Health Care

Floor Speech

* Mr. QUIGLEY. Madam Speaker, today's headlines are full of talk about process and vote counts, making it possible for some to forget what we are doing and why we are doing it.

* We are reforming healthcare because our system is broken.

* Insurance companies are discriminating against those with pre-existing or ``on-going'' conditions.

* Companies are discriminating against people like Alicia Chester--a constituent from my district--who, after graduating from college, was denied adequate coverage.

* Because she suffers from back pain, the insurance companies refused to cover Alicia's back treatment, deeming hers an ``on-going'' condition.

* Then, due to one irregular pap-smear, the insurance companies declared Alicia a ``cervical cancer risk'' and barred her from reapplying for 18 months.

* No one deserves to be dropped because they need help.

* No one should have to decide whether to cover costs out-of-pocket, or to avoid medical treatment because the costs are too high.

* We are fixing healthcare because of people like Alicia.

Source