Senate Proceeding 11-03-09 on Nov 3rd, 2009 :: 3:59:20 to 4:04:35
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3:59:19 to 3:59:40( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: system.i thank the senator from maryland for thraigz important -- for raising this important issue. if i might mention another family, marvin and millie, in chefy chase, they're grandparents. marvin is a retired federal

3:59:20 to 4:04:35( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Benjamin L. Cardin

3:59:41 to 4:00:03( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: employee, he and his wife have medicare. they're in pretty good shape. they're worried about their grandchildren. they have a grandson who is 14 years old. he has crohn's disease and dwarfism. his parents are petrified that he will not get coverage when he is no longer to receive

4:00:04 to 4:00:24( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: insurance through his parents. because of the preexisting conditions, it will be hard to find coverage. without reform, high health care costs will preclude him from starting his own business or working for a small business owner. marvin writes, my grandson's future employment process will be limited because he will need

4:00:25 to 4:00:48( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: an employer with a large-group plan to ensure group coverage. if he gets sick without coverage, it would be a disaster. mr. president, it is truly unacceptable that in america today because of the way that our health insurance system operates that a person's future and what type of job that person

4:00:49 to 4:01:10( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: can seek is limited because of a preexisting condition. that doesn't make this nation as competitive as we need to be. we -- we can certainly do a much better job on that now. there's t good points here. one is that we eliminate preexisting conditions so that would be -- that would be taken care of.

4:01:11 to 4:01:31( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: we also provide coverage -- coverage -- 26. so that you the -- your family plan coverage through the a of 26. i think this is a -- going to be a very popular issue. this is one area that doesn't cost a lot of

4:01:32 to 4:01:52( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: see, children in their early 20's are not at high risk. it is unlikely this will add greatly to the insurance premium cost. in fact, it won't. it does give greater assurances to those children who are not yet fully in the workplace, so they're able to get an affordable health insurance prod

4:01:53 to 4:02:14( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: talk they can stay on their parents' insurance picy until age 26, and that's another way we're going to help families. want to be sure is done is when people change jobs. we know that this is a very mobile jobs much more frequently today than they did 10 years ago. so this bill will make sure that you always have health insurance

4:02:15 to 4:02:36( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: even if you lose or change your job. you're not going to be locked into a company because you don't want to lose your health benefits. i must tell you, i hear that frequently from people in maryland. i'm sure you hear it in minnesota and delaware. that people want to change jobs but don't because they don't want to lose health benefits.

4:02:37 to 4:02:59( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: that's not a reason for people not toook to new opportunities. when we get health insurance reform done, people will be able to get insurance regardless of where they work. there will be affordable coverage that will help middle-income families. that is our objective. that's what we're trying to do. another area i just want to

4:03:00 to 4:03:21( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: mention briefly is small businesses. you hear that frequently. small business owners have a hard time finding affordable insurance. i'll give you a couple of examples of people from maryland. steven from annapolis wrote a letter saying, he's a small business owner, steven's health care premiums have increased by unmanageable amounts. steven is currently paying 55%

4:03:22 to 4:03:42( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: more for his family health insurance than he was 14 month ago. 55% increase in 14 months. the premium for steven and his family, all of whom are healthy, are approaching $10,000 nually. in august h premiums increased 24%. after having increased 25% in

4:03:43 to 4:04:04( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: 2008. he wakes up in cold sweats worried about how he can afford such high costs. steven sent me his most recent heal insurance bill, which showed the 24.1% increase. steven writes, we are worried about these problems 24 hours a day. that is no exaggeration. small business people wake up in

4:04:05 to 4:04:26( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: cold sweats, as i have done many times through the course of this difficult recession wondering how we are going to meet our client deadlines, pay our bills, and be a good father and husband all at the same time. well, for small businesses you have one bad experience health care during the year and you can expect a large premium increase the next year.

4:04:27 to 4:04:35( Edit History Discussion )

Benjamin L. Cardin: you know, one thing about health insurance being expensive, as it is, but if you're a business owner, how can you plan your -- your company budget when you