Joni Ernst on Health Care

Medicare-for-All would bankrupt rural health care systems

Ernst: The Democrats' plan, which would eventually lead us to Medicare for all, would actually bankrupt about 52 of our rural health care systems. So I think that there are ways to address the issues. But certainly putting our rural constituents on the hook is not the way to do it. We are seeing OBGYN's leave the rural areas already because of low Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements.

Greenfield: I don't support Medicare-for-all. But I do support strengthening and enhancing the Affordable Care Act, making sure that everyone has health care and in addition to that building in a public option which creates competition and brings down those prices. Senator Joni Ernst did the exact opposite. She voted multiple times to end the Affordable Care Act, devastating health care for so many Iowans who rely on coverage for pre-existing conditions, about 1.3 million Iowans.

Replace ACA but provide "backstop" for expensive cases

Ernst: One of the plans I supported was a bipartisan plan which would provide a government backstop for those that have the most expensive medical cases, those that do have pre-existing conditions. Making sure that the federal government is caring for those and providing equal access to health care products, making sure that they are affordable, that should be the federal government's role.

Greenfield: I believe health care is a right and we need to make sure that everyone has access to high quality and affordable health care. The way to do that is to strengthen and enhance the Affordable Care Act, build in a public option, creating competition, bringing down those prices, and saving taxpayers about $500 billion.

COVID: I wear a mask in public, but mandate is unenforceable

Failed mindset gave us policies like ObamaCare

We'll keep fighting to repeal and replace a health care law that's hurt so many hardworking families.

ObamaCare is egregious overreach of federal government

Ernst: Strongly Disagree

Question topic: The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) should be repealed by Congress.

Ernst: Strongly Agree. Affordable Care Act: A clearly egregious overreach of federal government.

Question topic: Briefly list political or legislative issues of most concern to you.

Ernst: Affordable Care Act- A clearly egregious overreach of federal government.

FactCheck: False claim that ObamaCare cut Medicare benefits

Ernst's low point was "stubbornly pushing the claim that ObamaCare cut Medicare benefits, an argument repeatedly debunked by nonpartisan fact checkers, and her confusion on a question about current 'job-killing' regulations, where she cited cap-and-trade, which is not law," a pundit said.

Voted against Medicaid expansion in Iowa

Staunchly opposed to ObamaCare