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Tulsi Gabbard on Health Care
Democratic Presidential Challenger; HI Rep.
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We don't have a healthcare system; it's a sick-care system
Right now, we don't have a healthcare system. We have a sick care system, and there are far too many people who are sick and unable to get the care they need because they cannot afford it. If we're seeking to reform our healthcare system,
we've got to shut big insurance and big pharma out of the drafting process so they cannot continue to profit off the backs of the sick people in this country who are in desperate need of care.
Source: July Democratic Primary debate (second night in Detroit)
, Jul 31, 2019
Medicare-for-All will reduce bureaucratic costs
What we're talking about is our objective, 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 Medicare for all program, a program that will reduce the administrative costs, reduce the bureaucratic costs, and make sure that everyone gets that quality health care that they need.
Source: June Democratic Primary debate (first night in Miami)
, Jun 26, 2019
Supports Medicare for All; address prescription costs
It is unacceptable that we pay far more for health care than any other country in the world, yet we have far worse outcomes. Medicare-for-all would lower that cost of health care by taking out bloated administrative fees and the heavy profits that
insurance companies make on the backs of sick people. Medicare-for-all is not going to solve everything. We have to address the high cost of prescription drugs. Right now, Medicare can't negotiate with prescription drug companies.
Source: CNN Town Hall on 2020 Democratic presidential primary
, Mar 10, 2019
Supports Medicare-for-All but keep private insurance
Medicare For All: Supports.
Said that she doesn't want to eliminate private insurance.
Source: Axios.com "What you need to know about 2020"
, Mar 10, 2019
Supports Medicare-for-All; tax wealthiest 5% to pay for it
Gabbard co-sponsored a bill to create a government-run system to provide health care for all residents of the United States. That bill, "The Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act," would pay for health care by increasing taxes on the wealthiest
5 percent of Americans, create a progressive excise tax on payroll and self-employment, tax unearned income, and also tax stock and bond transactions (not just the gains from those transactions).
Source: PBS News hour on 2020 Presidential hopefuls
, Jan 14, 2019
Opposes repealing ObamaCare.
Gabbard opposes the PVS survey question on ObamaCare
Project Vote Smart infers candidate issue stances on key topics by summarizing public speeches and public statements. Congressional candidates are given the opportunity to respond in detail; about 11% did so in the 2012 races.
Project Vote Smart summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: 'Health Care: Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act?'
Source: Project Vote Smart 12-PVS-q5 on Aug 30, 2012
GOP can't beat ObamaCare, so they pretend it's a "disaster".
Gabbard voted NAY Full Repeal of ObamaCare
Heritage Action Summary: This vote would fully repeal ObamaCare.
Heritage Foundation recommendation to vote YES: (2/3/2015): ObamaCare creates $1.8 trillion in new health care spending and uses cuts to Medicare spending to help pay for some of it. Millions of Americans already have lost, and more likely will lose, their coverage because of ObamaCare. Many Americans have not been able to keep their doctors as insurers try to offset the added costs of ObamaCare by limiting the number of providers in their networks. In spite of the promise, the law increases the cost of health coverage.
Secretary of Labor Robert Reich recommendation to vote NO: (robertreich.org 11/22/2013): Having failed to defeat the Affordable Care Act, Republicans are now hell-bent on destroying the ObamaCare in Americans' minds, using the word "disaster" whenever mentioning the Act, and demand its repeal. Democrats [should] meet the Republican barrage with
three larger truths:
- The wreck of private insurance: Ours has been the only healthcare system in the world designed to avoid sick people. For-profit insurers have spent billions finding and marketing their policies to healthy people--while rejecting people with preexisting conditions, or at high risk.
- We could not continue with this travesty of a healthcare system: ObamaCare is a modest solution. It still relies on private insurers--merely setting minimum standards and "exchanges" where customers can compare policies.
- The moral imperative: Even a clunky compromise like the ACA between a national system of health insurance and a for-profit insurance market depends, fundamentally, on a social compact in which those who are healthier and richer are willing to help those who are sicker and poorer. Such a social compact defines a society.
Legislative outcome: Passed House 239-186-8; never came to a vote in the Senate.
Source: Supreme Court case 15-H0132 argued on Feb 3, 2015
Page last updated: Dec 14, 2019