National Cover the Uninsured Week

NATIONAL COVER THE UNINSURED WEEK -- (House of Representatives - May 12, 2004)

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 7, 2003, the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.

GENERAL LEAVE

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the subject of this Special Order.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Wisconsin?

There was no objection.

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the midst of National Cover the Uninsured Week to draw attention to the 43.6 million Americans who do not have health insurance and the millions more who are underinsured.

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, our Nation is in the midst of an escalating health care crisis. As health care costs soar, it becomes increasingly difficult for Americans to obtain comprehensive and affordable health care. Our current health care system is failing not only the 43.6 million Americans who are uninsured, but also the millions more who do not receive comprehensive health care. We can no longer turn our backs while millions more lose access to health care. The lack of comprehensive and affordable health care affects every single congressional district in every State.

To highlight this issue this evening and its real impact that Americans are experiencing, I have invited my colleagues to join me in sharing letters and thoughts, but letters particularly from our constituents who have had difficulty obtaining and affording comprehensive health care. I think it is really important that their voices are heard in this debate.

I would like to begin with just a few letters from my district in Wisconsin that express real people's difficulties in dealing with the ever-rising cost of health care.

Jen, from Oregon, Wisconsin, starts, "Please help. I cannot find affordable health insurance. My husband works for a small employer that cannot afford to provide medical insurance. We have a tiny 2-bedroom home, a car payment and a 2-month-old baby. We choose to live very modestly in order to provide the margin to pay for health insurance, but the cheapest premium I could find was $200 per month with a $3,350 deductible, and there are no maternity benefits. The amount is heartbreaking. There is no money to pay for clothes, let alone emergencies. If I worked full time for the health insurance, there would not be enough to pay for day care and somebody else would be raising my baby.

"It simply is not right that people in our society lack medical coverage when every other First World country provides for all of their citizens. Plus, how many people are underinsured? Also, our businesses are starting to go bankrupt just trying to maintain their health care benefits.

"Something has to change. Would you please help all of us as soon as possible?"

Next is from David, from Cross Plains, Wisconsin. David writes, "My wife and I have been self-employed for over 18 years, and have paid thousands of dollars for health insurance premiums. As of a few months ago, we had to drop out and are now without health insurance. The cost is completely out of reach. In fact, it is nuts. Now that I am 50 years old, it is not a matter of if I will have health problems, it is when.

"Tammy, we will lose everything we have worked for. So much for the American dream. We now look forward to dying broke and homeless. I still work 60 hours a week at my print shop and can only hope that I drop dead in front of my press some night so I will not be a burden to society."

Emily from Stoughton, Wisconsin writes, "I am writing to you to express my utter frustration at the status of the United States health care system. It is my opinion that it is rapidly failing, and many, many people are finding themselves paying staggering monthly premiums and getting substantially fewer benefits every year.

"My husband runs a small business, less than 10 employees, and our family is being financially penalized for offering group health insurance to seven workers, two of which have had some significant health care needs in the last year. These two employees, just by getting illnesses not in their control, have jacked up our monthly premium by a staggering amount. It seems to us that offering health insurance is an ethical responsibility of ours as employers, yet our family still must pay a ridiculously escalating sum monthly just because of these two employees with unexpected health problems. In addition, I am routinely getting surprised upon regular visits to dentists, eye doctors, et cetera, to find we have no coverage at all from our HMO when only 1 year ago we had full coverage for these services.

"Thanks for letting me vent. I feel powerless and at times hopeless."

Before I continue with some additional letters from my congressional district, I am delighted to be joined this evening by one of my colleagues, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown), a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, a tireless advocate for health care.

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Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for sharing his constituent's words as well as his own to this critical debate. I must note that the gentleman points out that we are the only industrialized Nation in the world that does not offer health care to all of its citizens.

I was listening to the Special Order which occurred the hour before this, where Members from the majority were talking about nations with universal health care plans and berating them for rationing care. I cannot imagine how anyone believes that a system where 43.6 million people are uninsured, and many more underinsured, we are clearly rationing care here in this country and need to step up to the plate and address that.

I am delighted to be joined by another one of my colleagues whose work on the issue of health care I admire so greatly. The gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is also a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Day and night, the gentleman works on the issue of health care.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).

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Ms. BALDWIN. I too share the gentleman's passion for creating a system where everybody in this country has health insurance. I guess I agree that the short-term

prospects are dim, especially given this administration, this majority. But I do have some hopefulness, because frankly I think that the voices of 44 million Americans cannot be silenced and ultimately will lead to that political change that we are seeking. Along that line, I would like to share the words of a few more of my constituents. I want to share the words of Roger from Waunakee, Wisconsin. He writes:

"I'm a baby boomer that was rejected for health care. The explanation was vague, so I'm taking efforts to address it and resolve it but I'm frustrated with the realization of flaws in our health care system. At 54 years old, I'm healthy enough to exercise year round and race competitively in triathlons but not risk-free enough for the insurance companies. My wife is also healthy but she has so many riders on her coverage that her policy is almost worthless. An issue that may haunt us is what I call use it or lose it. Our main problem appears to be that we once had insurance and used it to stay healthy. Our claims were very small, much smaller than our annual fees but the insurance companies are using the knowledge that we learned about staying healthy as a logic to reject us. I normally don't like to see government getting into private matters, but health insurance does not appear to be a private matter anymore. We could easily pay out of pocket for the health costs we've incurred. We just wanted protection for potential major losses but now we're being rejected because of that."

Aside from frustration with the higher cost of health care, thousands of other constituents write to me about the trouble they have finding an insurer to cover them.

Susan from Baraboo, Wisconsin, writes:

"I am writing you today regarding health coverage for single people with no children. As of this time, I feel that I am left out of the loop in regards to this topic. I am 42 and last September I was diagnosed with breast cancer. In January of this year, the company I worked for informed us that they would be closing down. I was laid off in December while I was out due to my cancer treatment. I have been searching for health care elsewhere because my COBRA will be going up. I am on unemployment, and I am barely able to pay the $244.76 for coverage now. I cannot get insurance because of the breast cancer. The health insurance risk-sharing plan, HIRSP, the Wisconsin State program, is too expensive for me to get coverage since they want 4 months of premium up front and they only cover some things. What are single people supposed to do? We do not qualify for any government assistance because we are single. I cannot go without insurance. There are no programs to help us out. So when you are working on health care in the House, please remember that there are other single people out there also in my shoes. I am at a crossroads because I have no avenue for assistance when it comes to health care. Come November, I will be unable to get coverage when I need it at this point in my life."

Florita of Madison, Wisconsin, writes:

"I am a divorced parent and am having difficulty obtaining health care coverage for my young adult son. My son, now 19, was dropped from my group HMO and this was based on his age and not being a full-time student. His employer offers a health care plan but there is a 1-year waiting period. When I tried to apply for individual coverage for him through my current HMO, my son was rejected because they needed more detailed information on his health status. When I telephoned them and discussed his recent diagnosis of high cholesterol and the medication prescribed to control it, I learned that this alone would make him ineligible for coverage. I learned from other insurers that he would have been rejected in that he had high blood pressure, migraines, obesity, et cetera. In other words, the HMOs deny applicants for the conditions that are quite common for a large segment of the population. This entire situation frustrates me. The government provides free health care for prisoners, but law-abiding, hardworking citizens are either denied health care coverage by the major HMOs, often for ridiculous reasons, or are drained financially if lucky enough to find individual coverage due to the high deductibles and premiums, coupled with dental, prescription and optical costs that are not even covered in these plans. Health care has become a for-profit business at the expense of people's health. All citizens, regardless of their income, should not be denied full health care."

At this point I would like to yield again to the gentleman from New Jersey to share some of the remarks from his constituents.

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Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments.

I have several additional letters from constituents that really, I think, emphasize the crisis that we are in right now, and their voices are so powerful in this debate. This is ultimately what is going to make the difference in this debate, what will ultimately bring us to pass effective legislation, not just things with feel-good titles to them. And their voices are very powerful in this debate.

One letter, Norm from Mazomanie, Wisconsin, Norm writes: "I had short-term coverage through COBRA, but that was cut short when my last employer reorganized. With that change came a loss of coverage, without notice. For some this would be a case of purchasing private coverage. For me it was a crisis as my medical records include treatment for skin cancer, angioplasty with two stents in my heart, and one episode of a transient ischemic attack (ministroke). I was lucky in all three cases as early detection and proper treatment left me able to work without limit and able to carry on life normally. However, it also made me uninsurable. I am grateful for living in Wisconsin as I was able to secure coverage through the Wisconsin Health Insurance Risk Sharing Plan. The coverage is expensive and has a high deductible. It is, in fact, best described as an asset insurance rather than health insurance.

"My bottom line is that if one can get the insurance, many can ill afford it. And if they can afford it, it commands such a large portion of the budget for a retiree or unemployed person that it is often a choice of insurance or having access to other normal things as well.

"Would there have been any value in saying we have a medical coverage crisis in this country and it's not only for the homeless or indigent. It has arrived for the common man. There is no place to turn. We can fund billions to defeat Iraq and will spend billions more to repair that country. We give aid to half the world and spend billions on one questionable project or another. Yet we cannot seem to find a way to provide decent, affordable health care to those of us who have faithfully paid large portions of our income to the tax system. It is time for Congress to get off their figurative and collective behinds and address this issue." And that is what Norm writes.

Niki from Madison, Wisconsin says: "I'm fighting a battle right now just to get coverage. After a layoff 6 years ago, I had a year of COBRA and then found an agent and got insurance rather easily with a company the agent represented. That company" was bought by another company and now the new company "has decided to get out of the medical insurance business. My agent recommended switching companies and that's where the sledding has gotten tough.

One company "turned me down for a jammed little finger and removal of a benign growth and again on appeal, despite a letter from my doctor saying I have been a perfectly healthy person all my life with no predisposition to anything uninsurable," a second company asked " 'Have you ever been turned down for insurance?' Well, yes, just last week, for a jammed little finger and removal of a benign growth." That company "gave me no specific reason for also turning me down. I have to make a request in writing to them for that information and then they won't send the information to me, only to the health provider of my choice.

"What really irks me is the years and years that I have never made a claim."

Along with these individuals, there are millions of Americans who are fortunate enough to find an insurer willing to cover them at an affordable price. But oftentimes the coverage turns out to be inadequate, and necessary medical procedures and treatments simply are not covered.

Jean from Stoughton, Wisconsin writes: "Please continue the fight for coverage for mental health with medical coverage. We know all too well the devastating sadness that we have endured having an immediate family member with a severe eating disorder complexed with Type I diabetes. We have fought with the insurance company for 3 years with little success. Twenty visits for mental health is all that is included with most medical plans, and this does nothing to address a severe eating disorder and very possible death being a fact at all times for our family. It takes no rocket scientist to understand that being put in the hospital every 3 weeks in intensive care for the last 3 years is not saving any money for the insurance company, and yet the company will not budge. They would rather let a patient die than to open up the door and give mental health access to get better and become healthy."

Barbara from Madison, Wisconsin writes: "In August, 1997, both my husband and my college-age child required major medical care. One had a disease of the kidneys and one suffered severe clinical depression. Both patients required emergency visits and extended treatment. Both patients were compliant and followed their doctor's treatment instructions. Both patients were covered under the same family policy, which had been in effect for over 25 years.

"But our insurance company paid his expenses at a rate twice as high as it paid hers, because he had kidney stones and her severe depression was 'mental illness.'

"My husband underwent three outpatient treatments to dissolve the stones, as well as the required X-rays, tests, and office visits. When these treatments failed, he underwent surgery to remove the kidney stones. He was not expected to remain in extreme pain for the next several months until the new calendar year came in order to have insurance coverage. He was not told that he had used up all of his allotted benefits.

"My daughter required an emergency room visit as the result of a depressive self-harm episode.

Since this was not a psychiatric visit, the insurance paid 75 percent of the cost to treat her. But when she required psychiatric hospitalization to prevent any more self-harm, the insurance paid only 44 percent. And since she has been faithful about seeing her psychiatrist regularly, her insurance would not pay anything towards future psychiatric visits because she had used up her allotted number of visits for the year. She was expected to wait several months for psychiatric care to be covered, even though she was in extreme emotional pain, since she had used her allotted number of psychiatric visits for that year. Even though she was dangerously suicidal, the insurance company would not cover her psychiatric treatment. Of course, if she had harmed herself and survived, the medical bills would have been covered. Needless to say, we are not willing to take a risk with our daughter's life, so we accumulated an exorbitant amount of medical bills.

"Was my husband's health of more value than my child's? Of course not. But our insurance company paid his expenses at a rate twice as high as hers. Justice demands parity in insurance."

Mr. Speaker, as Cover the Uninsured Week comes to a close, I am very grateful to know that I have colleagues here fighting tirelessly for a better answer to our health care crisis in this country.

Before I close, I yield additional time to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).

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Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to now yield time to my colleague the gentleman from Rhode Island. The gentleman has distinguished himself on this issue since he joined us here in Congress.

I yield to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin).

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Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I thank the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all of my colleagues who this evening amplified the voices of their constituents. The crisis is dire. I know that we are rededicating ourselves as Democrats, but also as Members of this body who have constituents in dire need, to work towards the day where there is no need to have a Cover the Uninsured Week because we found solutions, workable solutions, to this problem.

Again, I thank my colleagues who shared this hour.