On Sept. 22, President Clinton unveils a health care reform plan aimed at providing all Americans with health coverage.
Under the Clinton plan, drafted in large part through the efforts of first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, every American would receive a health care security card entitling that person to a standard package of benefits. The plan would include the estimated 37 million Americans who have no health insurance.
The health security plan would establish a system of managed competition. Clinton said it would cost the federal government $350 billion over seven years. It would be funded with savings from Medicare and Medicaid cuts as well as new "sin" taxes on products like tobacco.
As the year ended , the debate on how to reform the health care system continued to rage on capitol hill.
