United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) criticized Democratic healthcare policies during remarks on the Senate floor, focusing on the affordability and effectiveness of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as Obamacare. He attributed rising insurance costs and persistent system issues to legislation passed by Democrats without Republican support.
Hagerty stated, “The solution to this floundering Obamacare system – created by the Democrats without a single Republican vote – is certainly not what Democrats proposed today—to continue wasting Americans’ hard-earned dollars… I hope my Democrat colleagues will stop playing their political games and work with Republicans to actually lower the cost of healthcare for the American people.”
He argued that since its passage in 2010, Obamacare has failed to deliver on promises of affordable insurance. Hagerty cited premium increases in Tennessee, noting that benchmark plan premiums rose from $197 in 2014 to an expected $711 in 2026. He also shared a constituent’s experience where monthly premiums for a family increased from $1,400 to $2,200 without changes in coverage or family size.
Hagerty contended that continued reliance on taxpayer subsidies demonstrates ongoing unaffordability and pointed out additional out-of-pocket expenses such as deductibles and copayments. He further challenged claims that the ACA would reduce the federal deficit, referencing data from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget indicating that Obamacare has added $1.3 trillion to taxpayer costs rather than reducing them.
He also raised concerns about fraud within ACA exchanges. Citing a Government Accountability Office (GAO) test, he noted that 23 out of 24 fictitious applications were approved for subsidized health insurance, with insurers receiving payments for non-existent patients.
On recent legislative proposals, Hagerty said Senate Democrats suggested extending certain provisions while repealing anti-fraud measures established under the Working Families Tax Cut. He claimed this approach would cost $83 billion over three years without lowering premiums for most Americans.
In contrast, Hagerty outlined Republican proposals aimed at reducing benchmark premiums by 11%, saving $30 billion through appropriated cost-sharing reductions, and increasing patient choice. He mentioned ongoing debates over additional Republican measures focused on fraud prevention and restricting federal funds from being used for abortions or accessed by illegal immigrants.
Hagerty concluded his remarks by urging bipartisan cooperation to address healthcare costs: “I hope my Democrat colleagues will stop playing their political games and work with Republicans to actually lower the cost of healthcare for the American people.”
