[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 March 24, 1994 * Yesterday the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health approved legislation that meets the President's primary goal of providing health care to all Americans. The President said: "The Administration commends Chairman Stark and the members of the Subcommittee for their leadership. Their diligent work has moved the process forward. Today's action puts America one step closer to comprehensive health care reform." Here's how the President's health reform works: * Guaranteed private insurance. We want to guarantee private insurance coverage to every American. Comprehensive coverage that can never be taken away. * Choice. We want everyone to have the right to choose their own doctor and their own health plan. We want to make sure you get high-quality care by giving you the choice, not your boss or insurance company. * Outlawing unfair insurance practices. We want to make it illegal for insurance companies to jack up your rates or drop you if you get sick, charge older people more than younger, or take away your benefits. That's how you'll get affordable insurance you can depend on. * Protection of Medicare. Medicare will stay as it is now. Older Americans have a right to count on Medicare and choose their doctor. We also want to cover prescription drugs and begin to cover long term care. * Health benefits guaranteed at work. Every job should come with health benefits. Most jobs do today. And yet 8 out of 10 Americans who have no insurance do have jobs. We want everyone to have health benefits guaranteed at work. The government will provide discounts for small businesses and help cover the unemployed.