New Health Care Insurance Reform Legislation Introduced in the Senate

WASHINGTON--Sen. Nancy Kas-sebaum (R-KS) and Sen. Edward Kennedy(D-MA) have proposed health reform legislation that is more modestthan that touted by President Clinton, but that contains someof the same goals.

The Health Insurance Reform Act of 1995 would require privatehealth insurance carriers to compete based on quality, price,and service instead of by denying coverage to people in poor health.

The bill would limit to 12 months the right of an insurer to refuseto sell a policy to someone with a preexisting condition; makeinsurance more portable by prohibiting new preexisting limitationsfor workers who change jobs; guarantee that individuals and groupswill be entitled to have their policies renewed as long as premiumsare paid; and provide incentives for small employers and individualsto form private voluntary groups to negotiate for better insurancerates.