Cruz Pressed On O’Care Repeal: Is It OK That Millions Will Lose Coverage?

Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, right, answers a question as retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson listens during a Republican presidential primary debate, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, in Des Moines, ... Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, right, answers a question as retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson listens during a Republican presidential primary debate, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) MORE LESS
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After months that the 2016 GOP field has been vague on plans to replace Obamacare, despite their relentless chorus that they will repeal it, the moderators at Thursday’s Fox News asked a candidate –namely the candidate who shut down the government over Obamacare — whether he would be willing to let Americans lose their coverage without it.

“Today there are millions of people who gained health insurance from Obamacare and they now rely on it,” Megyn Kelly said, in a question directed towards Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). “If you repeal Obamacare, as you say you will, will you be fine if millions of people don’t have health insurance? And what is your specific plan for covering the uninsured?”

Cruz didn’t let an opportunity to reiterate his vow to dismantle the Affordable Care Act pass him by: “If I’m elected president, we will repeal every word of Obamacare,” he said.

But then, in terms of a “specific plan,” he offered three broad ideas that have been churning in Republican circles for years, and which experts generally agree fall far short of the sort of market-redefining reforms that Obamacare introduced to shrink the ranks of the uninsured.

First, he proposed allowing people to buy insurance plans across state lines. Secondly, he promised expanded health savings accounts. Finally he said, “we should work to delink health insurance from employment.”

“So if you lose your job, your health insurance goes with you, and it is personal, portable,” Cruz said. “I think that’s a much more attractive vision for health care than the Washington driven top down Obamacare that is causing so many millions to hurt.”

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Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for mcbain mcbain says:

    Since when is buying private health insurance in an open market considered a program being run top-down by the government?

  2. Avatar for ottis ottis says:

    So old people will die quicker. Who needs health insurance anyway?

  3. “So if you lose your job, your health insurance goes with you, and it is personal, portable,”

    Yeah, except for the part about losing your job and not having an income to pay for health care… unless… oh shit, did Cruz just suggest government-provided single-payer healthcare?! Of course not, he’s a douche… although a douche has a legitimate purpose that can benefit people… so a pile of dog shit instead?

  4. Finally he said, “we should work to delink health insurance from employment.”

    Which is what the ACA already does, sh*tbag.

  5. ARGHHHHH He should die a miserable death from cancer that bankrupts his family and throws his kids out on the street. This is what he’s essentially pledging to do to millions of people. Wretched, vile, hideous, evil creature.

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