In a tense trade with Senator Invoice Cassidy, Republican of Louisiana, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. displayed a stunning lack of familiarity with Medicare and Medicaid, the federal government packages answerable for masking greater than 150 million Individuals.
At instances, Mr. Kennedy appeared to confuse the 2 packages. Medicare is a federal program that gives protection to older and disabled Individuals, whereas Medicaid is a state-federal program that covers low-income individuals.
When he first described Medicare, he appeared to disregard the half of the Medicare program that depends on non-public insurance policy to offer care. Later, he acknowledged that he was enrolled in a non-public Medicare Benefit plan and stated he thought “extra individuals would moderately be on Medicare Benefit as a result of it provides excellent providers.”
Medicare Benefit plans have been closely criticized by lawmakers, together with by federal regulators Mr. Kennedy would oversee if confirmed and by public advocacy teams. They argue that the plan overcharges the federal government and delays and denies entry to care.
Mr. Kennedy described Medicaid as ”totally paid for by the federal authorities.” In truth, Medicaid, which offers medical insurance protection to almost 80 million low-income Individuals, is financed by way of a mix of state and federal funds.
Mr. Kennedy additionally claimed that many Medicaid enrollees have been pissed off by excessive prices they face with their public insurance coverage protection.
”Most people who find themselves on Medicaid are usually not completely happy,” Mr. Kennedy claimed. ”The premiums are too excessive. The deductibles are too excessive.”
However the overwhelming majority of Medicaid enrollees don’t pay any premiums or deductibles for his or her protection. Federal legislation particularly prohibits premiums for the lowest-income Medicaid enrollees. Sufferers usually should not have to pay something once they go to the physician, apart from a handful of state-based experiments which have examined out small charges.
Senator Cassidy requested Mr. Kennedy to explain how he would reform the Medicaid program. Whereas different Trump nominees have supplied concrete coverage proposals — Russell Vought, the nominee to run the Workplace of Finances and Administration, advised a piece requirement for this system in his affirmation listening to final week — Mr. Kennedy described vaguer modifications.
He stated he supported modifications to “enhance transparency” and” “enhance accountability.”
When Mr. Cassidy pressed him to be extra particular, Mr. Kennedy responded, “I don’t have a broad proposal for dismantling this system.”