President Clinton and Senator Mitchell's Health Care Legislation

Strategic Insights -

President Clinton stated that he could not accept health care legislation with less of a guarantee of universal coverage than Senator George J. Mitchell's bill, which proposes that employers pay half the cost of their workers' health insurance if other measures do not reach 95 percent of Americans by 2000. The President expressed support for the bill's premise that achieving 95 percent coverage by 2000 would demonstrate the possibility of reaching universal coverage without requiring employers to pay for their workers' insurance. However, he emphasized the need for a backup mechanism in case the 95 percent goal is not met.

Key Takeaways:

  • President Clinton emphasized the importance of universal coverage, stating that 95 percent of Americans should have health insurance by 2000.
  • The President expressed support for Senator Mitchell's bill, which proposes that employers pay half the cost of their workers' health insurance, but only if other measures do not reach 95 percent of Americans by 2000.
  • The President stated that a backup mechanism is necessary in case the 95 percent goal is not met.
  • The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) endorsed both the Mitchell bill and the more comprehensive House leadership bill, stating that neither bill is perfect but that efforts should be made to pass a bill that addresses the need for health care reform.
  • Senator John H. Chafee praised Senator Mitchell's handling of the employer payment issue but identified areas where he believed Mitchell should shift.
  • Senator Edward M. Kennedy, a key ally of Senator Mitchell, met with Chafee to discuss the bill.
  • Senate Republicans criticized the Mitchell bill, calling it too slow in moving toward universal coverage and citing concerns about excessive government involvement.
  • The most significant change in the revised Mitchell bill is the deletion of a provision that would have reduced the number of residencies for medical school graduates.
  • Senator Daniel K. Akaka, Democrate of Hawaii, testified that an employer mandate was not crippling small business and that Hawaii's experience was a model for the country.
  • President Clinton mentioned a meeting with Hawaii's Governor, John Waihee III, and stated that he was more convinced than ever that the closer the country moved toward universal coverage, the better the quality and lower the cost of healthcare would be.

Statistics:

  • 33 million elderly people are members of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).
  • 96 percent of Hawaii's residents have health insurance due to the state's employer mandate.
  • $29,528 is the family income threshold for receiving insurance subsidies under the proposed Republican bill.
  • 1,410 pages is the size of the revised Mitchell bill.

Sources:

  • Page A20: The New York Times
  • Page A21: The New York Times
  • Stephen Crowley/The New York Times (pg. A20)