that the supervision at the State level is functioning in the public interest it would seem to me unnecessary to establish an FDIC for insurance companies or anything of the kind. (Discussion off the record.) The CHAIRMAN. You certainly have indicated to us today that you know the subject to which you speak. I can detect, however, that there is a hesitancy on your part to recognize that there is any place where Government should get into this picture at all. I can see that in your remarks. It probably comes from your experience and your study, but you must recognize that this committee is faced with a very great problem. We are faced with a problem of increasing cost of illness that is becoming a great burden to our people, and if you could have sat here and heard, as we did, the testimony that has been given with reference to these basic diseases and how many are affected, millions of our people, you would probably realize why we take the problem as seriously as we do in the hope we will find something that will prove helpful. We have not made up our minds. Our questions are not an indication of opinion but our way of getting the story, and we are seeking to get the story; to ascertain what, if anything, can be done or should be done by Federal action. We Our hearings of this phase have come to an end at this time. adjourn our hearings today until an indefinite day which will be determined as circumstances will dictate. In other words, we have gathered together a tremendous amount of information, information that will have to be digested by the members and by the staff. It will take probably a considerable time in which to do that. Our attention will be given to that before we resume our hearings. These hearings will be resumed, because we have not completed the study that we started some 3 weeks ago. I mention this for the reason that I want no one to think we have finished. We are still on the threshold of what can or should be done, and it will be given continually our very best thought and study in the days that are ahead. I do want, as we finish this phase of the hearings, to express my appreciation and the appreciation of the committee to those who have come here voluntarily, willingly, all of them active individuals, and yet they have been willing to make that sacrifice to come here and assist this committee in the work that it is endeavoring to do. I have continually found it impossible to find words that will express adequately to those who have come here and testified our feeling of appreciation for what you have done in this work that we are trying to do. I also want to express appreciation to the members of this committee who, over the weeks since Congress has been adjourned, have been willing to leave their homes and come back to Washington, with inconvenience in many instances, and participate in these hearings. We are adjourned. (Thereupon, at 1:35 p. m., the hearings were adjourned.) HEALTH INQUIRY (VOLUNTARY HEALTH INSURANCE) HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON 4 APA 23 Copy-----1954 INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE EIGHTY-THIRD CONGRESS SECOND SESSION ON AVAILABLE HEALTH PLANS AND GROUP INSURANCE PART 6 33-00051 JANUARY 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29, FEBRUARY 1, 2, AND 3, 1954 Printed for the use of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce Monograph (lacompletu) (VOLUNTARY HEALTH INSURANCE) HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-THIRD CONGRESS SECOND SESSION ON AVAILABLE HEALTH PLANS AND GROUP INSURANCE PART 6 JANUARY 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, AND 19, 1954 4.S. Congress. House Printed for the use of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce ^ ل |