U.S. Senate Republican Policy Committee - Larry E. Craig, Chairman - Jade West, Staff Director
Publications Issue List Vote Analysis Main Page
March 1, 1999
HEALTH CARE TALKING POINTS

Fifty Senate Republicans have introduced the "Patients Bill of Rights -- Plus" (S. 300). President Clinton and 31 Senate Democrats support "KennedyCare" (S. 6), a "Patients Bill of Rights" -- minus. Minus patient choice. Minus affordable health insurance. Minus protection from enormous medical bills.

Republicans Beat Democrats on Patient Protection: Republicans support the only change that will improve health care quality: tax reform that puts patients in control of their health care spending. While "KennedyCare" puts bureaucrats and lawyers between patients and their doctors, the Republicans' "Patients Bill of Rights -- Plus":
  1. Gives all Americans access to medical savings accounts (MSAs), which are already covering the uninsured, eliminating bureaucracy, and restoring the doctor-patient relationship. More than one-third of current MSA purchasers previously had no health coverage. "KennedyCare" does nothing to expand coverage with MSAs.

    2. Percentage of Uninsured MSA Purchasers

  2. Allows self-employed Americans to deduct 100 percent of health insurance expenses from their taxes, treating the self-employed like other workers and making health insurance more affordable. "KennedyCare" does nothing to expand coverage for the self-employed.

  3. Allows workers with flexible spending accounts (FSAs) to keep up to $500 of unused FSA funds every year (rather than use-it-or-lose-it), giving those patients greater control over their health care. "KennedyCare" does nothing to expand patient control through FSAs.

In short, "KennedyCare" does nothing to promote the tax equity that gives patients more control over their health care.

    7
  • Democrats Are Waging a War on Health Insurance -- Republicans are working to provide coverage for the uninsured and reduce health care bureaucracy. "KennedyCare" does the opposite: it would reduce coverage and expand bureaucracy.

    • "KennedyCare" is eight times as burdensome as the "Patients Bill of Rights -- Plus" (source: C.B.O.) and lacking anything that might expand access, "KennedyCare" would increase health insurance premiums and make coverage unaffordable.

    • "KennedyCare" would devastate families who lose their coverage, leaving them unable to pay their medical bills when an emergency strikes.

    • Anywhere from 800,000 (source: C.B.O.) to over 2 million Americans (source: Barents Group, L.L.C.) will lose their coverage if "KennedyCare" is enacted.

How Many Families Must Lose Their Health Coverage Before Democrats Are Satisfied?

Put Patients in the Driver's Seat with the Patients' Bill of Rights -- Plus!

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