Rep. Hartzler Issues Statement on Medicare for All Legislation

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Missouri, issued the following statement on Medicare for All legislation that was introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington:

"The deceptively named 'Medicare for All' bill is the latest effort to socialize our health care system. It is a government-run program that would outlaw virtually all private health care coverage, including employer-sponsored insurance which 158 million Americans currently enjoy," said Congresswoman Hartzler. "This plan forces all Americans, including seniors on Medicare, into a one-size fits all plan administered by bureaucrats in Washington. Instead of 'Medicare for All,' it actually eliminates the Medicare program and forces recipients to compete with every other American for limited health care resources."

"The legislation doesn't even begin to suggest how we would pay for socialized medicine. Conservative estimates for costs exceed thirty trillion dollars. Not only would this plan bankrupt the country, it would destroy Medicare, the health care plan our seniors depend on."

"As if the Obamacare experiment was not enough, here we go again: liberal extremists are trying to end health care as we know it. I will continue to oppose efforts to socialize America's health care and the forcing of every American, including seniors, off their health care plans. This extremism has to end," added Hartzler."