Twitter Erupts After Rep. Jason Chaffetz Says People Should Forgo iPhones to Buy Healthcare

Tuesday morning, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) sat down with CNN to discuss the Republican replacement for Obamacare, sparking backlash on Twitter from people unhappy with the Congressman’s comments. Responding to the claim that the new plan limits access to care for low-income Americans, Chaffetz remarked, “Americans have choices, and they’ve got to make a choice. So rather than getting that new iPhone that they just love and want to go spend hundreds of dollars on that, maybe they should invest in their own health care.”

People on Twitter were quick to respond, pointing out that iPhones, while expensive, shouldn’t be compared to the expense of healthcare.

Here’s what they had to say:

Without insurance, a three-month supply of my insulin pumps–just the pumps, not the insulin itself–costs ~$1750.

An iPhone 7 costs $650.

— Daniel Solomon (@Dan_E_Solo) March 7, 2017

when i had cancer a dr gave me a two-minute throat scope with a tiny camera & billed us for $17,000. had a flip phone at the time thank god!

— erin chack (@ErinChack) March 7, 2017

Actually, if healthcare only cost as much as an iPhone, that would be awesome. Can we do that? — Daniel Abraham (@AbrahamHanover) March 7, 2017

3. By coincidence I received my Cobra bill this morning. It’s almost $1,800 a month. I’m not spending that a year on the family iPhone plan. — Helaine Olen (@helaineolen) March 7, 2017

@SopanDeb So I can get healthcare for $15 a month for life, like my iPhone plan from Sprint? Sign me up!

— Adam Chappelle (@adamchappelle) March 7, 2017

Jason Chaffetz, selling my iPhone would not pay $31K healthcare bills last year. Thanks for the suggestion. ????#Trumpcare

— Strange Times (@rob13567) March 7, 2017

Chaffetz says poor people may have to choose between an iPhone and healthcare, “Siri what is this lump?” — Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) March 7, 2017

Healthcare is not a consumer product like an iPhone or a TV, you dolt. https://t.co/hruSPLlyx9

— Mike Girouard (@girouard_mike) February 22, 2017

Because you have to choose between health care or an iPhone? ???? can we even compare the two? Do they have a 24 or 30 month plan? Decisions…

— Eulises Hernandez (@Hernand5Eulises) March 8, 2017

Hey Jason @jasoninthehouse I’m writing this to you on my $600 iPhone, bought once every 2 years. Can you get me insurance for $300 a year?????

— eli friedmann (@eligit) March 7, 2017

My broken ankle cost $117,000 so that’s around 234 iPhones @jasoninthehouse.

— roxane gay (@rgay) March 7, 2017

Hey, @jasoninthehouse! Can you tell me how many iPhones my wife’s brain tumor will cost? I’m trying to budget here.

— Daniel Poehlman (@DPoem) March 7, 2017

– Cost of iPhone: $399
– Cost of healthcare for 1 year: $10,345
– Hearing @jasoninthehouse compare the 2 as if they are the same: priceless

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) March 7, 2017

.@jasoninthehouse How much healthcare can my iphone 4 get me? And then how do work and my kids get in touch with me? #iphonequeen

— julie anderson (@stuntfrau) March 8, 2017

Hello @jasoninthehouse, my brother has a $500,000 hospital bill he’s trying to pay off. What’s the most prudent way he can sell his iPhone?

— Kaleb Horton (@kalebhorton) March 7, 2017

Hey @jasoninthehouse – this is the monthly cost of one of the medicines my wife takes. Which iPhone do you have? pic.twitter.com/3fBkqLdw73

— Ben Boyer (@sleezsisters) March 7, 2017