Donald Riegle: “I rise once again in my continuing effort to put faces on the health care crisis in our country. Today, I want to share…”

“I rise once again in my continuing effort to put faces on the health care crisis in our country. Today, I want to share the story of Darwin and Helen House from Greenville, MI. Mr. and Mrs. House are early retirees who are no not yet eligible for Medicare and are currently facing a 250-percent increase in their health insurance premiums. Darwin, age 63, and Helen, 58, both worked for the Frigidare Co. for many years. Darwin retired in January 1991 after working 40 years with the company's service department. Helen retired 2 years later, in April 1993, after 20 years as a clerk in the Accounting Department. Upon retirement, both Mr. and Mrs. House were younger than 65 years old and consequently they were not yet eligible for Medicare health benefits. Therefore, they kept their employer-based private health insurance policy after their retirement. Under their retiree insurance policy, the Houses pay half of the total cost of the monthly premium and their former employer pays the other half of the premium cost. Their policy covers 80 percent of their health care costs after a yearly deductible of $150 per person. In 1993, the Houses' premium share was $96 per month, or one-half of the full premium of $192 per month. In January 1994, the Houses received a letter from their former employer stating: As expected, health care costs have continued to increase dramatically.…”