Greg Ganske: “this bill will help fix a health care system that has been beyond the means for many Americans. Now a worker who wants…”

“this bill will help fix a health care system that has been beyond the means for many Americans. Now a worker who wants to pursue his career but cannot change jobs because of an illness in the family would be covered by a new employer's insurance, group-to-group portability. Now an employee who is laid off or between jobs and cannot get individual coverage for his preexisting condition would be able to get coverage, group-to-individual portability. Now the small business employee, whose employer cannot afford to purchase insurance for the firm's five employees because one of them has a chronic illness, would be able to better afford health insurance. Mr. Speaker, this bill makes it easier for Americans to get and keep health insurance. It is important that this bill includes medical savings accounts. They will return control over health care spending to consumers, save money, and lower health care overutilization. I am pleased that this bill also increases the health insurance deduction for self-employed individuals from 30 percent to 50 percent by the year 2003. While big businesses have been able to deduct all their health care costs, millions of self-employed individuals have been left without a similar benefit. That is not fair. We must give people more incentives and more options to carry health insurance for their families. The Health Coverage Availability and Affordability Act will also crack down on fraud and abuse, saving millions of dollars.”