Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who is running to be the next vice president of the United States, once said in a gubernatorial debate that he supports “single-payer health care,” also known as “Medicare for All.”
“I think that's probably the path we're going to take,” Walz said during a 2018 gubernatorial debate when asked, “Do you support single-payer?”
“And I say that because, let's be clear about this, there was no protection for pre-existing conditions before the ACA,” Walz continued. “A vote for the ACA will make these protections available for the first time in our nation's history, ensure people have access to them, ensure coverage, and focus on preventive care.” ACA, we're starting to see improvements in health outcomes, and this is the real key to lowering premiums. ”
Walz went on to say “I want to be clear” that “there is no market for health care.”
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Tim Walz voiced support for single-payer health care during a 2018 debate. (C-span)
“It's not going to happen because the market inherently fails if someone doesn't have it. We just shrink the pool of the sickest people and when they are in crisis, we You can't say that's the place to manage them. That's not the way to solve this. The way to solve this is to make sure everyone has access to preventative care, and everyone has access to the front end. and the ACA did that.”
Walz's opponent, Republican Jeff Johnson, then pressed Walz on the issue.
“I don't know what your answer was. Do you support single-payer health care?”
“Yes,” Walz said. “That's the answer I just gave you.”
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Minnesota Governor Tim Walz speaks at the International Association of Firefighters Convention in Boston on August 28, 2024. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images)
Johnson interjected, “Do you agree?”
“Yes,” Walz said. “I will argue that we don't pay twice as much as other developed countries; we get half of it. We're making sure we can save money.'' It's just the payer getting in between the people and the doctors. ”
When Johnson countered that “single payer” would mean “everyone loses insurance” and “being forced onto one government plan,” Walz countered, “We can do better.” .
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally in Savannah, Georgia, August 29, 2024. (Reuters/Elizabeth Franz)
Walz's comments come in the context of Vice President Kamala Harris' support for “Medicare for All” when she ran for president in 2019. But in August, her campaign asserted that she had no intention of pushing single-payer or “Medicare” themes. -for-all” campaign period.
In 2019, Fox News interviewed Harris in the hallways of the Capitol and asked her about her plans for providing health care.
Peter Doocy asked Harris on January 30, 2019, “How important is it to your health care plan to eliminate private insurance companies? Because there is confusion about that.”
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“I'm glad you asked the question, and yes, the bottom line is that the most important thing is that everyone has access to health care,” Harris said. “That's the goal. That's why I support the 'Medicare for All' policy.
“If Congress votes in a way that reflects the values and aspirations of the American people, Congress will vote for policies that give everyone access to health care,” she later said.
Her proposed solution was to provide “Medicare for all” because “Medicare works” and is “popular.”
“Medicare for All covers medically necessary services, including emergency room visits, doctor visits, vision, dental, hearing aids, mental health and substance use disorder treatment, and comprehensive reproductive health care services. “covers all services including: . “It would also allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower prescription drug prices.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Harris-Waltz's campaign for comment, but did not receive a response.
Fox News' Greg Wehner and Peter Doocy contributed reporting.
