the answers were yes; 45 percent no. supports the King bill. So it is not organized labor only that Senator George Smathers stated in a press release, Miami Herald, August 9, 1961, that it was his intention to hold a hearing in Florida of his retirement subcommittee, giving as a reason that there were almost 500,000 people on social security in our State. The State of Florida has a population, according to the 1960 census, of 4,951,560 which pinpoints the startling fact based on the above figures that practically 1 out of every 20 persons in Florida are under social security. We have also a very critical problem of Cuban refugees to deal with in this State. We do not know exactly how many are in Dade County at the present time, or in Florida. We are sure that in 2 years or more this number has been increased daily at a rapid rate. These unfortunate people have taken jobs at almost any kind of price, based on their dire need, to attempt to survive and thus causing thousands of Floridians to compete for jobs, or receive reduced wages, as a result, and the large surplus of unemployed refugees, all of this has created great hardships particularly in south Florida. We are wholly in accord with the necessity of taking care of the Cuban refugees, but we believe the Government should play a bigger role in the matter and they have not done enough. As a result, it has caused great hardship on the Floridians. Only recently, they have started to bring in Federal surplus food. Labor and many other organizations are urging this type of aid from the Government. There have been several surveys made. The welfare division has made a statement that they did not see the need of surplus food. At that time, they did not intend to request a program such as many other States have. The Miami Herald is also a source of a statement that in a national survey it was shown that Miami ranked third highest State in the Union of students dropping out of high school to go to work. This is all a result of our precarious economic condition. We urge that this statement be made part of the record of the Ways and Means Committee and we believe they will present a more true picture of the conditions as they exist in our State. INDIANA STATE AFL-CIO, Indianapolis, Ind., August 16, 1961. Representative WILBUR D. MILLS, Chairman, Ways and Means Committee, U.S. Congress, Washington, D.C. DEAR REPRESENTATIVE MILLS: We of the Indiana State AFL-CIO who represent 300,000 members of organized labor, urge that you support the bill that will provide medical care for the aged under social security. Under the present system we find many of our senior citizens sorely in need of medical attention and we feel this is an equitable manner to provide this care. Hoping that your committee will recommend this bill out of committee as "do pass" and with best regards, I remain, Yours truly, MAX F. WRIGHT, LEO H. IRWIN, IOWA FEDERATION OF LABOR, AFL-CIO, Chief Counsel, Committee on Ways and Means, DEAR SIR: This letter is in regard to the President's health insurance proposal H.R. 4222, the Health Insurance Benefits Act of 1961. This letter is for presentation to the committee record. It should be noted before this committee that we in Iowa are particularly interested in the proposal H.R. 4222 because of the fact that in the most recent session of the Iowa Legislature a bill passed which would have allowed Iowa to participate in the existent Federal medical care program but the legislature openly and callously in passing this enabling act did not appropriate any funds for carrying it out within the State. Thus the aged citizenry of our State finds itself completely without any protection against the extremely high So now the needy aged can get health care through the public welfare system of Florida only if they have lived here 5 years and if they meet the very strict means test that's applied. Even if the State welfare board's recommended bill had been passed by the legislature, it would not have been nearly as liberal as Dr. Annis said in his debate. He suggested there would be an income limit of $2,000 a year for each person. But the welfare board's recommendation was $1,200 for a single individual and $2,400 for a couple. Dr. Annis said people would be allowed to have liquid assets of up to $2,000. But the State welfare board recommended much less, probably $600 for a single person and $1,200 for a couple, including cash, bank balances, paid-up value on life insurance, etc. The health services that would have been paid for under the welfare plan would also have been very limited but even those involved a cost that was too much to win support from a majority of the State legislature. The issue of health care for the aged is of particular interest to the citizens of Florida because of the large number of older people here. There are now more than half a million people 65 years of age or more in Florida, and the number is 2% times as great as in 1950. Some have grown up here. Many have come from other parts of the country to enjoy Florida's fine climate and other advantages. But all of them know that they may need to go to the hospital next year, or even this year. They want to get the kind of medical care that will keep them out of the hospital as long as possible. Most of them don't have any too much extra money. It would be a great help to them to know that they could count on having 90 days of hospital care paid for through social security as the King bill plans. It would also be very helpful to have benefits covering a stay in a skilled nursing home for 6 months if necessary, and at least part of the cost of X-rays and other outpatient diagnostic care from hospital clinics. The King bill provisions for home health services for up to 240 visits a year would make it possible for many older people here to stay on in their own homes rather than having to go into a hospital or other institution. The older people of Florida know how valuable social security benefits are. Seventy-six dollars a month, which is the average old-age benefit paid in Florida, means a lot but it doesn't go very far in helping to pay for high-cost drugs, doctors' fees and hospital or nursing expenses on top of rent or payments on a house, food, clothes, other necessities, and a few luxuries. Four out of five aged persons in Florida, or 440,000, would get the benefits of the King bill. Something like $34 million in health benefits would be paid out for them in 1 year. The King bill would thus do a lot of good in our State not only for the older people themselves but for the entire community. We could then hope for more good nursing homes, hospitals and nursing services to keep up with the growing number of older persons. It isn't easy for people to buy private insurance out of their low incomes. Of course many insurance companies won't take older people unless their health is normal, which may mean they have to pass a medical test or that existing conditions may be excluded. The Florida Blue Cross Association has not developed a special hospital plan for senior citizens. People over 65 can join if they want, but preexisting conditions are not covered. A health statement is required, and there is a waiting period of 270 days for hernias and hemorrhoids. But even if an older person does get accepted, not more than 31 days of hospital care will be paid for in each spell of illness, with a maximum of $12 per day for room and board. Patients have to pay 50 percent of the first $100 of charges in the hospital for drugs, diagnostic X-rays and anesthetics, although the plan pays all charges from $100 up to $500. In connection with laboratory services, there is an exclusion of section examinations and pathological examinations. The King bill would give us much better protection, and the aged would not have to pay anything after they've retired. They would be relieved of worry about the disastrous cost of long illnesses, and they would be able to get better hospital and nursing care. They would still have some medical bills to pay but these would be easier to meet. This spring Congressman Rogers of Florida sounded out public opinion on this question: "Do you favor the proposal to make a compulsory medical care plan for the aged part of the social security program?" Fifty-five percent of the answers were yes; 45 percent no. supports the King bill. So it is not organized labor only that Senator George Smathers stated in a press release, Miami Herald, August 9, 1961, that it was his intention to hold a hearing in Florida of his retirement subcommittee, giving as a reason that there were almost 500,000 people on social security in our State. The State of Florida has a population, according to the 1960 census, of 4,951,560 which pinpoints the startling fact based on the above figures that practically 1 out of every 20 persons in Florida are under social security. We have also a very critical problem of Cuban refugees to deal with in this State. We do not know exactly how many are in Dade County at the present time, or in Florida. We are sure that in 2 years or more this number has been increased daily at a rapid rate. These unfortunate people have taken jobs at almost any kind of price, based on their dire need, to attempt to survive and thus causing thousands of Floridians to compete for jobs, or receive reduced wages, as a result, and the large surplus of unemployed refugees, all of this has created great hardships particularly in south Florida. We are wholly in accord with the necessity of taking care of the Cuban refugees, but we believe the Government should play a bigger role in the matter and they have not done enough. As a result, it has caused great hardship on the Floridians. Only recently, they have started to bring in Federal surplus food. Labor and many other organizations are urging this type of aid from the Government. There have been several surveys made. The welfare division has made a statement that they did not see the need of surplus food. At that time, they did not intend to request a program such as many other States have. The Miami Herald is also a source of a statement that in a national survey it was shown that Miami ranked third highest State in the Union of students dropping out of high school to go to work. This is all a result of our precarious economic condition. We urge that this statement be made part of the record of the Ways and Means Committee and we believe they will present a more true picture of the conditions as they exist in our State. INDIANA STATE AFL-CIO, Indianapolis, Ind., August 16, 1961. Representative WILBUR D. MILLS, Chairman, Ways and Means Committee, U.S. Congress, Washington, D.C. DEAR REPRESENTATIVE MILLS: We of the Indiana State AFL-CIO who represent 300,000 members of organized labor, urge that you support the bill that will provide medical care for the aged under social security. Under the present system we find many of our senior citizens sorely in need of medical attention and we feel this is an equitable manner to provide this care. Hoping that your committee will recommend this bill out of committee as "do pass" and with best regards, I remain, Yours truly, MAX F. WRIGHT, LEO H. IRWIN, IOWA FEDERATION OF LABOR, AFL-CIO, Chief Counsel, Committee on Ways and Means, DEAR SIR: This letter is in regard to the President's health insurance proposal H.R. 4222, the Health Insurance Benefits Act of 1961. This letter is for presentation to the committee record. It should be noted before this committee that we in Iowa are particularly interested in the proposal H.R. 4222 because of the fact that in the most recent session of the Iowa Legislature a bill passed which would have allowed Iowa to participate in the existent Federal medical care program but the legislature openly and callously in passing this enabling act did not appropriate any funds for carrying it out within the State. Thus the aged citizenry of our State finds itself completely without any protection against the extremely high medical costs that go along with decent standards of medical health care. Tens of thousands of people, primarily Iowa's aged citizenry, are now going without adequate medical care because of the tremendously high cost involved coupled with a very low income. We feel that passage of H.R. 4222 is absolutely a must if Iowa's aged citizenry is to receive even the most minimum standards of medical health care. I remain, Sincerely yours, JACK E. McCoy, Executive Vice President. KANSAS STATE FEDERATION OF LABOR, AFL-CIO, The Honorable WILBUR D. MILLS, DEAR CONGRESSMAN MILLS: The Kansas State Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, is extremely anxious to see H.R. 4222, the Anderson-King bill, adopted. The State of Kansas has not adopted the necessary legislation that would enable our State to participate in the medical assistance for the aged bill adopted in 1960. Kansas has 240,000 citizens aged 65 and over and if the Anderson-King bill is adopted, it would enable approximately 190,000 persons to receive health benefits in 1963. The average old-age benefit paid in the State of Kansas is $70 per month. This compares with an average hospital charge for bed and board of $16 a day in a semiprivate room and $14 a day if six or more adults are in one room. A huge majority of the citizens of Kansas 65 years of age and older have no savings or very little, consequently their social security benefits are totally inadequate to permit these individuals to get the needed hospital and medical care that they so vitally need. We urge you to enter this in the record of the committee and sincerely hope the committee will give the Anderson-King bill, H.R. 4222, favorable recommendation. Rspectfully yours, F. E. BLACK, Executive Secretary. STATEMENT OF SAM EZELLE, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, KENTUCKY STATE AFL-CIO The Kentucky State AFL-CIO is the largest organization in Kentucky, excluding political parties and religious denominations. Representing over 135,000 laboring families, this State labor council has had full opportunity to learn of the acute health problems of our older citizens. This organization is on record favoring the President's health insurance proposal, H.R. 4222, to provide medical care for the aged through our social security program. There are approximately 292,000 persons aged 65 years and over in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Estimations are that the Anderson-King bill would enable 228,000 of our old folks to receive health benefits by 1963. The estimated amount of this assistance in 1963 is $16 million. When one considers that the average old-age benefit in Kentucky is only $65 a month, and semiprivate hospital rooms are averaging $14 a day, the problem comes sharply into focus. A Louisville survey discloses that one can reserve an air-conditioned suite in any of the four leading hotels, with private bath and television, cheaper than one can reserve a private room in our hospitals! Kentucky's State report to the White House Conference on the Aging clearly indicates that thousands of older people in our State are not receiving adequate medical care. Between the years 1956 and 1960, 4,036 persons over the age 65 were admitted to State hospitals for treatment of mental disorders. In addition, the Kentucky State Department of Health, in conjunction with the department of economic security, has made a survey which shows that to date this State has approximately 80,000 persons 65 years of age, or older, who are not receiving adequate medical care. Existing Federal and State legislation does not scratch the surface. Kentucky was one of the first States to avail our people of the new Federal benefits but look at the sad results: Payments were first made in April 1961 to only 14 recipients. There were 38 recipients in May; 37 in June; and by July, only 40. A total of only 129 Kentuckians have received a total of $5,781.81, from April 1 through July 28. The program is inadequate Hospital care is limited to only 6 days. Physicians services are for "acute, emergency, and life-endangering conditions," limited to two visits per month per patient. This regulation is contradictory on its face, because such serious conditions of health could hardly be limited to two visits per month. Dental services have recently been added, but are limited to $48 per recipient per annum. A complete set of dentures, plus the necessary extractions, would have to be acquired over several years, no matter how essential to life or health. Drugs are in accordance with an established list and fee schedules, but we are receiving reports already (Carter County) that druggists are not cooperating with the plan and are refusing to be bothered with the forms and regulatory measures. We are, by analogy, offering band-aid and aspirin to old people needing surgery and nursing home care. The six health ailments of highest prevalence are arthritis and rheumatism, heart trouble, blood pressure, urological difficulties, problems of the digestive system, respiratory ailments, and ailments associated in some way with the skeletal structure. Many persons named health ailments associated with the heart, such as heart trouble, blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, and poor circulation. Others, about one out of six older persons, named arthritis or rheumatism as bothersome health ailments. Almost one out of four persons named health ailments associated with the heart, such as heart trouble, blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, and poor circulation. Kentuckians are proud people. Our older people, in particular, resent any condition that brands them as beggars, and the pauper's oath provisions that now confront them are repugnant to them. They are left with simple home remedies, or none at all, while the marvels of modern medical science are daily revealed all about them. Private health insurance is obviously not the answer. The rates are high for the aged because the risk is high. Policies are often revocable, and the first time it is used brings a cancellation. Following a cancellation, additional insurance is hard to acquire. The practice of passing the cost of one's illness on to children is difficult in Kentucky, which has had so much unemployment. There is now a mass exodus from Kentucky to other States, and the aged are left here to shift for themselves, while their sons and daughters seek jobs elsewhere. We believe that a plan based on social security, which has an administrative cost less than 2 percent, must be the answer for Kentucky. To provide in our youth for the health problems of our declining years seems to be much more palatable than the taxing of an entire population for those who must add the pangs of humiliating charity to their present infirmities. Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS, BALTIMORE COUNCIL OF AFL-CIO UNIONS, Baltimore, Md., August 9, 1961. Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee, House Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: The Baltimore Council of AFL-CIO Unions is writing to your honorable committee to request their support of H.R. 4222, a bill to provide for medical aid to the aged tied to the social security system. The legislative committee of this council has given considerable thought and study to the many approaches to this problem that have been presented, and after thorough examination have come to the conclusion that the provisions of H.R. 4222 most nearly meet the desires of the people we represent. We make this request with the full knowledge that the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland, through its official spokesmen, have testified before your committee in opposition to this measure. |