Republican Congressman Jason Chaffetz stopped by CNN’s “New Day” on Tuesday morning to offer advice to Americans when it comes to how they spend their money.
“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 it in their own health care,” Chaffetz said. “They’ve got to make those decisions themselves.”
Co-anchor Alisyn Camerota fired back, “So in other words, for lower income Americans, you’re saying this is going to require some sacrifice on their part?”
On Monday, House Republicans released their plan for undoing former President Barack Obama’s health care law. Social media did not appreciate Chaffetz’s comments, with many users mocking him for not knowing what health care actually costs.
“Unless Jason Chaffetz is offering a free healthcare plan with a two year contract, he needs to sit down and be quiet,” one person tweeted. Another said: “Jason Chaffetz clearly has no idea how much an emergency room visit costs. Or prescription drugs. Or blood tests. Or an iPhone.”
Check out some of the backlash:
Unless Jason Chaffetz is offering a free healthcare plan with a two year contract, he needs to sit down and be quiet.
— Pr1s0n M1k3 (@pr1s0n_m1k3) March 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/ShirlHerbert/status/839124010889785344
Jason Chaffetz clearly has no idea how much an emergency room visit costs. Or prescription drugs. Or blood tests. Or an iPhone. #healthcare
— andrew. (@rewstermania) March 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/ShomahKhoobi/status/839119172994936833
Aw, that's so cute how Jason Chaffetz has no idea how much healthcare costs. #AHCA #Trumpcare
— T.R. Morley (@TheRealMorley) March 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/coreyspring/status/839116527987273729
https://twitter.com/TheFix/status/839116057960939520
Exciting news!
Jason Chaffetz can get your family health insurance for $600 every 2 years!!! You should call him! https://t.co/2Aw3xHjV8g— BadgerStew (@BadgerStew) March 7, 2017
Did you hear Republican Jason Chaffetz? He said lower income people will need to "sacrifice" now in order to get Healthcare under new plan.
— R.G. 🎨 (@tigertux) March 7, 2017
To be fair, when Jason Chaffetz goes to the doctor, it's this guy. pic.twitter.com/Qwa5h2EiI5
— Adam Music (@MusicAdamT) March 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/Milarso/status/839133954154311681
Any interview with Jason Chaffetz should start with the question “Do you know what things cost?”
— ann hedonia 👻 (@AaronM) March 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/alexnpress/status/839133662318833666
Check out the video above.