President Clinton Hits the Road for Health Care Initiative

Strategic Insights -

President Clinton is set to visit Greensburg, Pa. on July 14 to boost momentum for his health care initiative, following a blueprint of events that feature personal stories from those affected by lack of full medical insurance. Three western Pennsylvania women will share their experiences with Clinton, including Louise Bernick, whose husband's union job provides inadequate benefits, and Francine Bagnato, a middle-class American struggling to provide for her 7-year-old son.

Key Takeaways:

  • Louise Bernick, a 21-year-old Pittsburgh resident, wrote to the Clintons about her husband's union job providing inadequate medical benefits, with her husband paying $2.75 an hour for health care and a $200 deductible per person.
  • Patrica Courson, a 56-year-old part-time supermarket deli worker, suffers from sleep apnea and relies on a special breathing machine to keep her alive, and has lost her health insurance after her husband lost his job as a courier.
  • Francine Bagnato, a middle-class American, struggles to provide medical coverage for her 7-year-old son and feels a "terrible feeling" when unable to do so, despite always working hard to provide a decent life for herself and her son.
  • Clinton's visit to Greensburg is part of his health care initiative, aimed at boosting momentum for his plan.
  • The three women to be featured at the event have all written to the Clintons, highlighting their personal struggles with health care.

Statistics:

  • 21: The age of Louise Bernick, a Pittsburgh resident who will speak to President Clinton about her husband's inadequate medical benefits.
  • $2.75: The hourly wage paid by Louise Bernick's husband for his medical benefits.
  • $200: The deductible per person for medical expenses.
  • 7: The age of Francine Bagnato's son, for whom Francine struggles to provide medical coverage.
  • 100: The approximate dollars per week paid by Louise Bernick's husband for health care.

Sources:

  • The White House, July 14
  • Washington Post, July 14 (story not referenced in text)
  • AP (Associated Press), July 14
  • The Greensburg Tribune-Review, July 14 (story not referenced in text)
  • The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 14