CSPAN2 — Washington Journal Yvette Fontenot
20260812 204100 UTC
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[00:00:00] GUBERNATORIAL CONTESTS FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TO ELECTION
[00:00:04] NIGHT. FOLLOW CAMPAIGN 2026 ON
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[00:01:26] >> JOINING US NOW TO DISCUSS HEALTH CARE AND CAMPAIGN, 2026
[00:01:30] IS YVETTE FONTENOT, SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR AT PROTECT OUR
[00:01:33] CARE. AND A FORMER SENIOR OBAMA ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL ON
[00:01:36] HEALTH CARE. YVETTE, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
[00:01:39] APPRECIATE IT. >> FIRST, FOR OUR AUDIENCE, TELL
[00:01:42] US ABOUT PROTECT OUR CARE, YOUR MISSION, AND HOW YOU'RE FUNDED.
[00:01:45] >> SURE. HAPPY TO PROTECT OUR CARE IS A SOCIAL WELFARE
[00:01:49] NONPROFIT THAT'S DEDICATED TO
[00:01:52] MAKING HIGH QUALITY, AFFORDABLE, AND EQUITABLE HEALTH CARE A RIGHT AND NOT A PRIVILEGE. A
[00:01:57] PRIVILEGE FOR EVERYONE IN AMERICA. PROTECT OUR CARE
[00:02:01] EDUCATES THE PUBLIC, INFLUENCES
[00:02:04] POLICY, SUPPORTS HEALTH CARE, CHAMPIONS, AND HOLDS POLITICIANS
[00:02:07] ACCOUNTABLE. WE FIGHT TO EXPAND ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, HIGH
[00:02:10] QUALITY HEALTH INSURANCE TO LOWER THE COST OF HEALTH CARE
[00:02:13] FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, AND TO REDUCE INEQUITIES IN
[00:02:17] HEALTH CARE BASED ON GENDER,
[00:02:20] INCOME, RACE, ETHNICITY,
[00:02:22] GEOGRAPHY, OR SEXUAL PREFERENCE. WE TAKE FUNDING FROM A MIXTURE
[00:02:26] OF PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS AND INDIVIDUAL DONORS. >> I WANT TO ASK YOU SPECIFICALLY ABOUT YOUR SUPPORT.
[00:02:30] I KNOW YOU SAID THAT YOU SUPPORT EXPANDING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE,
[00:02:33] BUT A LOT OF THINGS ARE IN CONVERSATION WHEN IT COMES TO
[00:02:37] THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS, LIKE
[00:02:40] SINGLE PAYER OR MEDICARE FOR ALL. I WONDER, DO YOU GUYS, WHICH ONE OF THOSE DO YOU
[00:02:44] SUPPORT? DO YOU SUPPORT MARKETPLACE HEALTH CARE? WHERE
[00:02:47] DOES PROTECT OUR CARE LAND ON THE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE
[00:02:51] HAPPENING, PARTICULARLY WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TODAY? >> YEAH, LET ME JUST SAY, JUST
[00:02:54] TO BACK UP THAT WE THINK FOR THE
[00:02:56] MIDTERM, HEALTH CARE COSTS HAVE OVERTAKEN THE TOP FINANCIAL
[00:03:00] CONCERNS FOR AMERICANS AHEAD OF FOOD, HOUSING AND GAS PRICES,
[00:03:03] WHICH ARE ALL AFFORDABILITY
[00:03:07] CONCERNS. BUT ACCORDING TO PLACES LIKE KFF.
[00:03:11] >> 64% OF AMERICANS ARE WORRIED ABOUT PAYING FOR HEALTH CARE, A
[00:03:14] TOPPING THE LIST OF THEIR AFFORDABILITY CONCERNS,
[00:03:16] ACCORDING TO GALLUP. A THIRD OF AMERICANS REPORT CUTTING BACK ON
[00:03:20] DAILY EXPENSES, SUCH AS SKIPPING MEALS AND DRIVING LESS, OR
[00:03:23] REDUCING UTILITY USE TO AFFORD HEALTH CARE. AND FINALLY,
[00:03:27] ACCORDING TO AXIOS, A MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SAY THEY'RE MORE
[00:03:30] LIKELY TO VOTE FOR CANDIDATES THAT SUPPORT LOWERING HEALTH CARE COSTS. WE KNOW THAT
[00:03:34] DEMOCRATS HOLD A 21 POINT
[00:03:38] ADVANTAGE OVER REPUBLICANS ON HEALTH CARE, BECAUSE WE'VE
[00:03:41] DELIVERED ON LOWER PREMIUMS, EXPANDING COVERAGE AND LOWERING
[00:03:45] DRUG COSTS, WHICH RANKS AMONGST THE TOP CONCERNS FOR PEOPLE. AND
[00:03:48] IN CONTRAST, WE KNOW THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S HANDLING OF
[00:03:51] HEALTH CARE LANDED THEM 36
[00:03:54] POINTS UNDERWATER. I THINK, IN
[00:03:56] TERMS OF, UH, WHAT PEOPLE WANT,
[00:03:59] WHAT THE VOTERS WANT, AND WHAT THEY REALLY CARE ABOUT IS THAT
[00:04:02] THEY CAN GET THE SAME QUALITY OF CARE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR
[00:04:06] INCOME, THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY GET THE MEDICATIONS THEY NEED
[00:04:10] AND BE ABLE TO AFFORD THEM, THAT THEY CAN GET THE CARE THEIR
[00:04:13] DOCTOR RECOMMENDS, THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO AFFORD INSURANCE WITHOUT HAVING TO MAKE CUTS IN THE REST
[00:04:17] OF THEIR FAMILY BUDGET, AND
[00:04:19] AFFORD THE CARE THAT THEY NEED.
[00:04:21] SO TO DO THAT, DEMOCRATIC
[00:04:23] MEMBERS OF THE RELEVANT COMMITTEES HAVE PROPOSED
[00:04:26] EXPANDING THE MEDICARE NEGOTIATED PRICES TO ALL
[00:04:30] CONSUMERS, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY GET THEIR HEALTH CARE,
[00:04:33] CAPPING AND LIMITING PEOPLE'S OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS. WE NEED TO
[00:04:37] RESTORE THE TRILLION DOLLARS IN MEDICAID CUTS THAT WERE MADE IN
[00:04:40] THE THE ONE, THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL, AS IT'S BEEN CALLED. WE
[00:04:44] NEED TO PROVIDE AMERICANS WITH UNBIASED INFORMATION ABOUT
[00:04:48] ENROLLMENT, AND WE NEED TO RESTORE THE TAX CREDITS THAT
[00:04:52] LOWERED HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR PEOPLE WHO BUY COVERAGE ON THEIR OWN, WHERE
[00:04:54] WHERE THEY WHERE AMERICAN VOTERS
[00:04:57] COME OUT ON THE LARGER POLICY QUESTIONS OF SINGLE PAYER,
[00:05:00] MEDICARE FOR ALL. WE'LL GET TO ALL OF THAT. THAT'LL BE A
[00:05:04] BALLOT BOX ISSUE, BUT WE NEED TO TAKE THESE FUNDAMENTAL STEPS TO
[00:05:06] ENSURE THAT AMERICANS HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE AGAIN.
[00:05:10] >> UM, I WANT TO DRILL DOWN A LITTLE BIT ON THE PRESIDENT AND
[00:05:13] WHAT HE HAS DONE. HEALTH CARE. HE'S STARTED SAYING THAT HE
[00:05:17] WILL ASK CONGRESS TO PASS HIS
[00:05:20] GREAT HEALTH CARE PLAN. BUT I
[00:05:23] WONDER WHAT IMPACT HAS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ALREADY HAD ON
[00:05:27] HEALTH CARE. YOU SPOKE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT. WHEN IT COMES TO THAT ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL,
[00:05:30] OBVIOUSLY, THAT HAD SOME MEDICARE COMPONENTS, BUT I
[00:05:34] WONDER WRIT LARGE WHAT IMPACT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS HAD ON
[00:05:37] HEALTH CARE. >> YEAH, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
[00:05:40] SO I MENTIONED IN THE ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL, THEY CUT $1
[00:05:44] TRILLION FROM THE MEDICAID PROGRAM THAT IS THE LARGEST HEALTH CARE CUT THAT WE'VE SEEN
[00:05:48] IN HISTORY. AND THE POINT, THE PURPOSE OF IT WAS TO GIVE TAX
[00:05:52] CUTS TO BILLIONAIRES AND
[00:05:55] CORPORATIONS. AND JUST TO REMIND
[00:05:57] THE VIEWERS, THE MEDICAID PROGRAM PAYS FOR 6 IN 10 SENIORS
[00:06:01] IN NURSING HOMES. IT COVERS 4 IN
[00:06:05] 10 MOMS GIVING BIRTH. IT COVERS
[00:06:08] NEARLY HALF OF THE CHILDREN IN AMERICA, AND A QUARTER OF RURAL
[00:06:11] AMERICA. SO THIS IS A CRITICAL
[00:06:14] HEALTH CARE PROGRAM. THEY TOOK $1 TRILLION OUT OF THIS HEALTH
[00:06:18] CARE PROGRAM, AND THEY DOUBLED
[00:06:19] AND TRIPLED PREMIUMS FOR OVER 20 MILLION PEOPLE WHO COUNT, WHO
[00:06:23] BUY COVERAGE ON THEIR OWN. THEY DON'T GET IT FROM THEIR
[00:06:27] EMPLOYER IN THE AFFORDABLE CARE
[00:06:29] ACT MARKETPLACES. SO, SO FAR,
[00:06:31] OVER 8 MILLION PEOPLE AND COUNTING HAVE LOST HEALTH
[00:06:35] COVERAGE THAT THEY COUNT ON TO SEE THEIR DOCTOR. AND THE
[00:06:39] EXPECTATION IS THAT WE WILL BE WELL OVER 15 MILLION UNINSURED,
[00:06:43] NEWLY UNINSURED PEOPLE. UM, WITHIN THE TEN YEAR FRAME, OVER
[00:06:46] A THOUSAND HOSPITALS, CLINICS, AND NURSING HOMES ARE FACING
[00:06:50] CUTS OR CLOSURE. AND THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING. AS THE DEEPER
[00:06:54] CUTS GO INTO EFFECT NEXT YEAR. SO WE'RE SEEING CHAOS IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AS A RESULT
[00:06:58] OF THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL. AND
[00:07:00] IN THE WAY THAT THEY HAVE BEGUN IMPLEMENTING THROUGH REGULATION,
[00:07:04] HAS MADE THAT EVEN WORSE IN IN TERMS OF HOW STRICT THE
[00:07:07] REGULATIONS HAVE BEEN AND HAVE GONE WAY BEYOND WHAT THE STATUTE AUTHORIZED.
[00:07:11] >> YEAH. I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE REGULATION. SO, ACCORDING TO THE PETERSON
[00:07:15] INSTITUTE, THE MAJORITY OF THE
[00:07:16] OB SAVINGS, $819 BILLION COME
[00:07:22] FROM NET DECREASES IN SPENDING PROVISIONS LIKE MEDICAID.
[00:07:25] THERE'S ALSO REDUCTION, AS YOU SAID, IN THE TAX PREMIUM CREDITS
[00:07:27] FOR THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND EXCHANGE ROLLIES. THAT'S ABOUT
[00:07:31] $200 BILLION. I WONDER IF WE
[00:07:33] COULD JUST FOCUS A LITTLE BIT ON
[00:07:37] MEDICAID RIGHT NOW. THE WAY IN
[00:07:38] WHICH IT'S BEEN IMPACTED BY OB,
[00:07:42] SPECIFICALLY, WORK REQUIREMENTS. HOW DO YOU SEE THAT AFFECTING
[00:07:46] THE POOL OF PEOPLE WHO GET THESE
[00:07:47] BENEFITS? >> SIGNIFICANTLY SHRINK THE POOL
[00:07:51] OF PEOPLE THAT GET BENEFITS THROUGH MEDICAID. WE'RE ALREADY
[00:07:55] SEEING THAT HAPPENING. AND THE I THINK THE CRITICAL POINT HERE IS
[00:07:58] THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO GET MEDICAID ALREADY WORK, THE
[00:08:02] VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO GET
[00:08:03] MEDICAID ALREADY WORK AND HAVE
[00:08:07] JOBS, OR ARE IN SCHOOL OR MEET
[00:08:09] THESE REQUIREMENTS FOR VOLUNTEERING. THE ISSUE WITH THE
[00:08:12] WORK REQUIREMENT IS REALLY THAT IT CREATES RED TAPE, THAT IT
[00:08:16] REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT, UH,
[00:08:19] SUBMISSION OF ENROLLMENT FORMS, AND IT REQUIRES THAT THE STATES
[00:08:22] BE ABLE TO FIND AND, AND CONTACT
[00:08:25] THESE PEOPLE THROUGH MECHANISMS THAT THEY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE.
[00:08:28] THESE ARE FOLKS WHO MAY MOVE
[00:08:31] VERY OFTEN, THEIR INCOMES MAY FLUCTUATE. THEY MAY HAVE, THEY
[00:08:35] MAY HAVE MULTIPLE JOBS IN ORDER TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES. SO THIS
[00:08:38] IS, IT'S REALLY MORE OF A RED TAPE REQUIREMENT THAN IT IS A
[00:08:41] WORK REQUIREMENT, BECAUSE THEY
[00:08:43] WERE ALREADY WORKING. SO THE, THE IMPACT IS GOING TO BE
[00:08:46] SUBSTANTIAL IN TERMS OF THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE LOSING THEIR
[00:08:50] COVERAGE THROUGH MEDICAID BECAUSE OF THIS, THIS NEW REQUIREMENT THAT'S GONE INTO PLACE.
[00:08:54] >> NOW, I WANT TO INVITE OUR VIEWERS TO JOIN IN ON THE
[00:08:56] CONVERSATION. WE HAVE A VET HERE, FORMER DEPUTY DIRECTOR IN
[00:09:00] THE OBAMA HHS OFFICE OF HEALTH
[00:09:02] REFORM, ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS
[00:09:06] ABOUT THE CURRENT STATUS OF HEALTH CARE AND WHAT THAT MEANS
[00:09:08] FOR THE 2026 CAMPAIGN.
[00:09:10] REPUBLICANS, YOUR LINE(
[00:09:14] 202) 748-8001. DEMOCRATS, YOUR
[00:09:14] LINE. 202) 748-8000. AND
[00:09:20] DEPENDANCE.( 202) 748-8002. START CALLING IT NOW SO YOU CAN GET IN THE QUEUE. AND ASK YVETTE
[00:09:24] A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS BEFORE WE TURN TO SOME QUESTIONS. QUICKLY,
[00:09:27] I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE A C A, OBVIOUSLY, SOMETHING THAT
[00:09:31] HAPPENED DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HAS STAYED SINCE
[00:09:33] THEN, BUT HAS FACED SOME
[00:09:37] DIFFICULTIES GOING FORWARD. I
[00:09:39] WONDER, UH, THE, THE CONGRESS
[00:09:42] ALLOWED THE ACA PREMIUM
[00:09:44] SUBSIDIES TO EXPIRE AT THE END
[00:09:46] OF LAST YEAR. UH, WHAT DO YOU
[00:09:50] MAKE OF THE STATUS OF THE A C A WITH THAT PROVISION NOW EXPIRED?
[00:09:54] >> RIGHT. SO AND, AND JUST, JUST
[00:09:56] AGAIN, TO REMIND THE VIEWERS,
[00:09:58] THE, THE, UH, THE FOLKS WHO BUY COVERAGE THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE
[00:10:02] CARE ACT IN THE MARKETPLACES ARE PEOPLE WHO BUY COVERAGE ON THEIR
[00:10:06] OWN. THEY DO NOT GET COVERAGE OFFERED THROUGH THEIR EMPLOYER.
[00:10:09] SO THESE ARE, THESE ARE SMALL
[00:10:11] BUSINESS OWNERS. THESE ARE
[00:10:14] FARMERS, CAREGIVERS, EARLY RETIREES. THESE ARE FOLKS WHO
[00:10:18] HAVE NO OTHER PLACE TO GO TO
[00:10:19] PURCHASE THEIR COVERAGE. THE, THE ENHANCED TAX CREDITS THAT
[00:10:24] YOU JUST REFERENCED THAT WERE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE OBAMA AND
[00:10:27] BIDEN ERAS. THEY THROUGH THE
[00:10:30] MARKETPLACES, THEY RESULTED IN
[00:10:32] THE LOWEST RATE OF UNINSURED IN
[00:10:35] THIS, THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER
[00:10:36] SEEN. WE WERE AT WE WERE AT NEAR
[00:10:39] FULL, FULL COVERAGE IN THIS
[00:10:41] COUNTRY. AND THEN WHEN REPUBLICANS CUT THOSE TAX
[00:10:44] CREDITS, WE HAVE SEEN SIGNIFICANT LOSSES IN THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO
[00:10:48] PURCHASE THAT COVERAGE BECAUSE THEY LOST THAT ASSISTANCE. SO
[00:10:52] WE'RE WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT
[00:10:55] ABOUT CLOSE TO 4 MILLION PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY SEEN THAT
[00:10:58] COVERAGE. UM, BEEN THERE NOW,
[00:11:02] UNABLE TO AFFORD THAT COVERAGE.
[00:11:04] THE HEADLINES ARE PILING UP FROM CALIFORNIA TO VIRGINIA OF PEOPLE
[00:11:08] WHO CAN NO LONGER AFFORD THE
[00:11:10] COVERAGE, SINCE THOSE TAX CREDITS WERE WERE TAKEN AWAY,
[00:11:14] THE HOSPITALS ARE ARE REPORTING HUGE SURGES IN THE NUMBER OF
[00:11:17] UNINSURED PATIENTS THAT THEY'RE SEEING, SEEING. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PROTECT OUR CARE
[00:11:21] DOES IS COLLECT THESE KINDS OF STORIES. UM, FOR, FROM THESE
[00:11:24] SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, THESE FARMERS, THESE CAREGIVERS WHO
[00:11:27] HAVE HAD THEIR HEALTH CARE COVERAGE JEOPARDIZED BY THOSE
[00:11:30] CUTS. WE'VE SEEN A, YOU KNOW, A TWO TIME CANCER SURVIVOR IN
[00:11:33] GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, GOING UNINSURED AND WAITING TO AGE
[00:11:38] INTO MEDICARE AFTER HER PREMIUMS
[00:11:41] SKYROCKETED TO TO $1,000 A MONTH, A GRANDMOTHER IN GEORGIA
[00:11:44] WHO LOOKS AFTER HER GRANDSON WITH AUTISM, WHO'S NOW
[00:11:47] UNINSURED, WITH HER PREMIUM
[00:11:49] HAVING QUADRUPLED. SO THESE ARE THESE ARE SIGNIFICANT CUTS TO
[00:11:53] THE, THE, THE TAX CREDITS THAT PEOPLE WERE GETTING WHO ARE NOW
[00:11:56] UNABLE TO AFFORD THIS COVERAGE
[00:11:57] ON THE MARKETPLACE AND ARE GOING UNINSURED.
[00:12:01] >> ALL RIGHT. LET'S TURN TO SOME PHONE CALLS. VIRGINIA, FROM TUCSON, ARIZONA, A GOOD MORNING,
[00:12:05] VIRGINIA
[00:12:08] >> THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY CALL. UM, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR
[00:12:12] YVETTE. UM, REGARDING, THE,
[00:12:16] WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY THIS. THIS IS ONE BIG REASON
[00:12:20] THAT I'M VOTING FOR DEMOCRATS IN
[00:12:23] THE FALL. AND I'M HOPING THAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC SEES IT IN
[00:12:26] THEIR BEST INTEREST TO VOTE FOR
[00:12:28] A PARTY THAT WILL ACTUALLY DO
[00:12:32] SOMETHING. AS FAR AS, UM,
[00:12:36] RESTORING THE BENEFITS FOR THE
[00:12:37] AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. AND AS FAR
[00:12:41] AS PUSHING THE IDEA OF HEALTH
[00:12:44] CARE FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS COUNTRY. AND, AND IF YOU
[00:12:48] DON'T VOTE DEMOCRAT, YOU HAVE
[00:12:48] NO CHANCE WHATSOEVER OF MAKING
[00:12:52] SURE THAT PEOPLE DON'T GET BANKRUPT WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY
[00:12:56] RUN INTO A MEDICAL CRISIS. UM,
[00:12:58] THE QUESTION I HAVE TO ASK FOR
[00:13:00] YVETTE, HAS TO DO WITH EFFORTS
[00:13:04] TO, UM, WHAT CAN WE DO TO
[00:13:09] ENCOURAGE MORE DOCTORS TO TAKE
[00:13:11] ON THE PATIENTS WHO HAVE
[00:13:15] OBAMACARE AND MEDICARE AND, AND,
[00:13:16] AND THE MEDICAID, UH, PATIENTS
[00:13:22] SO THAT THERE ARE SUFFICIENT
[00:13:24] DOCTORS OUT THERE. WHAT, WHAT
[00:13:26] CAN WE DO IN THAT REGARD? >> YEAH. THANK YOU FOR THE
[00:13:30] QUESTION, VIRGINIA. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I, I, I DO THINK
[00:13:32] THAT WE CAN START BY NOT
[00:13:35] CUTTING, TAKING $1 TRILLION OUT
[00:13:37] OF THE MEDICAID PROGRAM, AS THEY DID IN THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL,
[00:13:41] REALLY RESTRICTS THE STATES ABILITIES TO REIMBURSE, UH,
[00:13:45] PHYSICIANS AND OTHER PROVIDERS
[00:13:47] AT A LEVEL THAT MAKES IT LIVABLE FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY SEE THESE
[00:13:50] PATIENTS. SO WE HAVE TO START BY
[00:13:54] RESTORING THAT TRILLION DOLLAR CUT. AND AS YOU SAY, IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO GET
[00:13:58] DEMOCRATS INTO OFFICE. I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION
[00:14:02] ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TRAINING DOCTORS AND THE WORKFORCE. THE
[00:14:06] NUMBER OF PEOPLE GOING INTO, UM,
[00:14:07] INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL AND OTHER OTHER PROVIDER LEVELS SO THAT WE
[00:14:11] HAVE A SUFFICIENT LEVEL OF ACCESS, BUT WE REALLY HAVE TO
[00:14:14] START BY MAKING SURE THAT WE'VE GOT THE FUNDING IN THESE
[00:14:19] PROGRAMS. THAT'S ESSENTIAL TO, TO REIMBURSEMENT RATES, TO MAKE
[00:14:20] SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS.
[00:14:23] >> DJ FROM TEXAS, A REPUBLICAN.
[00:14:28] GOOD MORNING. DJ. >> HI, THANKS FOR TAKING MY
[00:14:29] CALL. I ORIGINALLY CALLED FOR THE CAMPAIGN AND WHAT PUSHED MY
[00:14:33] VOTE. AND, AND I SAW HEALTH CARE. I GOT A COMMENT ABOUT THAT
[00:14:36] TOO, BUT, UH, AS FAR AS
[00:14:39] CAMPAIGNING, WHAT PUSHES MY
[00:14:42] VOTE? UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF
[00:14:43] PEOPLE JUST IGNORE, THEY DON'T
[00:14:46] EVEN UNDERSTAND FISCAL IMPACT
[00:14:49] MEANS. THEY DON'T LOOK AT THE BILLS, THEY DON'T LOOK AT ANYTHING. THEY JUST VOTE ON
[00:14:53] THEIR EMOTIONS. YOU KNOW, FISCAL
[00:14:55] IMPACT IS THE REASON WHY WE'RE
[00:14:58] IN THE POSITION WE'RE IN WITH
[00:15:00] OUR DEBT. THE REASON WHY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND MANY, MANY,
[00:15:03] MANY STATES, IN FACT, I'D LOVE
[00:15:07] TO SEE C-SPAN PUT UP A GRAPH. LET'S GO CITY BY CITY.
[00:15:10] >> OKAY, DJ, I'M GOING TO JUMP
[00:15:12] IN HERE AND SAY, UH, AND, AND ASK YOU TO SAY YOUR COMMENT ON
[00:15:16] HEALTH CARE. SINCE WE HAVE A VET HERE. >> OKAY. WELL, YOU KNOW, KEEP IN
[00:15:19] MIND WHEN YOU'RE VOTING A FISCAL
[00:15:23] IMPACT, OKAY, THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE YOUR VOTE NEEDS TO BE PUSHED. OKAY. SO AS FAR AS
[00:15:26] HEALTH CARE GOES, UH, YOU KNOW
[00:15:33] ALL FOR HAVING INSURANCE. UM, I HAVE INSURANCE FOR MY CAR. I
[00:15:35] HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE. SO
[00:15:39] THAT'S A PRIVILEGE. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO DRIVE. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO OWN A CAR. SO YOU
[00:15:43] HAVE TO HAVE INSURANCE. I HAVE A
[00:15:45] HOME. YOU BETTER INSURE YOUR
[00:15:47] HOME. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO OWN A HOME. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE
[00:15:51] A HOME. IT'S A PRIVILEGE. YOU NEED TO INSURE THAT PRIVILEGE. I
[00:15:55] DON'T KNOW HOW MANY. WHAT WAS
[00:15:57] IT? TWO, TWO AND A HALF DECADES AGO WERE BEING FORCED INTO
[00:16:00] HEALTH CARE. WELL, I GUESS LIVING IS A PRIVILEGE. IT'S A
[00:16:04] PRIVILEGE TO BE A HUMAN BEING AND BE ALIVE NOW, I GUESS. AND
[00:16:08] WE'RE FORCED TO BUY THIS PRODUCT TO COVER OUR HEALTH
[00:16:11] CARE. I'VE HAD HEALTH CARE THROUGH THE TEAMSTERS UP UNTIL
[00:16:15] ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO. I WAS A
[00:16:18] TEAMSTER FOR FOR FILM AND TELEVISION INDUSTRY PRIOR TO
[00:16:22] THAT. AND I'M STILL A MEMBER OF THE SCREEN ACTORS GUILD. IT'S
[00:16:24] ALL BASED ON YOUR INCOME GOING
[00:16:27] TO QUALIFY FOR YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE OR NOT. IF YOU DON'T
[00:16:31] QUALIFY, THEY CAN OFFER YOU THE
[00:16:32] COBRA IT'S QUITE EXPENSIVE.
[00:16:35] AND, UM, HEALTH CARE AS A WHOLE IS QUITE EXPENSIVE. I
[00:16:39] PERSONALLY, FOR THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS, HAVE BEEN
[00:16:43] PAYING FOR MY HEALTH CARE CASH
[00:16:44] OUT OF POCKET, AND I'VE SAVED
[00:16:47] MYSELF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. AND I HAVE HEALTH CONDITIONS. I HAVE
[00:16:51] HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. I HAVE TO GO IN AND SEE THE DOCTOR ALL THE
[00:16:54] TIME FOR RENEWALS OF MY BLOOD
[00:16:56] PRESSURE MEDICINE, MY HIGH CHOLESTEROL MEDICINE. I ALSO
[00:17:00] HAVE SKIN CANCER. I'VE HAD
[00:17:05] MANY, SEVERAL DEFORMING UH, MOST
[00:17:07] SURGERIES TO REMOVE SKIN CANCER
[00:17:10] FROM MY FACE, MY ARMS ALL OVER.
[00:17:14] I'VE HAD TWO PROCEDURES
[00:17:18] >> ME PUSH YOU A LITTLE BIT. IF, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A
[00:17:22] SPECIFIC COMMENT FOR A VET TO, TO ANSWER.
[00:17:24] >> ANY PAYING CASH AND NOT BEING
[00:17:28] FORCED TO BUY A PRODUCT. OKAY, SO HEALTH CARE ISN'T WHAT IT'S
[00:17:32] ALL CRACKED UP TO BE. MY MOTHER IS A, IS A FORMER.
[00:17:35] >> ALL RIGHT, LET'S LET YVETTE GET IN HERE AND ANSWER THIS.
[00:17:39] >> WELL, I, I MEAN, I, I, I, I,
[00:17:41] I'M SORRY THAT YOU'RE DEALING
[00:17:43] WITH SKIN CANCER. AND ON OTHER
[00:17:47] ILLNESSES. THAT'S, THAT'S, UM, THAT'S A HORRIBLE SITUATION.
[00:17:50] AND THAT'S EXACTLY THE KIND OF THING YOU NEED HEALTH INSURANCE
[00:17:53] TO PROTECT YOU AGAINST THOSE KINDS OF CATASTROPHIC COSTS THAT
[00:17:56] COME UP FOR EVERYBODY. I, I
[00:18:00] WOULD JUST AS A REMINDER FOR, AGAIN, FOR THE VIEWERS THAT
[00:18:04] BEFORE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WAS PASSED, DJ, IF YOU HAD SKIN
[00:18:07] CANCER OR YOU HAD HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, OR YOU HAD ANY OF
[00:18:11] THOSE, THOSE INDICATIONS YOU JUST MENTIONED, YOU WOULD NOT
[00:18:14] HAVE BEEN OFFERED. THOSE ARE
[00:18:16] PREEXISTING CONDITIONS. AND YOU
[00:18:20] WOULD YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN DECLINED. THE EVEN THE OFFER OF HEALTH INSURANCE, LET ALONE
[00:18:23] AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE. SO I THINK IT'S, I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT, THAT YOU CAN NOW
[00:18:27] ACCESS HEALTH INSURANCE. AND YOU'RE CORRECT. YOU'RE PAYING
[00:18:30] TOO MUCH FOR IT. AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TO MAKE HEALTH
[00:18:34] CARE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYONE. UM, IN THIS COUNTRY
[00:18:38] BY, BY LOWERING THE COSTS OF
[00:18:40] HEALTH CARE. AND YOU CAN'T DO
[00:18:42] THAT BY CUTTING THE HEALTH COVERAGE PROGRAMS BY $1
[00:18:46] TRILLION. WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS RESTORE THAT FUNDING. AND
[00:18:49] ACTUALLY MAKE HEALTH CARE AND
[00:18:52] HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY A
[00:18:55] FOCUS OF THE ELECTION AND WHO YOU'RE ELECTING. AND I THINK
[00:18:58] FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, DEMOCRATS
[00:19:00] ARE FOCUSED ON THE ISSUE OF AFFORDABILITY AND YOUR ECONOMIC
[00:19:04] CIRCUMSTANCE AND HOW WE MAKE THAT ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCE
[00:19:08] BETTER. NOT NOT OTHER OTHER
[00:19:11] THINGS. WARS OF CHOICE AND BALLROOMS, ET CETERA.. SO WE'RE,
[00:19:15] WE'RE FOCUSED ON DELIVERING FOR
[00:19:17] YOU AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE PRODUCT THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE YOU
[00:19:21] TO MAKE THOSE CHOICES BETWEEN YOUR HOME INSURANCE, YOUR CAR
[00:19:24] INSURANCE, AND YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO
[00:19:27] AFFORD ALL OF THOSE THINGS FOR
[00:19:31] EXACTLY THE REASON YOU JUST STATED, WHICH IS THAT IF YOU GET
[00:19:33] SICK, YOU NEED THAT PEACE OF MIND TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'LL BE
[00:19:37] ABLE TO GET THE CARE THAT YOU NEED. >> I MEAN, SPEAKING OF
[00:19:40] DEMOCRATS, UH, AN AXIOS POLL
[00:19:44] FROM JUNE SHOWED THAT 45% OF
[00:19:48] THOSE RESPONDENTS, UM, SAID THEY
[00:19:48] WERE MORE LIKELY WHEN ASKED
[00:19:52] ABOUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF VOTING
[00:19:54] FOR A CANDIDATE THAT SUPPORTS REINSTATING ENHANCED ACA
[00:19:57] SUBSIDIES,