[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 January 27, 1994 Here's why we must guarantee health security -- no matter what: Real health security means comprehensive health benefits that can never be taken away -- that is possible only with universal coverage. We need to be able to say to people who work hard and play by the rules that they will never lose their insurance. If you lose your job. If you start a small business. If you get sick. If your child gets sick. No matter what -- you're covered. It's time to give the American people freedom from the fear that they could lose their health coverage and be denied care when they or their children need it most. That is why the President will veto any bill that does not have guaranteed health security for all Americans. Universal coverage is essential to controlling costs: Without universal coverage, too many will continue to get care from emergency rooms instead of doctors' offices -- because they couldn't afford preventive care or a doctor visit, and their illnesses became more severe. The costs end up being overly expensive in the emergency room, and each of us pays higher premiums and taxes to make up for those who don't pay. One health policy expert writes that "only with universality can we eliminate the practice of making patients with insurance pay the medical costs of those without it." Universal coverage is necessary to simplify the system: Savings from simplifying and reducing the bureaucracy can't be realized without universal coverage. For example, a single claims form doesn't work unless everyone is in the system and following the same rules. And the simplicity and savings from a Health Security card won't happen unless everyone is guaranteed benefits that can never be taken away. In a changing job market, people need security: With American workers changing jobs so often they'll hold an average of eight jobs in a lifetime and more and more companies using temporary or part-time workers, we need universal coverage to make sure no one will ever lose their health insurance. Even if people are without insurance for just a few months, during that time, they are an illness or injury away from financial catastrophe. Why we need health care reform: J. Harris from Texas has a daughter who underwent surgery to remove a malignant tumor in her lung -- as a result, their family insurance increased to over $1,000 a month. Mr. Harris works for a small company and the daughter's illness caused several employees to drop their insurance due to high premiums. The remaining employees did not qualify as a group, the family was dropped and COBRA coverage ended for Mr. Harris's daughter.