The next is the transcript of the interview with Sen. Invoice Cassidy, Republican of Louisiana, that aired on “Face the Country with Margaret Brennan” on Nov. 16, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome again to Face the Country. On Friday, we spoke with the Chairman of one of the vital Senate committees answerable for crafting well being care regulation, Louisiana’s Invoice Cassidy, who may be a physician. We started via appearing him what the President is considering of for a healthcare repair.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I am calling these days for insurance coverage corporations to not be paid, however for the cash, this huge amount of cash to be paid immediately to the folk of our nation in order that they may be able to purchase their very own well being care, which shall be some distance higher and some distance more economical than the crisis referred to as Obamacare.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So are you, Senator, coordinating with the White Area in this proposal?
SEN. BILL CASSIDY: So we are completely in verbal exchange with the White Area and with the management, as a result of there may be a large number of stuff that it’s important to determine to try this. However let me give somewhat meat at the bones of what the President’s talking about. If you happen to take a look at an Obamacare coverage now, there is a $6,000 deductible. Democrats are combating to decrease the premiums. You decrease a top rate on one thing which has $6,000 deductible, it is mainly a catastrophic coverage. Now, I love to talk of the price of being insured, no longer simply the price of the medical insurance. The President is proposing that we take the $26 billion that may be going to insurance coverage corporations if we do exactly a immediately out extension, and via the best way, 20 % of that $26 billion, 20 % will opt for benefit and administrative overhead, give it immediately to the American other folks in an account through which 100% of the cash is used for them to buy well being care on their very own phrases. Now- now, that makes them an educated client. It additionally is helping cope with the want to have protection for that deductible, and in the event that they get that coverage with the next deductible, they may be able to in fact decrease their top rate. It is a candy spot, decrease premiums, lend a hand with the deductible, making the affected person the knowledgeable client, the President and I are united. We will have to all be united about that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Neatly, the President’s financial adviser, Kevin Hassett, was once in this program ultimate Sunday. He mentioned the president was once simply brainstorming, issues are not officially put in combination amongst Republican senators but, however I simply need to explain what you might be coordinating with the President on right here, as a result of, is it to shop for your individual insurance coverage, which is more or less difficult, or is it to make use of this versatile spending account you’ve got mentioned for similar well being care wishes? Like, are there restrictions on how you’ll be able to use that cash?
SEN. CASSIDY: So first, there may be two varieties of top rate tax credit. There is the baseline top rate tax credit score, which was once a part of Obamacare, that may keep in impact, and other folks would nonetheless purchase a coverage. As an example, they get in a automotive destroy, one thing disastrous. They want someone negotiating on their behalf with the entire suppliers. That remains the similar. What we are speaking in regards to the shutdown was once over the improved top rate tax credit. Insurance policies have turn into so dear below Obamacare that below Joe Biden, Democrats handed every other subsidy on most sensible of the primary subsidy. That is what we are combating about and what Republicans are announcing, and I love to pray Democrats will too. Whats up, wait a 2nd, if we will have decrease premiums and lend a hand other folks with their deductible via giving the cash immediately to the affected person. Via the best way, 20 % does not opt for insurance coverage corporate benefit and overhead. 100percent is going for well being care. Why do not we unite Republican and Democrats in doing that? That is the place the President is. You were given to determine some issues out. However we are so much additional alongside than chances are you’ll consider.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So do you wish to have to mend Obamacare, or do you wish to have to get rid of Obamacare?
SEN. CASSIDY: First, it’s important to, like, we are going into 2026. That is like a month and a part from now.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
SEN. CASSIDY: And so you have to paintings with what you might have. However then again, Obamacare was once a most sensible heavy, administratively heavy sort device through which some huge cash is some huge cash, and accountability is taken from people and given to insurance coverage corporations. As one instance, I am a physician. I paintings for two decades in a medical institution for the uninsured. I discovered that in the event you give the affected person the ability, just right issues occur that is supported, via the best way, via the scientific literature, if the affected person is engaged in her well being care and the well being care of her circle of relatives. She will be a sensible client, smart for her well being and smart for her pocketbook. We want to have a brand new style, and that style is to interact the affected person in her personal well being care. Doing so is just right for her, just right for us all.
MARGARET BRENNAN: K, however you mentioned we want to paintings with what we now have. This is, as you simply mentioned, you might have a brief period of time earlier than the tip of the 12 months. Do you assume you want to increase the well being care tax subsidies which might be these days in position till you determine the entire remainder of this difficult coverage making?
SEN. CASSIDY: Let me again you up just a bit bit, Margaret. I will simply say, everyone assumes it is simple simply to increase the top rate tax credit, the improved top rate tax credit. It isn’t that simple. 50 % of the states didn’t plan on them being prolonged, and they do not have charges as though they had been to be prolonged. In order that approach if we cross this mid December, they have were given to recalculate charges in time for, wait a 2nd, via that point, we are already into 2026 it isn’t a very simple subject. And via the best way, did I point out the insurance policies that individuals need to decrease the premiums for have $6,000 deductibles. It’s mainly one thing for insurance coverage corporations to earn cash off of and for the person to plow through $6,000 of debt earlier than they may be able to after all get admission to it. Now, the type of proposal I’m proposing Republicans are, and I am hoping Democrats will sign up for, is, let’s take that cash, and we now have a mechanism to take action. We give it to the affected person. Via giving her that cash, she may select a bronze stage plan, which is to mention decrease premiums. So now her premiums are down, however she has cash in an account to lend a hand with the deductible, and I feel we will determine that out about as simply as we will work out what we’d do if we simply did a immediately out extension.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So you wish to have to do all this, although, via the second one week of December, when the Democrats had been promised they are going to have a vote on an ACA invoice in their selection.
SEN. CASSIDY: Sure, and I inform my Democratic colleagues first, let’s no longer be Democrats and Republicans. Let’s be American citizens, representing all of American citizens. Let’s acknowledge what you are doing simply offers cash to insurance coverage corporations, however we will do it higher with decrease premiums and with cash and accounts to pay deductibles. After which why do not we come in combination? There could be a Democratic invoice and a Republican invoice, and each fail. Let’s do an American invoice the place the American other folks receive advantages and this paintings in combination, collaborate to decrease the ones premiums and lend a hand them with that first buck protection in the- within the deductible.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So we regarded and there are about 293,000 Louisianans, your state, enrolled in Obamacare these days, six weeks from now, the ones extent expanded tax credit that you’ve got been speaking about will cross away for people making $62,000 or above. Folks making lower than that quantity will see their tax credit score shrink. So are you telling the ones loads of hundreds of Louisianans that that tax credit score goes away it doesn’t matter what, that- that they will have to make plans–
SEN. CASSIDY: No.
MARGARET BRENNAN: – for upper costs?
SEN. CASSIDY: I am telling them that we are I am telling them that we’re operating to make it paintings higher for them. And they’d inform you, via the best way, wait a 2nd, I were given a $6,000 deductible that doesn’t paintings for me. Margaret, I am a physician. I might communicate to other folks once they’d come to peer me, and they might inform me, I will’t have enough money that. My deductible is just too prime. That is truth, and that truth is being misplaced on this dialogue. We have now were given to do something positive about sky prime deductibles. Possibly you’ll be able to have enough money the top rate. You’ll be able to’t have enough money the coverage. Let’s decrease the price of having medical insurance, focusing via no longer simply at the top rate, however the deductible. And I feel we will do each.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Neatly, even within the personal marketplace, well being care prices have long past up up six to 9 % while you take a look at the projections. However I need to ask you about your oversight function. Secretary Kennedy has this hand picked panel of vaccine advisors. You understand them at ACIP. They will meet in a couple of days and doubtlessly vote on converting the hepatitis B vaccine time table for babies. That very same vaccine advisory workforce may be taking into consideration the protection of vaccine substances like aluminum, which might have an effect on plenty of youth photographs. This will have to subject for American folks. Are you happy with what they’re about to position to a vote?
SEN. CASSIDY: I am very inquisitive about this. Because it seems, my scientific follow desirous about hepatitis B, and so we all know that as a result of a really helpful dose at start of hepatitis B vaccine, really helpful, no longer mandated, the collection of youngsters born contracting hepatitis B at start, or in a while thereafter, has lowered from about 20,000, two decades in the past to love 200 now. That is 20- successfully a clerical error. Now we have lowered occurrence of power hepatitis B via 20,000 other folks during the last twenty years with this type of advice. And via the best way, if you are inflamed at start, you are extra likely- you are 95 % more likely to turn into a protracted service. The vaccine is protected. It’s been established, and those substances they are talking of had been proven to be protected. That is coverage via individuals who do not perceive the epidemiology of hepatitis B, or who’ve grown happy with the truth that we have now been such a success with our advice that now the occurrence of hepatitis B is so low, they really feel like we will relaxation on our laurels. I am a physician. I’ve noticed other folks die from vaccine-preventable illness. I would like other folks to be wholesome. I need to make The united states wholesome, and you do not get started via preventing suggestions that experience made us considerably more healthy.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Neatly, the president of america additionally informed American girls to not take Tylenol. Or give it to their youngsters. That is in line with a idea that it reasons autism by some means. And he additionally in a social media put up, the similar one, referred to as for the measles, mumps and rubella shot to be damaged up into 3 other photographs. That was once then recommended via the appearing CDC director. Are you involved via this type of suggestive linkage on the most sensible of the CDC and from the White Area?
SEN. CASSIDY: Once more, I am a physician, and so I will cross the place the proof takes me. And the most productive proof is a learn about out of Sweden with 2 million youngsters that discovered no- no causality, no affiliation, if you are going to, between taking Tylenol in being pregnant and getting autism. And naturally, that issues me, as a result of there may be going to be a mother in the market —once more, I am a physician, I communicate to I communicate to sufferers— in a room, and her kid has autism. She took Tylenol for a prime fever throughout being pregnant and now she blames herself. That is simply the best way mamas assume, and that is the reason improper. We are not looking for her to assume that. The most productive proof is that there is not any courting, via the best way, if in case you have a prime fever throughout being pregnant, that can be a chance for autism. Now, in fact, if you are pregnant, communicate on your doctor earlier than you’re taking anything else, however level being, the most productive proof is that there is not any courting between the 2. And I are not looking for girls striking themselves on a guilt shuttle when the most productive proof presentations no longer. Via the best way, the President has spoken out strongly in want of immunizations in different circumstances, and I famous, when he were given his bodily, he were given the flu and COVID photographs. So the President has demonstrated that he believes in immunization.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However that is why clarifying the statements, I feel, is necessary, because you interpret them in a different way. I ponder, do you be apologetic about your affirmation vote for Secretary Kennedy?
SEN. CASSIDY: I smile as a result of each reporter asks me that–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Neatly, as a result of those questions run proper right into a pledge that you simply extracted from him to not tinker with one of the crucial constructions that had been set in position to have oversight of those vaccines and this procedure.
SEN. CASSIDY: So that you are living lifestyles ahead, once more, you do exactly, let the day’s personal troubles be enough for the day. And I will credit score the secretary. He is introduced consideration to such things as ultra-processed meals that has, frankly, by no means won this type of consideration earlier than, and other folks reward him for that. So he and I’ve publicly disagreed on some issues, however I strongly believe him on others, and so, in order that’s how I will resolution your query.
if that is your ultimate 12 months in place of business, sir, will you are making overhauling well being care your most sensible precedence?
SEN. CASSIDY: Neatly, I positive hope it isn’t my ultimate 12 months in place of business, however, however I have been fascinated about healthcare for 30 years, as a result of after I labored in a public medical institution for the uninsured, I noticed the weight it may well be on middle-income households who had center revenue however could not have enough money the insurance coverage or could not guarantee have enough money the healthcare. And so it is been my precedence for 30 years, and I can proceed to try this. And if there’s a silver lining, if there’s a silver lining within the shutdown, we simply had, the silver lining is now we’re desirous about how can we make well being care extra reasonably priced for the American other folks. That are supposed to be our objective, to not be partisan come what may. How can we make it extra reasonably priced for fellow American citizens? If we will do so, I can really feel like I have completed my activity.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator, thanks in your time.
SEN. CASSIDY: Thanks Margaret.
