Bill Seeks Access to Federal Health Plan

WASHINGTON--Probably the best-informed group of American consumersof health care are the 9 million federal employees enrolled inthe government's health-care plan, Representative Patricia Schroeder(D-CO) said at the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC)annual meeting.

This is because, once a year, during open season, federal workersget a booklet describing all the different health-care plans availableto them. Insurers advertise in the booklet, explaining how theirplan works, what the cost is to the consumer, and what it offersbeyond the required standard package of benefits.

Rep. Schroeder has put together legislation (HB 1084) that wouldallow Americans who work for small employers or who are self-employedto bid off the same menu as federal employees. These two groupsneed help the most, Rep. Schroeder said.

"I don't worry about General Motors, but small employersand self-employed people often don't have much choice about healthinsurance," she said.

Rep. Schroeder thinks her bill is politically feasible because"it's very hard for members of Congress to tell you theyare not going to vote to give you the same choices they have."