THE FOLLOWING IS ONE IN A SERIES OF BRIEFINGS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS AND OTHER SUPPORTERS OF ITS HEALTH-REFORM PACKAGE. IT PROVIDES AN INSIDE GLIMPSE OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S STRATEGY. The White House Health Care Reform Today September 30, 1993 * "I think it is critical to the country that this be a bipartisan effort. I know of no better way to insure it than to join as a sponsor of your legislation upon introduction." With that Senator Jim Jeffords of Vermont became the first Republican sponsor of the Health Security Act of 1993. He continued: "I don't think anyone would disagree with the administration's goals. Everyone in this nation needs the security of knowing that no matter whatever else happens in your life, they can count on the fact that they will have quality health care." * Today, the First Lady will testify before the Senate Finance Committee. Here are points to consider when asked about financing: Under the Health Security plan, employers and individuals who pay premiums today will continue to do so. That means every employer, and every individual, will have to take responsibility and pay something for health care. And that's where more than half of the financing for premiums is going to come from. The second element in the financing plan is savings. That will be done with specific, scorable, line-by-line savings proposals. Let's be clear: we wouldn't ask for these kinds of savings outside the context of overall health care reform. By simply paring back the growth of Federal health programs and not address the private side of the equation -- the result would be more of the same: more "cost shifting" and rising bills for people with private insurance, more doctors refusing to treat Medicare patients, and smaller benefits. We're going to ask the Congress to place a tax on tobacco and insist that those large corporations who continue to self-insure do their part to pay for the health care infrastructure and that benefits everyone. * How to talk about benefits...the First Lady said it best: "Our estimate is, that for Americans who are currently insured, about 65% will have the same or better benefits at less cost or the same cost. For about 20-22% of those who are insured, they will pay a bit more, but they will be getting more comprehensive benefits because they are now paying too much for catastrophic or major medical policies. And for about 12% of the people, they will pay more for about the same benefits. Those are largely young, single people who benefit from an insurance system that is really skewed in their direction." * We've been getting some calls here in the delivery room with people saying there is a new "book" or "plan" that is being reviewed. There is not. The next document to be released by the White House will be the legislation sent to Capitol Hill.