North Carolina Democrat Jamie Ager, an incoming freshman congressman who campaigned on creating a public health insurance option, called the Obamacare insurance plans offered to members of Congress "terrible" during a Thursday evening panel, eliciting groans from the audience.
The panel, titled "Freshman Orientation" and moderated by comedian Alex Edelman, was part of the What's Next summit, a political conference in Denver examining how Democrats swept the midterm elections and how they can expand their majorities in 2028. Edelman asked the group of incoming representatives what perks they would receive as members of Congress. Ager instead offered a complaint.
"Everybody at home said you get great health insurance. And then my wife and I went to go sign up for health insurance, and we're like, 'This is terrible health insurance.' So that's annoying for members," he said. "I guess it was better in the old days, 'cause it ain't good now."
What Ager did not mention is the fact that, under former president Barack Obama's signature Affordable Care Act, members of Congress must select a health insurance plan offered through DC Health Link, one of the exchanges created by the 2010 law, if they want taxpayers to subsidize roughly three-quarters of their premiums. Members must choose a gold tier plan, which generally covers 80 percent of expected medical expenses, and they have more plans within the tier made available to them than the average individual.
Ager's comment is especially eyebrow-raising given that he called for expanding Medicare and Medicaid and creating a public option during his campaign to flip North Carolina's 11th Congressional District.
Ager's campaign website, meanwhile, says he will support "robust Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security," and wants to add dental and vision coverage under Medicare.
"I'll push for a public option so everyone has access to quality affordable health care," he adds.
The What's Next summit will run through Friday and is set to feature some of the Democratic Party's rumored 2028 presidential candidates, including former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, Georgia senator Raphael Warnock, and California congressman Ro Khanna. The Washington Free Beacon was denied press credentials because of "space constraints," according to Majority Democrats, the host group, though it granted entry to a left-wing journalist who spent several days complaining about her own denial. Majority Democrats announced a livestream of the event two days before it began.
