The White House
Health Care Reform Today
November 4, 1993
- Today, OMB Director Leon Panetta will
testify on Capitol Hill concerning the financing.
Yesterday, Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen told
the Senate Finance Committee that we are
preparing a more accurate and detailed analysis
of the impact of the plan on consumer health care
cost. Bentsen said the numbers given earlier
were calculated without factoring in out of
pocket costs, deductibles and co-pays. More
definite numbers may be available today. But
again, it is important to note...that without
health care reform, 100% of all Americans will
pay more for health care in the future.
- HIAA's at it again. A new ad. Same old
distortion. President Clinton in Ambridge
Pennsylvania yesterday on their ads: "...you
need to know what is fueling those television ads
you see from a lot of these special interest
groups. There's a lot of money in this health
care system that doesn't have a rip to do with
your health care, and we want to develop it in a
way that can devoted to your health care." The
President and Mrs. Clinton launched a national
effort to encourage all Americans to read the
details of the Health Security Act by picking up
a copy of "Health Security. The President's
Report to the American People."
- During the Health Insurance Association
of America's new television ad they refer to
Section 6A of the President's bill while the
fictional consumer says "But what if there's not
enough money." Do you know what section 6A is?
Premium caps. It's clear, HIAA doesn't care
about choice. HIAA doesn't care about health
care reform. They care about profits. With
premium caps, they can no longer raise rates
indiscriminately. They can no longer gouge
consumers who pay exorbitant prices. This
clearly shows that their claim the system may run
out of money is false. Their fear is they'll run
out of profits. The Washington Post editorial
yesterday: "The insurance industry TV ads seem
to us to be aimed at preserving the industry's
own revenues."
- Now in all fairness, not all insurance
companies belong to the HIAA and not all agree
with their approach to defending the status quo.
Companies such as Blue Cross have been very
constructive in working towards health care
reform.