European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 13, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Pago 4 the stars and stripes Friday february 13.1987 Reagan proposes catastrophic health plan Washington a president Reagan thurs Day proposed Llumi Congress give 3d million elderly americans thai last full measure of Security by pro Viding Calass Roohk health care under social Security. The plan adding $4.92 to recipients s17.90 monthly part a Premium would limit out of pocket Hospi Tal and doctor expenses to 12,000 a year. But the catastrophic Cal in care insurance would still not cover such expenses As prescription drugs Eye or dental care or Long term nursing Home care. Reagan s decision represented a Victory for the Secretary of health and human services Otis r. Bowen and a defeat for the private health insurance Industry. The topic had been the subject of intense debate among Reagan s Domestic policy advisers. Do Wen noting that he had presented his ideas sever Al limes to Reagan commented after the White House announcement. I am Happy to say that As of 10 o clock this morning they arc now the Reagan  Bowen said he did not believe the insurance Indus try would be hurl by the plan and added that by sell ing Medigap insurance to cover the 52,000 deductible i think the Industry can be  presidential spokesman Marlin Fitzmaier who announced Reagan s decision to Back the Bowen plan. Mid legislation would be drafted and sent to the con Gress soon. He noted wide bipartisan interest in the catastrophic health care problem on Capitol Hill and added there will be a Lively debate but i expect legislation to pass and i think he Reagan plan will be inc basis for that  shortly after the announcement Reagan sneaking to a Lincoln s birthday gathering of Junior High Stu dents told the group i m sure each of you has parents or grandparents or knows others who Are facing the crisis of catastrophic illness. The proposal i m announcing today is a giant step Forward in helping those who before now would have had to make a Choice Between financial ruin and death. With the Protection that this plan would provide senior Citi Zens will now be Safe from inc worst tear of old age having i hair life savings taken away to pay the costs for an acute care due to a catastrophic  the president in his stale of the Union address last month said he wanted to Sec How the private sector and government can work together to limit medicare recipients Oul of pocket expenses. A fact Sheet released by inc while House said that under the proposal inc part b medicare Premium which is voluntary and now generally covers doctor Bills would be increased by $4.92 a month or $59 a year to insure medicare beneficiaries against expenses of More than j2,000 a year for Hospital and doctor Bills. Under the current medicare Hospital insurance pro Gram which is financed by social Security tax deductions Only the second through 60th Days of a Hospital slay arc covered. The first Day must be paid by the patient or private insurance As Well As anything beyond 60 Days a year. Fitzwater maintained thai the proposal would pay for itself through the higher premiums and was consistent with the Reagan philosophy of providing cover age where possible at the lowest possible Cost Houston police officer Bobby Lett Sils in court with his partner Duke during the trial of a Man accused of shooting witnesses in court Al a Houston police officer. Lott and Duke on tuesday demonstrated How inc dog cornered a suspect. Group urging voluntary truth in savings rules Washington up1 the nation s largest credit Union group launched a voluntary program wednes Day thai would detail exactly How much interest credit Union customers can sex Peel to earn from i hair accounts. The truth in savings program unveiled by the credit Union National association also would have credit unions Tell depositors the exact terms of their accounts including a list of fees imposed for operations and penalties assessed for withdrawals. The program in effect would have credit unions do voluntarily just about everything they and most other financial institutions would be required to do under truth in sayings legislation thai has been debated in Congress in recent years. Association chairman Joe Perkowski said he hoped his group s program be comes the Standard so " Here really should t be a need for legislation. Perkowski who also is president of the Minneapolis Federal employees credit Union said the truth in savings philosophy would prevail in All credit Union advertisements and promotions. It would run counter to the deceptive ads some competitors run he said. For example a financial institution might lure Consumers to its individual retirement account by advertising an annual yield that is a Cal above the mar Ket yield without also advertising that the High yield is Only Good for the first 30 multiple credit cards what customers owe average Al monthly balances in Dollar one card $524 $m8 three cards 1 1,562 Chicago Tribuno graphic source Bank credit card observer Days Ofa 36-Momh account he said. Another financial institution might Promise High rates on a Rno Nev Market account without adding thai there is a strict limit on the number of withdrawals thai a consumer May make from such an account Perkowski added. In Short Rales Aren t inc Only feature of a savings program thai a consumer should be concerned  Bush unconcerned by scandal s effect on candidacy Lansing Mich. A vice president George Bush thursday conceded the Iran Contra controversy has probably damaged his unannounced presidential Campaign but said he s unconcerned because i know i have nothing to hide speaking 01 a news conference. Bush said. I think probably it s nun some because when it s there you Don t run for cover. You tale the flak you Lake inc Good with the  Bush declined to say what action if any he look Afler a meeting last summer in Jerusalem at which israeli Amiram Nir Lold him americans were dealing with Radical a la mems in Iran rather Ihan moderates As president Reagan has claimed. Bush also conceded there is a perception of Swap Ping arms for Noeages and added if that perception proves accurate such a Swap certainly would be  but he said he s not prepared to say whether thai occurred. I know the president feels in his heart he did t authorize  Bush said. Asked about rumours of an israeli Deal to Exchange Arab prisoners for american and other foreign hos tages in Lebanon Bush said we Don t believe in swapping and Israel is free to do its thing bul we Don t endorse that  Bush also praised former National Security adviser Robert Mcfarlane who is hospitalized after what police say was an attempted suicide by drug overdose Mcfarland accompanied one plane Load of weapons to Iran last May. "1 d love to be the beneficiary of his advice in the future Bush said. Bush is on a two Day trip to the Midwest and while in a political speech on wednesday night he did not discuss the ran con Ira controversy it dominated thursday s news con Fere net. If i m going to take the credit for the Good things. Then i be go to be Man enough to take the Assoc a Lional guilt that has come with the Iran Contra controversy. Bush said some of the coven activity did Noi Fol Low the kind of procedures i think arc Bucsi bul he did not elaborate. Bush also refused As he always does to say what advice he has provided the president on the subject. The vice president said he did not recall precisely when he first Learned about the Sale of arms to Iran. On his political plans he said a Bush for president committee will be Sei up in inc Noii couple of weeks although he does t expect to make a formal Declara Tion of his candidacy until the fall. Bush s two slate trip is the leading Edge of a series of forays in the next several weeks in which the vice president will be i Ryhter to protect his standing As front runner in the Early going for the 1988 Republican presidential nomination. In recent months the vice president has seen Senate minority Leader Bob Dole k-k.an., narrow the Gap in Public opinion polls. The change has occurred at the same time As he controversy has unfolded concerning the secret Sale of . Arms 10 Iran and apparent diver Sion of profits to Contra rebels battling the nicaraguan government. Dole whose top political consultant said wednes Day that he soon will announce the formation of a presidential exploratory committee said wednesday night in Kansas City that he would not use the Iran Cymru Issue to Lake advantage of Bush. Still pole said "1 Don t think 1 benefited and i Dpn l think the vice president has been Hurt by the disclosures