Tapper Grills Kamala Harris on Eliminating Private Health Insurance: ‘That’s Not What I Meant!’

CNN’s Jake Tapper pressed Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) on Sunday about whether or not she believes in getting rid of private health insurance companies.

In his broad-range interview with the aspiring 2020 candidate, Tapper noted that Harris’ said at a CNN town hall that she supports the medicare-for-all push by Bernie Sanders, which, as Tapper says, “essentially gets rid of insurance.”

In that town hall, Harris used the words “let’s eliminate all of that,” a major campaign stumble which was widely reported as her saying America should get rid of the private health insurance market entirely. Tapper confronted her about what exactly she meant.

“I support Medicare for all but I really do need to clear up what happened on that stage,” she said. “It was in the context of saying let’s get rid of all the bureaucracy.”

“Oh not the insurance companies,” said Tapper.

“No, that’s not what I meant, I know it was interpreted that way,” she said. “What I mean was let’s get rid of the bureaucracy.”

“But the bill gets rid of insurance,” said Tapper.

“No, no. It does not get rid of insurance, it does not get rid of insurance,” said Harris. She started to say what her position is, beginning by saying she supports medicare for all.

Tapper interjected saying “as a principle you mean. Not Bernie Sanders’ bill.”

Harris objected, “I support the bill. I support the bill.”

“Well because the bill gets rid of private insurance for everything that is–” Tapper said.

“It doesn’t get rid of supplemental insurance–” Harris objected again.

“Right, for, cosmetic surgery, but for all–” Tapper said.

“So it doesn’t get rid of all insurance!” said Harris.

“Okay it doesn’t get rid of all insurance, but for all essential health care benefits,” Tapper clarified.

“But why. Ask the question why. The answer to that question is because Medicare for all, and the vision of what it will be includes an expansion of coverage,” said Harris.

Tapper went on to note that various union members don’t want replacements for their private insurance plans, to which, Harris said the country must look at whether such laborers had to give up wages in exchange for higher coverage for health care.

Watch above, via CNN.