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Update: President Clinton Signs Kassebaum-Kennedy
The Kassebaum-Kennedy Health Care Reform Act of 1995 (S.1028)
"To provide increased access to health care benefits, to provide increased portability of health care benefits, to provide increased security of health care benefits, to increase the purchasing power of individuals and small employers, and for other purposes."
- The position of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation:
JDF supports the following health care insurance reform provisions contained in both the Health Coverage Availability and Affordability Act of 1996, H.R. 3103, and the Kennedy Kassebaum Health Insurance Act of 1995, S1028:
- Limitations on exclusions for pre-existing conditions
- Guarantees availability of health coverage for individuals
- Guarantees renewability of health coverage to employers and individuals
- Terminates job-lock by making health coverage portable
- Assures maintenance of health coverage for individuals leaving group health coverage.
In addition, JDF urges the Administration and Congress to act to ensure that all health plans provide coverage for all of the integral components of the care, management and treatment of diabetes as outlined by the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT). This includes insulin syringes, blood glucose meters and strips, insulin infusion pumps, all of the supplies used in conjunction with this equipment, as well as diabetes self-management training.
The point of contact for the JDF on Legislative Issues is Eric Schutt, Assistant Director of Government Relations. Mr. Schutt can be reached by phone at 1-800-JDF-1VOTE.
- The position of the American Diabetes Association:
From the "Public Policy Briefs" Section of our Diabetes Advocate newsletter:
It is possible that Congress will enact modest health care reform before the 1996 Congressional and Presidential elections. Reform legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Nancy Kassebaum (R-KS) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA). In the House, several bills have been crafted. Elements of each are expected to be included in a bill being promoted by the GOP leadership. The final House bill is likely to be broader and more controversial than the Kassebaum legislation.
The Kassebaum legislation prohibits insurance carriers from denying coverage because of a pre-existing condition and denying the sale of an individual insurance policy to a person recently covered through a group plan. It also generally requires insurers to offer group health plans to all employers in markets in which they already sell group plans. The bill also prohibits insurers who offer a group plan to an employer from excluding any of its employees or their dependents from the plan because of poor health. The American Diabetes Association strongly supports the Kassebaum/Kennedy legislation. While far from comprehensive reform, ending the pre-existing condition exclusion, ensuring portability and providing small firms with access to the health insurance market regardless of the health of their employees are among the Association's primary legislative goals.
The point of contact for the ADA on this matter is Beth Sterling.
- This bill deserves the support of every American. To express your support:
- Determine who your Senators and Representative are and find their e-mail address or mailing address. You can use the following on-line resources:
- The Zipper will tell you your Senators and Represenative based on your ZIP code.
- Contacting the 104th Congress is a comprehensive list of addresses and e-mail addresses.
- Senators Listed by State lists Senators by state.
- Write or e-mail your Senator and Representative, urging them to support passage of the bill.
- For additional information about this bill, see:
- Full text of the bill from the Thomas FTP site
- Summary information about S.1028 from the Thomas Web Site
- Thomas Legislative Information
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Last Updated: Thursday February 27, 2014 19:28:21
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