Harris faces attacks from Biden, Bennet and Gabbard on health plan

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) took flak over her health care plan from former Vice President Joe Biden as well as Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) during the second Democratic presidential debate Wednesday.

Harris’s plan calls for a transition to expand coverage into “Medicare for All” over 10 years by keeping a limited role for private insurance, similar to current Medicare Advantage plans. Her plan has been slammed by moderates like Biden and Bennet, as well as supporters of Medicare for All.

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Gabbard took a swipe at Harris, who said her plan was endorsed by former Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebeilus, who helped the Affordable Care Act become law under former President Obama.

Gabbard said that Sebelius works for a Medicare Advantage company and accused Harris of having insurance companies write her plan.

“If we’re seeking to reform our health system, we need to shut off Big Insurance and Big Pharma,” Gabbard said. 

Bennet also attacked Harris over her plan’s phasing out of private insurance, saying it would ban an entire industry.

Harris kept her attacks focused on Biden, who has been the mot vocal critic of her plan since it was released Monday. 

Biden focused on the costs and repeatedly said his health plan would cost far less than the Medicare for All supported by Harris. 

“My plan costs $750 billion, not $30 trillion,” Biden said.