WERE GOING TO TURN TO THE ISSUE OF HEALTH CARE RIGHT NOW.
OF HEALTH CARE RIGHT NOW. REALLY TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHERE
REALLY TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THERE MAY OR MAY NOT BE DAYLIGHT
THERE MAY OR MAY NOT BE DAYLIGHT BETWEEN YOU.
BETWEEN YOU.
MANY PEOPLE WATCHING AT HOME
HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE
THROUGH THEIR EMPLOYER.
WHO HERE WOULD ABOLISH THEIR
PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE IN
FAVOR OF A GOVERNMENT-RUN PLAN?
JUST A SHOW OF HANDS TO START
OFF WITH.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, SENATOR KLOBUCHAR, LET ME PUT THE QUESTION TO YOU. LET ME
PUT THE QUESTION TO YOU. YOURE ONE OF THE DEMOCRATS WHO
YOURE ONE OF THE DEMOCRATS WHO WANTS TO KEEP PRIVATE INSURANCE
WANTS TO KEEP PRIVATE INSURANCE
IN ADDITION TO A GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE PLAN.GOVERNMENT
HEALTH CARE PLAN. WHY IS AN INCREMENTAL APPROACH,
WHY IS AN INCREMENTAL APPROACH, IN YOUR VIEW, BETTER THAN A
IN YOUR VIEW, BETTER THAN A
SWEEPING OVERHAUL?
>> I THINK ITS A BOLD APPROACH.
ITS SOMETHING BARACK OBAMA
WANTED TO DO WHEN WE WERE
WORKING ON THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT.
AND THAT IS A PUBLIC OPTION.
I AM JUST SIMPLY CONCERNED ABOUT
KICKING HALF OF AMERICA OFF OF
THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE IN FOUR
YEARS, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT
THIS BILL SAYS.
SO LET ME GO ON BEYOND THAT.
THERES A MUCH BIGGER ISSUE, IN ADDITION TO THAT, AND THAT ISN
ADDITION TO THAT, AND THAT IS PHARMACEUTICALS.
PHARMACEUTICALS.
THE PRESIDENT LITERALLY WENT ON
TV ON FOX AND SAID THAT PEOPLES
HEADS WOULD SPIN WHEN THEYD SEE
HOW MUCH HI WOULD BRING DOWN
PHARMACEUTICAL PRICES.
INSTEAD 2,500 DRUGS HAVE GONE UP
IN DOUBLE DIGITS SINCE HE CAME
INTO OFFICE.
INSTEAD, HE GAVE $100 BILLION IN
GIVEAWAYS TO THE PHARMA
COMPANIES.
FOR THE REST OF US, FOR THE REST OF AMERICA, THATS WHAT WE CALLST
OF AMERICA, THATS WHAT WE CALL AT HOME ALL FOAM AND NO BEER.
AT HOME ALL FOAM AND NO BEER. WE GOT NOTHING OUT OF IT.
WE GOT NOTHING OUT OF IT. MY PROPOSAL IS TO DO SOMETHING
MY PROPOSAL IS TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT PHARMA, TAKE THEM ON,
ALLOW NEGOTIATION UNDER
MEDICARE, TO BRING IN LESS
EXPENSIVE DRUGS FROM OTHER
COUNTRIES AND PHARMACIES WILL
SAY TO WASHINGTON, YOU DONT OWN
ME.
>> YOUR TIME IS UP.
THANK YOU.
SENATOR WARREN, YOU SIGNED ON TO
BERNIE SANDERS MEDICARE FOR ALL
PLAN.
IT WOULD PUT ESSENTIALLY
EVERYBODY ON MEDICARE AND THEN ELIMINATE PRIVATE PLANS THATEN
ELIMINATE PRIVATE PLANS THAT OFFER SIMILAR COVERAGE.
OFFER SIMILAR COVERAGE. IS THAT THE PLAN, OR PATH, YOU
IS THAT THE PLAN, OR PATH, YOU WOULD PURSUE AS PRESIDENT?
WOULD PURSUE AS PRESIDENT?
>> SO, YES, IM WITH BERNIE ON
MEDICARE FOR ALL AND LET ME TELL
YOU WHY.
I SPENT A BIG CHUNK OF MY LIFE
STUDYING WHY FAMILIES GO BROKE
AND ONE OF THE NUMBER-ONE
REASONS IS THE COST OF HEALTH
CARE.
MEDICAL BILLS.
AND THATS NOT JUST FOR PEOPLE WHO DONT HAVE INSURANCE.EOPLE
WHO DONT HAVE INSURANCE. ITS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE
ITS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE INSURANCE.
INSURANCE. LOOK AT THE BUSINESS MODEL OF AN
LOOK AT THE BUSINESS MODEL OF AN INSURANCE COMPANY.
INSURANCE COMPANY.
ITS TO BRING IN AS MANY DOLLARS AS THEY CAN IN PREMIUMS AND TOS
AS THEY CAN IN PREMIUMS AND TO PAY OUT AS FEW DOLLARS AS
PAY OUT AS FEW DOLLARS AS POSSIBLE FOR YOUR HEALTH CARE.
POSSIBLE FOR YOUR HEALTH CARE.
THAT LEAVES FAMILIES WITH RISING
PREMIUMS, RISING CO-PAYS, AND
FIGHTING WITH INSURANCE
COMPANIES TO TRY TO GET THE HEALTH CARE THAT THEIR DOCTORS
HEALTH CARE THAT THEIR DOCTORS SAY THAT THEY AND THEIR CHILDREN
SAY THAT THEY AND THEIR CHILDREN
NEED.
MEDICARE FOR ALL SOLVES THAT PROBLEM. FOR ALL SOLVES THAT
PROBLEM. AND I UNDERSTAND, THERE ARE A
AND I UNDERSTAND, THERE ARE A
LOT OF POLITICIANS WHO SAY, OH, ITS JUST NOT POSSIBLE, WE JUST,
ITS JUST NOT POSSIBLE, WE JUST CANT DO IT, WE HAVE A LOT OF
CANT DO IT, WE HAVE A LOT OF
POLITICAL REASONS FOR THIS.
WHAT THEYRE REALLY TELLING YOU IS THEY JUST WONT FIGHT FOR IT.
IS THEY JUST WONT FIGHT FOR IT. WELL, HEALTH CARE IS A BASIC
WELL, HEALTH CARE IS A BASIC
HUMAN RIGHT AND I WILL FIGHT FOR BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS.ILL FIGHT FOR
BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. >> CONGRESSMAN -- CONGRESSMAN
>> CONGRESSMAN -- CONGRESSMAN
OROURKE, WHEN YOU RAN FOR
SENATE, YOU ALSO PRAISED A BILL
THAT WOULD REPLACE PRIVATE
INSURANCE.
THIS YEAR, YOURE SAYING YOURE
NO LONGER SURE.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY? >> MY GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT
>> MY GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY AMERICAN IS WELL ENOUGH TO
EVERY AMERICAN IS WELL ENOUGH TO
LIVE TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL
BECAUSE THEY HAVE HEALTH CARE. IN LOREDO, TEXAS, I MET A YOUNG
IN LOREDO, TEXAS, I MET A YOUNG MAN, 27 YEARS OLD, TOLD ME HED
MAN, 27 YEARS OLD, TOLD ME HED
BEEN TO A DOCTOR ONCE IN HIS
LIFE.
ON THAT VISIT HE WAS TOLD HE HAD
DIABETES, TOLD HE HAD GLAUCOMA
AND HE WAS TOLD UNTREATED
BECAUSE HE DOESNT HAVE HEALTH
CARE, HELL BE DEAD BEFORE THE
AGE OF 40.
SO GETTING TO GUARANTEED
HIGH-QUALITY UNIVERSAL HEALTH
CARE AS QUICKLY AND SURELY AS
POSSIBLE HAS TO BE OUR GOAL.
THE ABILITY TO AFFORD YOUR
PRESCRIPTIONS AND GO TO A
PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER. THE ABILITY TO SEE A MENTAL
THE ABILITY TO SEE A MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.
TEXAS, THE SINGLE LARGEST
PROVIDER OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE
SERVICES IS THE COUNTY JAIL
SYSTEM TODAY.
AND HEALTH CARE ALSO HAS TO MEAN
THAT EVERY WOMAN CAN MAKE HER OWN DECISIONS ABOUT HER OWN BODY
OWN DECISIONS ABOUT HER OWN BODY AND HAS ACCESS TO THE CARE THAT
AND HAS ACCESS TO THE CARE THAT
MAKES THAT POSSIBLE.
OUR PLAN SAYS THAT IF YOURE UNINSURED, WE ENROLL YOU IN
UNINSURED, WE ENROLL YOU IN MEDICARE.
MEDICARE. IF YOURE INSUFFICIENTLY
IF YOURE INSUFFICIENTLY INSURED, CANT AFFORD YOUR
INSURED, CANT AFFORD YOUR
PREMIUM
PREMIUMS, WE ENROLL YOU IN
MEDICARE
MEDICARE.
IF YOURE A MEMBER OF A UNION,
NEGOTIATED FOR A HEALTH CARE
PLAN THAT WORKS FOR YOU AND YOUR
FAME,
FAMILY, YOURE ABLE TO KEEP IT.
>> TIME IS UP, CONGRESSMAN.
I WANT TO ASK A FOLLOW-UP ON
THIS.
JUST TO BE VERY CLEAR.
ILL GIVE YOU TEN SECONDS.
WOULD YOU REPLACE PRIVATE
INSURANCE?
>> NO.
I THINK THE CHOICE IS
FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR --
>> NO, NO -- PRIVATE INSURANCE IS NOT WORKING FOR TENS OFANCE
IS NOT WORKING FOR TENS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS.
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CO-PAYS,
THE DEDUCTIBLES, THE PREMIUMS, THE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES, ITS
THE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES, ITS NOT WORKING.
NOT WORKING.
>> THATS RIGHT, SO FOR THOSE
WHO ARE NOT WORKING, THEY CAN CHOOSE MEDICARE.ING, THEY CAN
CHOOSE MEDICARE. >> CONGRESSMAN --
>> CONGRESSMAN --
>> FOR THE --
>> YOU GOT DO START BY
ACKNOWLEDGING IT IS NOT WORKING
IF RFOR PEOPLE.
>> THEYRE ABLE TO KEEP THEM.
>> THEY LIKE THEIR PRIVATE
HEALTH INSURANCE, BY THE WAY, IT
SHOULD BE NOTED 100 MILLION
AMERICANS -- I MEAN, I THINK WE
SHOULD BE THE PARTY THAT KEEPS
WHATS WORKING AND FIXES WHATS
BROKEN.
I MEAN, DOESNT THAT MAKE SENSE?
I MEAN, WE SHOULD GIVE EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY HEALTH CARE AS A
IN THIS COUNTRY HEALTH CARE AS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT FOR FREE.
BASIC HUMAN RIGHT FOR FREE.
FULL STOP. BUT WE SHOULD ALSO GIVE THEM THE
BUT WE SHOULD ALSO GIVE THEM THE OPTION TO BUY PRIVATE INSURANCE.
OPTION TO BUY PRIVATE INSURANCE.
WHY DO WE HAVE TO STAND FOR
TAKING AWAY SOMETHING FROM
PEOPLE?
AND ALSO ITS BAD POLICY, IF YOU GO TO EVERY HOSPITAL IN THISYOU
GO TO EVERY HOSPITAL IN THIS COUNTRY AND YOU ASK THEM ONE
COUNTRY AND YOU ASK THEM ONE QUESTION, WHICH IS HOW WOULD IT
QUESTION, WHICH IS HOW WOULD IT HAVE BEEN FOR YOU LAST YEAR IF
HAVE BEEN FOR YOU LAST YEAR IF EVERY ONE OF YOUR BILLS WERE
EVERY ONE OF YOUR BILLS WERE
PAID AT THE MEDICARE RATE?
EVERY SINGLE HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR SAID THEY WOULD
ADMINISTRATOR SAID THEY WOULD CLOSE.
CLOSE. AND THE MEDICARE FOR ALL BILL
AND THE MEDICARE FOR ALL BILL REQUIRES PAYMENTS TO STAY AT
REQUIRES PAYMENTS TO STAY AT
CURRENT MEDICARE RATES. SO TO SOME EXTENT, WERE
SO TO SOME EXTENT, WERE BASICALLY SUPPORTING A BILL THAT
BASICALLY SUPPORTING A BILL THAT
WILL HAVE EVERY HOSPITAL
CLOSING. I MEAN, MY DAD WAS A UNION
I MEAN, MY DAD WAS A UNION ELECTRICIAN.
ELECTRICIAN.
RIGHT?
I ACTUALLY GREW UP IN A
WORKING-F CLASS FAMILY. HE LOVED THE HEALTH CARE THE
HE LOVED THE HEALTH CARE THE IEBW GAVE HIM.
IEBW GAVE HIM.
I THINK ABOUT MY DAD AND
ANYTHING I WOULD DO FROM A
POLICY PERSPECTIVE. HED LOOK AT ME AND SAY, GOOD
HED LOOK AT ME AND SAY, GOOD JOB, JOHN, FOR GETTING HEALTH
JOB, JOHN, FOR GETTING HEALTH
CARE FOR EVERY AMERICAN.
WHY ARE YOU TAKING MY HEALTH
CARE AWAY?
>> LET THIS PLAY OUT. IM FASCINATED TO HEAR THE
IM FASCINATED TO HEAR THE DAYLIGHT BETWEEN YOU.
DAYLIGHT BETWEEN YOU. CONGRESSWOMAN GABBARD, WEIGH IN
CONGRESSWOMAN GABBARD, WEIGH IN HERE.
HERE.
>> YOURE TALKING ABOUT THIS IN
THE WRONG WAY.
TALKING ABOUT ONE BILL OVER
ANOTHER BILL.
REALLY WHAT WERE TALKING ABOUT
IS OUR OBJECTIVES.
MAKING SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE
SICK AMERICAN IN THIS COUNTRY IS
ABLE TO GET THE HEALTH CARE THAT
THEY NEED.
I BELIEVE MEDICARE FOR ALL IS
THE WAY TO DO THAT.
I ALSO THINK THAT EMPLOYERS WILL
RECOGNIZE HOW MUCH MONEY WILL BE SAVED BY SUPPORTING A MEDICAREBE
SAVED BY SUPPORTING A MEDICARE FOR ALL PROGRAM.
FOR ALL PROGRAM.
A PROGRAM THAT WILL REDUCE THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, REDUCE THE
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, REDUCE THE BUREAUCRATIC COSTS AND MAKE SURE
BUREAUCRATIC COSTS AND MAKE SURE
EVERYONE GETS THAT QUALITY
HEALTH CARE THAT THEY NEED. I ALSO THINK IF YOU LOOK AT
I ALSO THINK IF YOU LOOK AT OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD WHO
OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD WHO HAVE UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE,
HAVE UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE,
EVERY ONE OF THEM HAS SOME FORM OF A ROLE OF PRIVATE INSURANCE.
OF A ROLE OF PRIVATE INSURANCE. I THINK THATS WHAT WEVE GOT TO
I THINK THATS WHAT WEVE GOT TO
LOOK AT. TAKING THE BEST OF THESE IDEAS.
TAKING THE BEST OF THESE IDEAS. MAKING SURE UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT
MAKING SURE UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT NO SICK AMERICAN GOES WITHOUT
NO SICK AMERICAN GOES WITHOUT
GETTING THE CARE THEY NEED REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH OR LITTLE
REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH OR LITTLE MONEY THEY HAVE IN THEIR
MONEY THEY HAVE IN THEIR
POCKETS. >> CONGRESSWOMAN, LET ME TURN TO
>> CONGRESSWOMAN, LET ME TURN TO SENATOR BOOKER ON THIS.
SENATOR BOOKER ON THIS. SENATOR BOOKER, EXPLAIN TO ME
SENATOR BOOKER, EXPLAIN TO ME
WHERE YOU ARE.
THIS IS HUGELY IMPORTANT TO PEEK PEOPLE. HUGELY IMPORTANT TO PEEK
PEOPLE.
TELL US WHERE YOU ARE. >> COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE,
>> COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE, LOW-INCOME ISSUES, ITS AN
LOW-INCOME ISSUES, ITS AN EDUCATION ISSUE, KIDS WHO DONT
EDUCATION ISSUE, KIDS WHO DONT HAVE HEALTH CARE ARE NOT GOING
HAVE HEALTH CARE ARE NOT GOING TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL.
TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL.
IT IS AN ISSUE FOR JOBS AND EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE PEOPLE THAT
EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE PEOPLE THAT DO NOT HAVE GOOD HEALTH CARE DO
DO NOT HAVE GOOD HEALTH CARE DO
NOT SUCCEED AT WORK. ITS EVEN A RETIREMENT ISSUE
ITS EVEN A RETIREMENT ISSUE BECAUSE IN MY COMMUNITY,
BECAUSE IN MY COMMUNITY,
AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE A LOWER
LIFE EXPECTANCY BECAUSE OF
POORER HEALTH CARE.
SO WHERE I STAND IS VERY CLEAR.
HEALTH CARE IS NOT JUST A HUMAN
RIGHT, IT SHOULD BE AN AMERICAN
RIGHT.
AND I BELIEVE THE BEST WAY TO
GET THERE IS MEDICARE FOR ALL, BUT I HAVE AN URGENCY ABOUTLL,
BUT I HAVE AN URGENCY ABOUT
THIS.
.
WHEN I AM PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES IM NOT GOING TO
WAIT.
WE HAVE TO DO THE THINGS
IMMEDIATELY THAT ARE GOING TO
PROVIDE BETTER CARE.
AND ON THIS DEBATE, IM SORRY, THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLERRY,
THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE PROFITEERING OFF OF THE PAIN OF
PROFITEERING OFF OF THE PAIN OF
PEOPLE IN AMERICA, FROM
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES TO
INSURERS.
LITERALLY, THE OVERHEAD FOR INSURERS THAT THEY CHARGE IS 15%
INSURERS THAT THEY CHARGE IS 15% WHILE MEDICARES OVERHEAD IS
WHILE MEDICARES OVERHEAD IS
ONLY AT 2%. WE CAN DO THIS BETTER AND EVERY
WE CAN DO THIS BETTER AND EVERY SINGLE DAY ILL BE FIGHTING TO
SINGLE DAY ILL BE FIGHTING TO GIVE PEOPLE MORE ACCESS AND MORE