GOP Congressman Suggests Americans May Have to Choose Between Health Care and iPhones

The new Republican plan puts more emphasis on health savings accounts instead of the more generous subsidies of insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act

Rep. Jason Chaffetz advised consumers concerned about changes to the health care system under the long-awaited Republican health care plan that they may want to choose between to putting money aside for their health instead of "getting that new iPhone."

The Utah Republican soon walked his comment back as not perfectly phrased, but it had already sparked ridicule on social media, from citizens who have paid far more than the cost of an iPhone for health care to a Senate Democrat who said Chaffetz's own phone and health care plan are funded by low-income taxpayers.

The plan, announced Monday, puts more emphasis on health savings accounts at the expense of former President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, which offers more generous subsidies of insurance premiums.

To make his point, on CNN's "New Day," Chaffetz advised consumers that "Americans have choices" and they'll have to make one on for their health.

"And so maybe rather than getting that new iPhone that they just love and want to go spend hundreds of dollars on, maybe they should go and invest in their own health care," he said.

Later, Chaffetz responded went on Fox News to say "maybe I didn't say as smoothly as I possibly could, but people need to make a conscious choice and I believe in self-reliance."

Many people who reacted to his comments online pointed out that health care is often much more expensive than the roughly $600 cost of an iPhone.

On Monday, congressional Republicans released their bill that would dismantle much of the Affordable Care Act, called "Obamacare." The plan calls for the government to play a smaller health care role but does keep some key provisions of former President Obama's health care overhaul.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
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