MJ’s Record on Healthcare

Hegar Has Openly Supported Medicare For All, Calling It “Great” And The “Future Of Our Health Care System”

Hegar In 2018: “I Think A ‘Medicare For All’ Model Could Be Great…” EVAN SMITH: “This year ‘Medicare for All’ is a bit of a bauble on the charm bracelet for Democratic candidates. It is a test of your progressiveness as a candidate running for office. Are you for ‘Medicare for All’ or not?” HEGAR: “So, I have been the recipient of multiple single-player models.” SMITH: “You know government health care, right?” HEGAR: “I certainly do.” SMITH: “You have been the recipient of government health care.” HEGAR: “I have been the recipient of one called TRICARE, which is actually very similar to Medicare, and my mom is on Medicare now and I think it’s a great program. I think a ‘Medicare for All’ model could be great, but I’m also pragmatic and I’m fiscally responsible. I want to know how we’re going to pay for it. I also do think, we’re actually already paying for it, just not with taxes but with high health care costs and with people who are getting primary care in emergency rooms.” (MJ Hegar, Remarks At Texas Tribune CD-31 Conversation, 9/13/18; 49:20)

• Hegar: “I Do Think A ‘Medicare For All’ Model Could Work.” HEGAR: “So, I mean, I want to make sure that I’m not just leading with my heart but also my head, and so I do like Medicare and I do think a ‘Medicare for All’ model could work.” SMITH: “But you hedge on ‘Medicare for All’ until you know how it’s paid for.” HEGAR: “What I would like, at least, as a steppingstone is a Medicare option for people.” (MJ Hegar, Remarks At Texas Tribune CD-31 Conversation, 9/13/18; 49:20)

Hegar: “I Think That Single-Payer Is The Future Of Our Health Care System…” MODERATOR: “Would you support a single payer health system in the United States. Yes or no? This is from someone named Joseph.” HEGAR: “The answer is yes. I think that single-payer is the future of our health care system, like it is in most industrialized countries. However, I think we need to focus on the right single-payer model. I myself have been the recipient of two single-payer models: One that worked really well and one that did not work. So I am committed to – I think we need to hold our candidates to a higher standard than just asking yes-or-no.” (MJ Hegar, Remarks To Texas Tribune, 3/21/18, 8:26–10:00)

The Washington Post Editorial: “The Nonpartisan Urban Institute Figured That It Would Raise Government Spending By $32 Trillion Over 10 Years, Requiring A Tax Increase So Huge That Even The Democratic Socialist Mr. Sanders Did Not Propose Anything Close To It.” “But the government’s price tag would be astonishing. When Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) proposed a ‘Medicare for all’ health plan in his presidential campaign, the nonpartisan Urban Institute figured that it would raise government spending by $32 trillion over 10 years, requiring a tax increase so huge that even the democratic socialist Mr. Sanders did not propose anything close to it.” (Editorial, “Single-Payer Health Care Would Have An Astonishingly High Price Tag,” The Washington Post, 6/18/17)

Hegar Is A Supporter Of A Public Option As A “Stepping Stone” Prior To Medicare For All

Hegar Supports A Public Option That Allows All Americans To Buy Into Medicare. “The combat veteran and working mom answered questions from more than 60 attendees about a variety of topics at the meet-and-greet. On health care, Hegar said she advocates Medicare access to all Americans but said each person should have the personal choice between public or private health coverage.” (Jimmy Isaac, “During Longview Stop, Democratic U.S. Senate Hopeful MJ Hegar Goes After Cornyn On Public Service,” Longview News-Journal, 7/23/19)

Hegar Has Characterized Her Support For A “Medicare Option” As A “Stepping Stone” Prior To Medicare for All. HEGAR: “So, I mean, I want to make sure that I’m not just leading with my heart but also my head, and so I do like Medicare and I do think a ‘Medicare for All’ model could work.” SMITH: “But you hedge on ‘Medicare for All’ until you know how it’s paid for.” HEGAR: “What I would like, at least, as a steppingstone is a Medicare option for people.” (MJ Hegar, Remarks At Texas Tribune CD-31 Conversation, 9/13/18; 49:20)

According To An Analysis By The Committee For A Responsible Federal Budget, Biden’s Health Plan—Which Relies On A Public Option—Has A Gross Cost Of $2.25 Trillion And Would Add $800 Billion To Deficits Over Ten Years After Offsets.  “Vice President Joe Biden’s health plan has a gross cost of $2.25 trillion and, incorporating offsets, would add $800 billion to deficits over ten years under our central estimate. It would save $300 billion in our low-cost estimate and add $1.3 trillion to deficits in our high-cost estimate.” (“Primary Care: Estimating Democratic Candidates’ Health Plans,” Committee For A Responsible Federal Budget, 2/26/20)

Hegar’s Public Option Plan Includes Extending Medicare Availability To Illegal Immigrants
In 2019, Hegar Responded To Democrat Calls For Health Coverage For Illegal Immigrants, Noting That She Was “For Extending Medicare Availability For Everybody” And Claimed Excluding Some People From Coverage “Doesn’t Serve Our Society.” HEGAR: “I don’t think we should be asking these very high-level, one-question questions that have people raise their hand but no context and no details, because right now when somebody walks into an emergency room, we don’t ask them what their citizenship status is or anything like that. Everybody who walks into an emergency room gets care, and that’s the law, and that’s the law for a reason. It doesn’t serve our society – at all – to have some of us not have access to be able to be healthy. For us to be able to be healthy as a society, going to school with each other, serving each other food and things like that. So I am going to be for extending Medicare availability for everybody. I want to preserve choice. I want people who want to keep their private insurance, which I don’t think will be many people, especially when they start to compare to see how great Medicare is. I want people to be able to choose that option, though.” (Patrick Svitek, Twitter Feed, 7/24/19)