A plan put forth by U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) to pay “Medicare for All” is “insane,” said U.S. Rep. Dr. Mark Green (R-TN-07), who added, “Earth to Senator Harris. Earth to Senator Harris.”
Green made the remarks on Fox News’ Outnumbered Overtime. The video is available here.
During a townhall meeting Monday in Iowa, Harris, a 2020 presidential candidate, vowed to eliminate private health insurance in order to enact “Medicare for all,” or a single-payer system, Outnumbered Overtime host Harris Faulkner said. That would eliminate the private insurance system for about 150 million Americans.
Faulkner played a clip of Harris saying medical care takes too long because doctors have to get approval from insurance companies and because of all the paperwork.
“Let’s eliminate all of that,” Harris said.
Green, who previously ran a medical staffing company, said Obamacare and Harris’ plan were “attacks” on the insurance market that would take away choices for the middle class. Obamacare has shifted higher costs onto the backs of small businesses. The nation cannot afford to eliminate the third-party payer system.
Green cited a study by Dr. Charles Blahous of the Mercatus Center of George Mason University showing that a single-payer system would cost $32.6 trillion over a decade. The study was based on the “Medicare for All” scheme hatched by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
Current plans to raise “green” taxes would only raise $700 billion, far short of what would be needed for single-payer, he said. Even if the government were to double taxes on every individual, there would not be enough money, Green said.
“Medicare for All” also would lead to rationed healthcare like in Canada, where he said an MRI can take six months to be approved. Meanwhile, Harris’ plan would create a “Cadillac” system for the wealthy who could afford to pay for the care they wanted, widening the “huge divide between the haves and the have-nots.”
Watch the full segment:
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Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.
Photo “Mark Green” by Fox News.
Pro Se Simonia MeChelle Thornton Cunningham vs…….call 901-340-5115 “That is a great idea Senator Kamala Harris. I am a Tennessean with a hurt azz, injured by a corporation, mis treated by Dr’s. Seeking justice, since 2015. I am in pain day & night, I AM a human being left to Die. My pain is real, my physical & mental pain is real. I have family elderly parents, a daughter & grand children & they need to give me the restitution I am in my rights to have right here in Tennessee. (R )Mark Green has a point that really matters.