THE KENNEDY-KASSEBAUM BILL

[rpannier]

THE SIGNING OF THE KENNEDY-KASSEBAUM BILL

August 22, 1996
"Better than nothing" was the sentiment heard frequently among the former health reform staffers. The bill limits preexisting condition exclusions and for the first time makes the regulation of private health insurance a federal responsibility. But it does not extend coverage to the uninsured, and while it prohibits insurance companies from refusing to renew coverage, it sets no limits on what they can charge.

The true achievement of the bill was underlined by Merrit Kimball of the Alliance for Health Reform, who spoke eloquently of how personal the problem of preexisting conditions had become for her when she was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

snip

President Clinton celebrated the legislation as an example of what Democrats and Republicans could do when they put the country's interests first. The signing was a bipartisan event.

snip

As the crowd was leaving, one former White House lawyer noticed a group of about a half dozen of the original Health Security team. "Quick, let's screw something up," he said. But that will at least have to wait for a second term.

link:
http://www.princeton.edu/~starr/articles/signing.html

[bvar22]

1. This is a MUST READ!

K&R for wider distribution.

[mascarax]

2. another K&R (n/t)