarious state. Their rates often go up by double-digit increases every year, so affordability is hanging by a thread. Those who have insurance through their jobs can change jobs and lose that coverage. They could get dropped from their insurance because they become sick or injured or they could find that their insurance has lifetime or annual limits that block them from obtaining the medical care they need if they do become injured or ill. We want to make health care insurance more stable and secure for those who have it, and that is what health care reform will do.

First, health care reform will make insurance portable. If you lose your job, you often lose your coverage. That is a terrible double whammy for American families. Health care reform will make sure your coverage goes with you if you lose your job or if you choose to take on a new career.

Second, health care reform will end dumping--the terrible practice of insurance companies canceling policies when those citizens become seriously ill. That is wrong. What kind of health care system is it when you pay insurance premiums for 15 years and then your child or your spouse or perhaps yourself becomes seriously ill and you get a letter from your insurance company saying they are canceling your insurance? That is not health insurance. That is a scam. Health care reform will end that scam in America.

Finally, health care reform will get rid of annual or lifetime limits that drive people into bankruptcy, even when they have coverage. Here is an example from my home State of Oregon.

Alaya Wyndham-Price lives in Oswego. She had insurance through her previous job as an event planner and is currently on COBRA. Six months ago, Alaya developed a tumor the size of a golf ball just below her brain, and she has had numerous tests performed by a neurologist to determine the best course of treatment. Her insurance caps treatment costs at $20,000 annually, and she has already approached $30,000 of expenses with the diagnostic tests over the last few months.

Through COBRA, Alaya's insurance will renew in January, but the surgery to remove her tumor will cost about $50,000--or $30,000 over the amount her insurance will pay in 2010. So she is trying to work as much as possible--doing freelance writing, taking on projects--but on many days is too ill to do much of anything. She is scheduled to see a doctor again soon to have an expensive MRI test in November, but with every single medical visit she goes deeper into debt.

This is not right, but it is common. More than half of bankruptcies in America are due to medical bills and in more than half of those situations where medical bills drive people into bankruptcy, the individuals had health insurance. No American should be driven into bankruptcy because he or she becomes sick or injured. Health care reform will end arbitrary annual and lifetime limits to make sure Americans get the care they need when they need it, not having to delay care to the next year in order to benefit from a new annual ceiling.

In conclusion: The myth is that health care reform is simply about extending coverage. The truth is this: Reform will mean better, fairer, and more affordable coverage for the millions of Americans who already have insurance.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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