HEARING - U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging

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So the question before us is how do we provide adequate access to
health care for all individuals in need. And the biggest aspects of
this problem are catastrophic and long-term care.
The elderly account for one-third of all personal health care expenditures
even though they constitute only 11 percent of our total
population. We need to find a fiscally responsible way of providing
adequate health care coverage now, because senior citizens constitute
the only segment of our population that is going to significantly
increase in the coming years.
I have spoken to many people about this problem, and many can
take care of most of their health care problems. But, when a family
experiences a catastrophic health care problem, particularly a
senior citizen, that is when they find out their private insurance,
or Medicare does not cover enough. That is when they lose their
personal property and what they have saved for all their livesthat
is truly a catastrophic experience.
So I thank the Chair for this hearing, and I look forward to hearing
our witnesses.
Chairman MELCHER. Thank you very much.
Senator Heinz, we are delighted you are here and would like to
hear from you now.
STATEMENT OF SENATOR JOHN HEINZ
Senator HEINZ. Mr. Chairman, first let me commend and congratulate
you and the committee for holding this hearing. I think
this is probably one of the few organized events taking place in
Washington, DC today, and it could not be on a more vital or appropriate
subject, namely, catastrophic care.
This is the first hearing of this committee in the 100th Congress,
and the issue that you choose to address darkens the door of far too
many Americans, and that of course is the specter of catastrophic
acute or. long-term illness.
For over two decades, since the birth of Medicare and Medicaid,
Congress has pursued a policy of medical insurance protection for
our oldest and our most economically vulnerable citizens. But these
two programs, as the front line of defense against financially crippling
medical costs, while they have had many successes also have
their fair share of shortcomings.
Almost 100 percent of elderly Americans benefit from hospital
insurance under Medicare while only 4 in 10 previously had such
coverage. Mortality rates for both elderly women and men dropped
sharply in the decade immediately following the implementation of
Medicare-a reflection, in part, of better access to care.
But progress is only a measure of what still needs to be done.
More than one Aging <strong>Committee</strong> hearing has shown the effect of
creeping out-of-pocket costs on access and quality. We have heard
testimony before from families devastated by long-term illnesses
and, frankly, dumbfounded by the maze of regulations, restrictions
and limitations in private insurance coverage.
Yet, once again, Mr. Chairman, we will hear testimony this
morning on the shortfalls of our health care programs, on the loopholes
and potholes, the financial, psychological and physical "black
holes" that put too many Americans at risk.