
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, September 5, 1993                   TAG: 9309050094
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: The Baltimore Sun
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

WIDE RANGE OF BENEFITS CLAIMED FOR HEALTH PLAN ADMINISTRATION OFFERS PREVIEW

Providing the fullest picture yet of the president's health care reform plan, senior administration officials said Saturday it would provide benefits equal to those "held by a well-insured person today" and result in "savings for a vast majority of people."

The officials said they did not expect major revisions before the plan is formally presented to Congress and the public around Sept. 22. But they cautioned that President Clinton is meeting with advisers this weekend to finalize the plan, which could undergo changes as the administration briefs lawmakers beginning next week.

Under the plan, each American, regardless of health or employment status, would be guaranteed comprehensive benefits at a fixed price.

The Clinton plan envisions an 80-20 cost split between employers and employees, with a typical plan expected to cost $1,800 a year for individuals, $3,700 for a single adult with children and $4,200 for families.

Employers would be required to pay up to 8.5 percent of their payroll to buy health policies for their workers. But small employers with fewer than 50 low-wage workers, larger companies with low-wage workers and low-wage workers themselves would be eligible for federal subsidies.

The administration is considering setting a contribution ceiling of 3.5 percent of payroll for the smallest companies, and a ceiling of 7.5 percent to 8.5 percent for larger companies eligible for subsidies. The net effect would be to make an employer's contribution less than 80 percent.

Emphasizing primary care, the standard benefits package would cover 70 to 75 preventive care services, including regular physicals, mammograms, childhood vaccinations and tests for lead poisoning, cholesterol tests and eye and ear examinations.

Also covered: Mental health benefits described as better than those in "most" plans offered by the largest companies, prescription drugs, dental care for children and eyeglasses for children. Some benefits would be phased in incrementally through the year 2000, such as long-term care and dental care for adults.

Federal Medicare benefits for the elderly would be enhanced by the addition of prescription drugs and long-term care, officials said.

by CNB