Bill Clinton: “Yes. [Laughter] You want me to talk about it a little bit? Let me ask you, just curious, we're here in Kansas City, how…”

“Yes. [Laughter] You want me to talk about it a little bit? Let me ask you, just curious, we're here in Kansas City, how many of you agree with what he said, that health insurance policies should include mental health coverage as well as physical coverage? How many of you agree? [Applause] I'm glad to see it. I think it shows our country's come a long way in that issue, that there are a lot of mental problems that are literally illnesses that can be treated, sometimes with medicine, sometimes in other ways. One of the things that we seek to do, sir, in this plan, and I want to make full disclosure here, we do cover mental health under our health care plan as a protected benefit. But it's not required to be put in all health insurance policies until the year 2000, and I want to explain why. The last thing in the world I want to do is to cost you more money instead of save you money by doing this. I have worked too hard to try to bring the Government deficit down to see it go up, for example. And because mental health benefits have never been provided on a comprehensive basis before, there is no agreement among the experts about what it will cost. I'll bet you this gentleman with the Menninger Foundation believes mental health benefits over the long run will save money in the health care system. I do, too. But we can't prove it. So we're going to have to phase the mental health benefits in. But by the year 2000, they will be covered just like physical health benefits in all comprehensive health packages for all Americans if this plan passes. I wish we could do it quicker, but we can't prove what the cost will be, and we can't put the budget at risk. So we're going to have to phase it in. Mr. Anschutz. Let's complete our circuit now by going up to Omaha, Nebraska, and Loretta Carroll. Loretta Carroll. Good evening, Wendall. An Omaha good evening, Mr. President. I'm here talking with this woman; she helps families who have family members with Alzheimer's. And Karen, you've been there yourself with your own dad. Long-Term and Respite Care”