During my Administration, I proposed to Congress a National Health Plan
which will enable the country to reach the goal of comprehensive, universal
health care coverage. The legislation I submitted lays the foundation for
this comprehensive plan and addresses the most serious problems of health
financing and delivery. It is realistic and enactable. It does not
overpromise or overspend, and, as a result, can be the solution to the
thirty years of Congressional battles on national health insurance. My Plan
includes the following key features:
Nearly 15 million additional poor would receive fully-subsidized
comprehensive coverage; pre-natal and delivery services are provided for
all pregnant women and coverage is provided for all acute care for infants
in their first year of life; the elderly and disabled would have a limit of
$1,250 placed on annual out-of-pocket medical expenses and would no longer
face limits on hospital coverage; all full-time employees and their
families would receive insurance against at least major medical expenses
under mandated employer coverage; Medicare and Medicaid would be combined
and expanded into an umbrella Federal program, Healthcare, for increased
program efficiency, accountability and uniformity; and strong cost
controls and health system reforms would be implemented, including
greater incentives for Health Maintenance Organizations.
I urge the new Congress to compare my Plan with the alternatives--programs
which either do too little to improve the health care needs of Americans
most in need or programs which would impose substantial financial burdens
on the American taxpayers. I hope the Congress will see the need for and
the benefits of my Plan and work toward prompt enactment. We cannot afford
further delay in this vital area.