[THIS IS THE PERIODIC BRIEFING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO ITS OFFICIALS AND OTHER SUPPORTERS OF ITS HEALTH-REFORM PROGRAM. IT PROVIDES AN INSIDE LOOK AT HOW THE ADMINISTRATION IS PROMOTING ITS PLAN. THIS ITEM WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE SAME SUBJECT LINE (WITH DIFFERENT DATES) SO YOU CAN EASILY SKIP IT IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO READ IT. -- Steve Freedkin , LIST.HEALTHPLAN Administrator] The White House Health Care Reform Today February 15, 1994 * For the next two weeks, the President, First Lady and members of the Cabinet will be talking about how the Clinton approach to health care reform benefits older Americans. Tomorrow, the President and First Lady will travel to Edison, New Jersey to speak to older Americans with the President speaking to reporters from senior publications on Thursday. Below are general talking points on how the President's approach affects older Americans. * Preserves Medicare. Medicare will be preserved and strengthened. Older Americans will continue to receive the same Medicare coverage -- with guaranteed security. Seniors can keep seeing the doctors they see today, with expanded benefits. And doctors and hospitals will not be able to charge more than what Medicare covers. * Expands Medicare to include prescription drug coverage. The plan offers prescription drug coverage as part of Medicare -- providing desperately needed protection for older Americans. For less than $10 a month, older Americans will get protection against prescription drug prices that represent their highest out-of-pocket medical cost. An annual cap will be placed on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs, and above this amount, drug costs will be fully covered. * Covers home and community-based long-term care. The Health Security Act takes an important first step towards expanded coverage of long-term care by creating a new home and community-based long-term care program. It will help Americans who need long-term care live independently at home and in their communities -- which most older Americans, people with disabilities, and their families and friends prefer. * Guarantees security to early retirees. Under the Health Security Act, American workers who retire early will never have to worry about losing their health insurance. Today many of these Americans are vulnerable -- dropped from their coverage and not yet eligible for Medicare. Starting in 1998, early retirees will pay no more than their share of the premium that they paid as employees, unless they are single and have an annual income higher than $90,000, or a couple with income of more than $115,000. Companies must honor existing agreements that guarantee that their retirees pay nothing for health care. * Outlaws insurance company discrimination against older workers. Today, insurance companies pick and choose whom they cover --and they charge older workers more than younger workers. These practices will be outlawed under the President's approach --insurance companies must charge older workers the same as younger workers.