The White House
Health Care Reform Today
October 28, 1993
- President Clinton yesterday: "Let's start
with this bill and start with this plan, and give
the American people what they deserve
--comprehensive universal coverage. That's what
we got hired to do --to solve the problems of the
people and to take this country into the 21st
century." "... when it is over, we must have
achieved comprehensive health care security for
all Americans, or the endeavor will not have been
worth the effort. That is what we owe the
American people."
- The President's plan will be fully
implemented by the end of 1997. For clarity and
accuracy, the bill will be fully implemented by
the end of 1997. There have been changes in the
pace of the implementation within the three years,
but the full implementation deadline remains the
end of 1997.
- Many are distorting the President's limit on
individual payments at 3.9 percent of income,
implying that everyone will pay 3.9 percent of
their income for health care. WRONG. The 3.9
percent cap was needed to protect some low income
individuals who would not qualify for insurance
discounts. Most Americans will pay only between 1
- 2 percent of income. For most Americans who
are now insured, this will be the same or less
than they are currently paying for the same or
better benefits.
- The President's Health Security Plan provides
insurance discounts to small businesses and low
income families and individuals to help them
afford health security. To ensure the most
responsible financing possible and to ensure
against the kinds of out-of-control and automatic
spending increases we've seen in government
programs historically, the President's plan sets
limits on the amount of these discounts that could
be provided before a trigger forces Congress to
take action. These caps represent the President's
strong commitment to financial responsibility, to
a sound plan that will ensure every American is
guaranteed comprehensive benefits that can never
be taken away.
- There was a typographical error in the table
of contents in the legislation delivered to
Capitol Hill today. There are no sections
reserved for later legislative language. The bill
delivered today is the complete contents of the
President's Health Security Act of 1993. Any
accusation or statement made otherwise is done so
knowing full and well that it is inaccurate.