Jason Chaffetz: "maybe rather than getting that new iPhone ... maybe they should invest it in their own health care" https://t.co/PO6FbkRAmh
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) March 7, 2017
On Monday, House Republicans rolled out their long-promised replacement for the Affordable Care Act. Though analysis of the plan shows that it will raise the price of coverage for low-income families, House Oversight Committee Chariman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) insisted that the plan will offer Americans of all income levels the opportunity to afford healthcare.
"Well, we're getting rid of the individual mandate. We're getting rid of those things that people said that they don't want. And you know what? Americans have choices. And they've got to make a choice,” Chaffetz said on CNN on Monday. "And so maybe rather than getting that new iPhone that they just love and they want to go spend hundreds of dollars on that, maybe they should invest in their own health care."
Chaffetz's comparison between the price of an iPhone plan and the cost of healthcare coverage has sparked a lot of discussion on social media. As Lee Fang, a reporter for The Intercept pointed out, a public record that tracks Chaffetz's campaign donations revealed that the congressman spent $738 of his campaign donor's money at the Apple store in July 2016.
Lol are you kidding me? Chaffetz also spent $738 of his campaign donor's money at the Apple Store. Hmm https://t.co/SNb7X7VNEz pic.twitter.com/LDLgKnivKK
— Lee Fang (@lhfang) March 7, 2017
Many others have pointed out the false equivalency in Chaffetz's comparison between the costs of healthcare and an iPhone:
Cost of a new iPhone, no contract: $670
— Christopher Ingraham (@_cingraham) March 7, 2017
Median per-capita healthcare costs: $10,345 https://t.co/p5pTu0s1Ju
Am I to understand that Jason Chaffetz is offering Americans healthcare for the price of an iPhone? Our savior!
— Jason Morse (@JasonMorse) March 7, 2017
"Behold, hospital, instead of buying an iPhone I come to you with $750! Bring me ur finest healthcare!"
— Dave Lartigue 🌹 (@daveexmachina) March 7, 2017
*hands him a tylenol*
"u owe us $50"
Jason Chaffetz urges low-income Americans, who pay for his new iPhone and healthcare, to choose between a new iPhone and healthcare.
— Thistallawkwardgirl (@thistallawkgirl) March 7, 2017
POOR PEOPLE: we would like healthcare too
— mustard (@nice_mustard) March 7, 2017
GOP: well well well, look who could afford to go to applebee's last april! nice try, moneybags
Health insurance averages $321 a month, and an iPhone costs $27 per month. So if you bought like 12 iPhones it's possible you fucked up.
— shut up, mike (@shutupmikeginn) March 7, 2017
People in poverty use upwards of 70% of their income just to pay rent but the reason they won't be able to afford healthcare is...an iPhone?
— Clint Smith (@ClintSmithIII) March 7, 2017
The iPhone bullshit is Reagan's Cadillac welfare queen canard for the new age. That's what Chaffetz is doing.
— Imani Gandy (@AngryBlackLady) March 7, 2017
Even if this were true: an iPhone - basically a fully functioning computer in addition to phone - isn't bad use of money if you're poor https://t.co/KOG3ZcTWNU
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) March 7, 2017
1.5 bottles of insulin costs about the same amount as a new iPhone. I need a bottle every 3 weeks to stay alive. https://t.co/rMo5ALqbum
— Maria DahvanaHeadley (@MARIADAHVANA) March 7, 2017
Is this enough phone? #trumpcare #AHCA #Chaffetz #iphone pic.twitter.com/KE61QXKoB5
— PersonAmerican (@1personamerican) March 7, 2017