Richard Gephardt: “the Republican Party tells us there is no health care crisis in this country. And maybe, as far as they know, there is…”

“the Republican Party tells us there is no health care crisis in this country. And maybe, as far as they know, there is not one. But those of us who spend time in our districts, walking the streets and talking to the people who are suffering from that crisis--we know better. Those of us who are trying to help the working families of America-- trying to free them from the fear of losing their insurance, or being shut out of decent care--we know better. This week, I received a letter from an elderly woman in Imperial, MO. She had decent insurance--but she lost it when her husband retired. Because she is only 60 years old, she has to wait 5 years before she can qualify for Medicare. Now she has an inoperable brain cyst. She is unable to work--and under our current system, she cannot qualify for any kind of private health insurance. She wrote to me: ``I realize our Nation is in a health care crisis. I appreciate the efforts you are making to help resolve the problem.'' ``However, I am in a crisis now. We have worked hard all our lives, and now face undue hardship. It just doesn't seem right.'' The fact is, it is not right. But this year, in the term of this Congress, we can make it right. So I ask all of you: What kind of system shuts people out of decent care when they need it most, but can afford it the least? What kind of system takes away health insurance after a lifetime of hard work, just because you or your spouse are not working anymore?”