Paul Legislation Calls for Major Health Care Reform PDF Print E-mail
FOR RELEASE: April 14, 2000

Paul Legislation Calls for Major Health Care Reform Bill Would Help Those Who Face Cancer/Terminal Illnesses

Washington, DC - Congressman Ron Paul has introduced sweeping legislation aimed at assisting the terminally ill, and those stricken with cancer, to meet the financial burdens of health care costs resulting from their illnesses.
Paul's bill, "The Cancer and Terminal Illness Patient Health Care Act" (HR 4265), would exempt all persons diagnosed with cancer or another terminal illness from the employee portion of payroll taxes, for as long as they continue to suffer from the illness or have significant costs resulting there from.
"When employees are stricken with a grave illness, they need the love and support of their family and friends as well as the best health care they can get. As a doctor who has specialized in women's health issues for decades, and as a member of Congress, I decided to introduce this legislation to make sure that cancer patients as well as those who suffer from terminal illnesses, will have the resources available to them to combat these illnesses."
Paul said his bill would allow such individuals to keep their resources for those purposes without adversely affecting their ability to collect benefits. "Rather than forcing people who are in such dire situations to continue paying taxes for a retirement they may never live to see we need to free up resources for them now, without any penalty accruing to them if they can beat these terrible diseases. I have spoken with patients who have suffered from these illnesses, which put such a terrible strain on them and their loved ones. Even when they have health care coverage (and many do not), they still incur all kinds of costs ranging from transportation to and from care centers and certain prescription drugs which may not be fully covered, to hiring sitters to watch their children while they receive treatment. The list is nearly endless."
Paul said that if the disease goes into remission and all related costs are paid, the employee would again resume paying the payroll tax. "This is a conservative program designed to reduce the tax burden of those fighting these dreaded illnesses. We need to offer compassion to those who suffer, but we also owe it to them to stop taking away the resources which can help people beat breast cancer, AIDS or other terrible health problems."