¶ Garrett Mason’s Attacks On Health Care
¶ Overview
In November 2025, Garrett Mason supported Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” which he praised as “the exact kind of package that working people need.” Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” would lead to major coverage losses and result in Mainers losing access to health insurance. The bill was projected to leave more than 57,300 Mainers without health care coverage by 2034, including more than 34,000 Medicaid recipients.
In March 2026, Mason opposed expanding Medicaid eligibility, called coverage for childless adults “crazy,” said a future governor should repeal the expansion, and supported Medicaid work requirements. At the same time, Mainers warned reducing Medicaid funding would threaten programs that helped vulnerable residents live independently and avoid institutionalization. In 2014, Mason voted against Medicaid expansion, including efforts to override a veto, opposing efforts that would have expanded health coverage and used federal funding to insure tens of thousands of low-income Mainers. Today, the program provides health coverage to more than 400,000 Mainers, including more than half of the state’s children.
In November 2025, Mason called the Affordable Care Act a “sham” and claimed it “destroyed” the health care system, even though more than 58,500 Mainers relied on ACA plans for coverage. In 2025, Mason blamed Democrats for “destroying” health care and claimed Affordable Care Act subsidies drove up costs, despite more than 54,000 Mainers depending on them for coverage in 2025. After Congress failed to extend them, Maine’s marketplace saw a 9.5% enrollment drop, with 3,500 Mainers canceling their plans because they could no longer afford them.
In 2025, Mason also promoted Christian Healthcare Sharing Ministries as an “affordable” alternative to the Affordable Care Act, even though the Maine Bureau of Insurance warned they were not bound to the same rules as insurers. Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reform warned these plans were not subject to compliance with the Affordable Care Act and often exclude pre-existing conditions and essential benefits, leaving Mainers at risk of significant out-of-pocket costs. At the same time, the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion dramatically reduced uninsured rates, including cutting the rate among low-income workers from 38 percent in 2013 to 17 percent in 2022.
¶ Garrett Mason Praised Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” Despite Concerns The Law Would Strip Health Coverage From Tens Of Thousands Of Mainers
¶ Garrett Mason Praised Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” Despite Concerns The Law Would Strip Health Coverage From Millions And Benefit Wealthy Americans
¶ Garrett Mason Praised Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” And Claimed It Was “The Exact Kind Of Package That Working People Need”
October 2025: Garrett Mason Praised Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” As “The Exact Kind Of Package That Working People Need” And Criticized Governor Janet Mills For Refusing To Conform Maine Tax Law To Its Tax Credits Under L.D. 221. According to Garrett Mason on The Garrett Mason Show, “MASON: You know, we've also learned recently that Governor Mills has chosen not to do tax conformity under the Trump administration's Big, Beautiful Bill that includes things like no, no tax on tips, that includes things like tax credits for private education purposes. [...] MASON: But and it's it's the claim that she's making is that this is going to cost the state $400 million and that we don't have the money to do it. Well, geez, I wonder why we don't have the money to do it. I wonder why we've we've almost doubled the state budget over the course of her tenure. And now we have tax credits that could be used by that, by very average normal people who could be working people working who could use these tax credits. And she she can't do it because she doesn't have the money. I mean, what a dereliction. And quite frankly, what a great idea by the Trump administration by moving this into federal tax conformity so that governors have the ability, you know, governors have the ability to either approve or deny these tax credits. Jeff, can you talk a little bit about L.D. 221 and the governor? She's not really telling the whole truth. GUEST: Well, you know, I think the interesting part is we passed L.D. 221 this year, and on June 17th, it became law. Okay. So this is a law that she asked for, the Democrats asked for, and it was put forward and now is become the law of the land that when the federal government makes its recommendations for taxes that the state of Maine can conform to the federal tax laws right up front. [...] MASON: It's well, and it's great. Hey, to make for a lot of you know people that are running for office is because it's this is this is the exact kind of package that working people need." [Garrett Mason, The Garrett Mason Show, 10/22/25] (VIDEO)
- 2025: Maine Policy Institute: Governor Janet Mills Could Temporarily Conform Maine Tax Law To Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” Under L.D. 221. According to the Maine Policy Institute, “Under L.D. 221 (Public Law 2025, Chapter 336), a law that went into effect on September 23, the Legislature gave Governor Mills authority to temporarily conform Maine tax administration to recent federal changes before the Legislature formally updates the tax code. This law allows her to: Direct Maine Revenue Services (MRS) to administer the 2025 tax year using federal rule changes Change Maine tax policy temporarily when the legislature hasn’t had the opportunity to act yet.” [Maine Policy Institute, 10/6/25]
- 2025: Maine Policy Institute Claimed A New State Law Gave Governor Janet Mills Temporary Authority To Conform Maine Tax Law To Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.” According to the Maine Policy Institute, “Until recently, that was a straightforward issue of legislative timing. Maine uses static conformity to federal tax law, meaning the state must pass a law each year to adopt any federal changes. Because OBBBA passed in 2025, after Maine’s current conformity date, these tax breaks are not yet recognized in state law. So far, that’s normal. But a law passed earlier this year changed everything. what changed: new law gives Mills temporary power to conform.” [Maine Policy Institute, 10/6/25]
¶ Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” Threatened To Strip Health Coverage From Millions While Delivering Benefits To Wealthy Americans
HEADLINE: “At Least 17 Million Americans Would Lose Insurance Under Trump Plan” [Washington Post, 7/1/25]
HEADLINE: “By The Numbers: Harmful Republican Megabill Favors The Wealthy And Leaves Millions Of Working Families Behind” [Center On Budget And Policy Priorities, 8/1/25]
The Congressional Budget Office Estimated That 11.8 Million People Would Become Uninsured As A Result Of The Medicaid Cuts In Republicans’ Reconciliation Bill. According to the Washington Post, “The bill, which narrowly passed the Senate on Tuesday and now heads back to the House, would effectively accomplish what Republicans have long failed to do: unwind many of the key components of the ACA, President Barack Obama’s signature domestic achievement, which dramatically increased the number of Americans with access to health insurance. To start, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the Senate version of the bill would result in 11.8 million more uninsured in 2034, mostly because of Medicaid cuts, compared with 10.9 million if the House version became law.” [Washington Post, 7/1/25]
Center For American Progress: The Bill’s $50 Billion In Rural Hospital Relief Funding Would Not Come Close To The Gap Created By Medicaid Cuts, With 300 Rural Hospitals At “Immediate Risk” Of Closure. According to the Center For American Progress, “The OBBBA includes $50 billion in relief funding for rural hospitals over a five-year period to help reduce the disastrous impacts of the bill’s roughly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts. As of May 2025, there were approximately 2,086 rural hospitals receiving $12.2 billion a year in net revenue from Medicaid. At the median, rural hospitals’ revenue from Medicaid is $3.9 million a year. Rural hospitals have some of the lowest operating margins in the nation, especially compared with urban hospitals, meaning that any reductions in revenue could lead to closures. The average operating margin for rural hospitals was 3.1 percent in 2023, with 44 percent of rural hospitals operating with negative margins. As a result, more than 300 rural hospitals are currently at ‘immediate risk’ of closure, especially now that the OBBBA is projected to cut Medicaid spending by $1.02 trillion. The relief fund designed to blunt the negative impacts caused by the bill would not come close to filling that gap. If every rural hospital in the country received an even share of the $50 billion in relief support, it would amount to only $4.5 million every year for five years. At the close of those five years, that funding would disappear altogether.” [Center For American Progress, 7/3/25]
Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” Imposed Medicaid Work Requirements, Requiring States To Condition Medicaid Eligibility On Meeting Work Requirements. According to KFF, “On July 4, President Trump signed into law a budget reconciliation package once called the ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ that includes significant changes to the Medicaid program. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the Medicaid work requirement provisions in the passed budget reconciliation law will be the largest source of Medicaid savings, reducing federal spending by $326 billion over ten years and cause millions to become uninsured. […] The law will require states to condition Medicaid eligibility for adults in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion group at application and following enrollment on meeting work requirements starting January 1, 2027, with the option for states to implement requirements earlier. Currently, 41 states (including DC) have expanded their Medicaid programs under the ACA to nearly all adults up to 138% FPL ($21,597 for an individual in 2025).” [KFF, 7/30/25]
¶ More Than 57,300 Mainers Were Expected To Lose Health Care Coverage Under Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” By 2034, Including More Than 34,000 Medicaid Recipients
Under The “One Big Beautiful Bill,” 57,395 Mainers Were Expected To Lose Their Health Care By 2034, Including 22,700 ACA Enrollees And 34,695 Medicaid Recipients. According to the Joint Economic Committee Minority,
| District | State |
Est. # Losing ACA Coverage |
Est. # Losing Medicaid Coverage |
Est. Total # Losing Insurance |
|
ME-01 |
Maine |
11,700 |
13,216 |
24,916 |
|
ME-02 |
Maine |
11,000 |
21,479 |
32,479 |
|
All |
Totals |
22,700 |
34,695 |
57,395 |
[Joint Economic Committee Minority, 6/25]
¶ Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” Threatened The Affordable Care Act Coverage For More Than 33,000 Mainers
¶ The “One Big Beautiful Bill” And The Expiring Affordable Care Act Tax Credits Would Result In 33,000 Uninsured Mainers By 2034
The “One Big Beautiful Bill” And The Expiring Affordable Care Act Tax Credits Would Result In 33,000 Uninsured Mainers By 2034. According to the Center For American Progress, “The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will increase the number of Americans without health coverage in every state Estimated increase in the uninsured population due to the OBBBA and the expiration of the ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits, 2034”
[Center For American Progress, 9/5/25]
¶ Garrett Mason Opposed Medicaid Expansion And Called For Rolling Back Expansion, Even Though 400,000 Mainers Relied On MaineCare
¶ Garrett Mason Opposed Medicaid Expansion, Called For Rolling Back Expansion, And Supported Work Requirements And Limits On Eligibility
Garrett Mason Said He “Would Not Have Expanded Medicaid” In Maine
2026: Garrett Mason Said He “Would Not Have Expanded Medicaid” Eligibility And Criticized Increased Access Under Governor Mills. According to Garrett Mason on the Robinson Report, “You know, as I walk through the things that Governor Mills did. Well, I know that I wouldn't have expanded Medicaid to anybody who wanted it. I know I certainly wouldn't have done that.” [Garrett Mason, The Robinson Report, 3/19/26] (VIDEO)
¶
Garrett Mason Called Medicaid Coverage For Childless Adults “Crazy,” Despite The Program Helping Mainers Access Disability And Community Support Services
2026: Garrett Mason Criticized Medicaid Eligibility Expansion And Called Coverage For Childless Adults “Crazy.” According to Garrett Mason on the Robinson Report, “We've talked about the childless adults. You know, that's crazy. That's crazy. Like the fact that you can just be a person who doesn't have kids and that makes you eligible for Medicaid.” [Garrett Mason, The Robinson Report, 3/19/26] (VIDEO)
2025: Medicaid Cuts Threatened Critical Support Services For Maine Residents Like Olivia McDermott, Who Relied On Medicaid-Funded Programs To Access Daily Care And Live Independently. According to WGME, "However, recent cuts to Medicaid funding by the federal government have sparked concerns about the future of these services. Maura McDermott, parent of Oliva who lives with Down syndrome, expressed her fears about the potential impact of these cuts. 'If these things go away, it will just be really terrible,' she said. Olivia relies on a support worker through HCBS to manage her medical appointments, ensure she eats healthy food, make choices about her daily activities, bring her out into the community, and more. McDermott warned that if funding is reduced, 'These services are just going to go away, the reimbursement rate will be cut, the providers won't be able to provide these services like STRIVE or Café, these day programs, and if the money gets cut, they can't hire the staff, and if they can't hire the staff, the program goes away." [WGME, 8/15/25]
- 2025: Medicaid Cuts Threatened Services That Helped Mainers With Disabilities Remain In Their Communities And Access Daily Support Instead Of Facing Institutionalization. According to WGME, "Aimee Rutledge, the director of Intellectual and Developmental Disability Services at OHI, emphasized the importance of these services, not only for individuals with disabilities but also for their families, employees, and communities. 'They will lose some of those services they are currently getting, keeping them out of their community if they don't have staff that are paid to do those things with them,' Rutledge said. 'Not everybody has the ability to have a family member or a friend to do those things with them and help keep them a part of their community.' McDermott hopes the state can find solutions to preserve these programs, stating, 'People don't belong in institutions, they belong in the community." [WGME, 8/15/25]
¶ Garrett Mason Said The Next Governor Would Need To “Repeal” Medicaid Expansion If Republicans Did Not Control The Legislature
2026: Garrett Mason Said The Next Governor Would Need To “Repeal” Medicaid Expansion In The State Budget To Control Costs If The Legislature Was Not Fully Republican. According to Garrett Mason on the Robinson Report, “So the next Republican gubernatorial candidate has to start in August building out a budget. Knowing where the bodies are buried. Right. And the biggest one on Medicaid is you have to take out what happened under the law. You have to repeal that as part of the budget. It's your only chance if you don't have a Republican legislature and you have to prepare for that.” [Garrett Mason, The Robinson Report, 3/19/26] (VIDEO)
¶ Garrett Mason Raised Concerns About “Abuse” Of Government Assistance Programs And Supported Adding Work Requirements
2025: Mason Raised Concerns About “Abuse” Of Government Assistance Programs And Called For Work Requirements And Limits On Eligibility. According to Garrett Mason on The Garrett Mason Show, "Now, we have had a lot of discussions in Maine over the past 20 years about the excessive abuse of the welfare system here in Maine, and we can continue to have that discussion and and I'm sure we will. We need to also have it at the federal level. We need to have work requirements for some of these programs. We need to make sure that the ones that are getting it are the most vulnerable. It needs to be children and the elderly who who are beneficiaries of these programs most uh highly of all. But what's happening right now is there's going to be a lot of people who aren't going to have the benefits that they rely on." [Garrett Mason, The Garrett Mason Show, 11/5/25] (VIDEO)
¶ Garrett Mason Voted Against Medicaid Expansion
¶ Garrett Mason Cast A Deciding Vote Against Expanding Medicaid In Maine
2014: Garrett Mason Voted To Sustain Governor LePage’s Veto On Legislation Expanding Medicaid In Maine For Nearly 70,000 Low-Income Mainers. In 2014, according to the State of Maine Legislature, Garrett Mason voted against overriding a veto on LD 1487, "An Act To Implement Managed Care in the MaineCare Program." According to the Bangor Daily News, "As expected, Gov. Paul LePage on Wednesday vetoed a bill that would expand Medicaid coverage to roughly 70,000 low-income Mainers and dramatically overhaul the administration of the program by outsourcing it to managed care organizations. The Legislature gave final enactment to the bill on March 28, starting a countdown for LePage to sign the bill, veto it or let it go into law without his signature. Wednesday was the deadline day. It was the third time LePage has vetoed Medicaid expansion in the 126th Legislature. LD 1487 was presented by moderate Republican Sens. Roger Katz of Augusta and Tom Saviello of Wilton as a compromise effort to bring more of their party on board with expansion — the top priority for legislative Democrats." The votes were on overriding a veto. The Maine Senate failed to meet the two-thirds majority and failed to override the veto by a vote of 22 to 13. [State Of Maine Legislature – LD 1487 (2014), Vetoed 4/9/14; Maine Senate Roll Call 572, 4/11/14; Bangor Daily News, 4/9/14]
- The Vote To Override LePage’s Veto Fell Short Of Two Votes. According to the Bangor Daily News, "At about noon Friday, the 22-13 vote fell two votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto and marked the third time since last year that the Legislature has failed to override LePage’s veto of the issue. Having been proposed by two Republican senators, the bill that failed Friday was seen as the best chance at attracting enough support to win enactment." [Bangor Daily News, 4/11/14]
2014: Garrett Mason Voted Against Expanding Medicaid In Maine For Nearly 70,000 Low-Income Mainers. In 2014, according to the State of Maine Legislature, Garrett Mason voted against LD 1487, "An Act To Implement Managed Care in the MaineCare Program." According to the Bangor Daily News, "As expected, Gov. Paul LePage on Wednesday vetoed a bill that would expand Medicaid coverage to roughly 70,000 low-income Mainers and dramatically overhaul the administration of the program by outsourcing it to managed care organizations. The Legislature gave final enactment to the bill on March 28, starting a countdown for LePage to sign the bill, veto it or let it go into law without his signature. Wednesday was the deadline day. It was the third time LePage has vetoed Medicaid expansion in the 126th Legislature. LD 1487 was presented by moderate Republican Sens. Roger Katz of Augusta and Tom Saviello of Wilton as a compromise effort to bring more of their party on board with expansion — the top priority for legislative Democrats." The votes were on a motion to accept the majority ought to pass as amended report. The Maine Senate accepted the legislation by a vote of 22 to 13. The Maine House subsequently passed the bill to be enacted, but Governor LePage vetoed the bill. [State Of Maine Legislature – LD 1487 (2014), Vetoed 4/9/14; Maine Senate Roll Call 448, 3/12/14; Bangor Daily News, 4/9/14]
¶ Garrett Mason Voted Against A One-Year Medicaid Expansion Plan As The State Would Have Established A New System To Use Federal Funding To Purchase Private Health Insurance For New Medicaid Recipients
2014: Garrett Mason Voted Against Expanding Federally Funded Health Care For Mainers For One Year As The State Would Have Established A New System To Use Federal Funding To Purchase Private Health Insurance For Those Recipients. In 2014, according to the State of Maine Legislature, Garrett Mason voted against LD 1578, "An Act To Increase Health Security by Expanding Federally Funded Health Care for Maine People." According to the Bangor Daily News, "The Maine Legislature on Thursday night approved a Medicaid expansion plan for the third time since March, though the bill is likely doomed to the same fate as its predecessors — death by gubernatorial veto. The House of Representatives gave the bill final approval with a vote of 94-51. The Senate gave final approval after a 19-14 vote. Neither tally indicates enough support to override a near-certain veto by Republican Gov. Paul LePage. The bill, as amended by House Speaker Mark Eves, D-North Berwick, was introduced to lawmakers just hours before the vote, prompting complaints from some that there had not been enough time to digest the plan before being asked to vote. [...] "Rather than simply expanding Medicaid permanently to 70,000 low-income Mainers as originally envisioned by the 2010 federal Affordable Care Act, Eves’ plan would expand Medicaid to those people for one year, while the state establishes a new system to use the money to buy private insurance plans for those recipients. Starting in summer 2015, about 55,000 of those newly eligible Mainers — all of whom are childless adults — would be shifted to the private plan. Another roughly 15,000 parents would remain on Medicaid, known here as MaineCare." The vote was on a motion to accept the majority ought to pass as amended report. The Maine Senate accepted the legislation by a vote of 19 to 14. The Maine House subsequently passed the bill to be enacted, but Governor LePage vetoed the bill. [State Of Maine Legislature – LD 1578 (2014), Vetoed 5/1/14; Maine Senate Roll Call 606, 4/17/14; Bangor Daily News, 4/17/14]
- The Amended Bill Would Have Promoted A Medicaid Expansion Plan To Use Millions Of Federal Medicaid Dollars To Purchase Private Insurance Plans For Tens Of Thousands Of Newly Eligible Mainers. According to the Bangor Daily News, "The bill, as amended by House Speaker Mark Eves, D-North Berwick, was introduced to lawmakers just hours before the vote, prompting complaints from some that there had not been enough time to digest the plan before being asked to vote. Eves’ amendment offered a new twist on the 16-month-old Medicaid expansion debate by promoting a plan to use millions of federal Medicaid dollars to buy private insurance plans for tens of thousands of newly eligible low-income Mainers." [Bangor Daily News, 4/17/14]
¶ About 400,000 Mainers Relied On MaineCare, Including More Than 50 Percent Of Maine’s Children
As Of July 2025, Nearly 400,000 Mainers Relied On MaineCare, Including More Than 50 Percent Of Maine’s Children. According to the State Of Maine Department Of Health And Human Services, “Today, about 400,000 Mainers are enrolled in MaineCare, approximately 30% of all Mainers. Coverage is higher among children under 18 years old: MaineCare provides health insurance to more than 50% of Maine’s children.” [State Of Maine Department Of Health And Human Services, Archived 3/4/26]
¶ Garrett Mason Repeatedly Attacked The Affordable Care Act And ACA Tax Credits As More Than 58,500 Mainers Relied On ACA Plans For Their Health Care
¶ Garrett Mason Attacked Affordable Care Act Federal Subsidies, Even Though Mainers Relied On Federal Subsidies To Afford Their Plans
¶ Mason Claimed Affordable Care Act Federal Subsidies Drove Up Costs And Said Trump Was “Addressing” The Issue During The Government Shutdown
October 2025: Garrett Mason Claimed Health Insurance Company Profits Increased After The Affordable Care Act And Argued Federal Subsidies Drove Up Costs And Industry Profits. According to Garrett Mason on The Garrett Mason Show, “Exactly. And that's what's going on in healthcare right now with the government shutdown, right? And we'll talk about this on on on another show, but that's what's going on right now is, you know, nobody made out better on health insurance than the health insurance companies. If you look at a graph of the profitability of health insurance companies from the time Obamacare was passed until now, you will see a straight up profit over that over those 15 years. And you know, Democrats are blaming Republicans right now for rolling back subsidies. Well, the reason the subsidies are so high is because nobody can afford health insurance. And if you have a backstop of the federal government willing to pay these things for you, you can do whatever you want. And that's what's happening in some of these towns.” [Garrett Mason, The Garrett Mason Show, 10/31/25] (VIDEO)
November 2025: Garrett Mason Claimed Democrats “Completely Destroyed” Healthcare, Blamed Democrats For Rising Costs, And Said Trump Was “Addressing” The Issue During The Government Shutdown. According to Garrett Mason on The Garrett Mason Show, "Trump is addressing now popular items like it's really expensive to just live in America. One of the things he's addressing right now and part of why we're in the middle of a shutdown is healthcare and how Democrats have completely destroyed healthcare and and President Trump is addressing that issue head on." [Garrett Mason, The Garrett Mason Show, 11/6/25] (VIDEO)
- Extending The Affordable Care Act Tax Credits Was The Major Issue That Prompted The Fall 2025 Government Shutdown. According to the Portland Press Herald, "Extending the credits was a major issue that spurred last fall's government shutdown. Congress discussed extending the subsidies, and the House passed an extension that the Senate declined to take up." [Portland Press Herald, 3/26/26]
¶ Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace Experienced A 9.5 Percent Drop In ACA Enrollment After Congress Failed To Extend Enhanced Subsidies
2026: Maine’s Health Insurance Marketplace Experienced A 9.5 Percent Drop In ACA Enrollment, Including 3,500 Mainers Who Canceled Their Plans Because They Could No Longer Afford Their Plans After Congress Failed To Extend Enhanced Subsidies. According to the Portland Press Herald, "Maine's health insurance marketplace saw a 9.5% decline in ACA enrollment this year, including about 3,500 people who canceled their plans because they could no longer afford them. The drop comes after Congress did not extend the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, which expired Dec. 31. A bipartisan effort by lawmakers, including both of Maine's senators, to keep the subsidies fell apart in January." [Portland Press Herald, 3/26/26]
2025: 54,000 Mainers Relied On Enhanced Federal Subsidies To Afford Affordable Care Act Plans. According to Maine Public Radio, "Some Mainers now shopping the online health insurance marketplace for next year are finding steep increases. That's because enhanced premium tax credits will expire at the end of next month unless Congress extends them. The issue is at the center of the federal government shutdown. And as it continues, the 54,000 Mainers who currently receive the enhanced subsidies are in limbo." [Maine Public Radio, 11/6/25]
¶
Mason Repeatedly Attacked The Affordable Care Act And Claimed It “Destroyed” The Healthcare System, Even Though More Than 58,500 Mainers Relied On ACA Plans For Their Health Care
¶ Garrett Mason Called The Affordable Care Act A “Sham” And Claimed It “Destroyed” The American Healthcare System
November 2025: Garrett Mason Called The Affordable Care Act A “Sham” And Blamed Democrats For “Destroying Health Care” For 15 Years. According to Garrett Mason on The Garrett Mason Show, "From the Democrats and why this is actually going on. Democrats are trying to tell us that this is all about healthcare, that this is all about Republicans stripping people's health care from them and causing premiums to skyrocket. We're going to walk through that. But what this is actually about is about Democrats and their extreme Trump derangement syndrome. It's about Democrats and how they cannot continue to hold up the sham that is the Affordable Care Act. That's what this is actually all about. Democrats have been destroying health care in this country for 15 years. And in this government shutdown, they are trying to implement language that was stripped in Medicaid eligibility by the One Big Beautiful Bill." [Garrett Mason, The Garrett Mason Show, 11/5/25] (VIDEO)
November 2025: Garrett Mason Claimed The Affordable Care Act Was Designed To “Destroy” Private Health Care, And Said It “Has Done Nothing But Destroy” The Healthcare System. According to Garrett Mason on The Garrett Mason Show, "The design of Obamacare was made to destroy the private healthcare industry and force everybody into universal singlepayer. Now, I think that there is some places that the left and the right can come together on healthcare. I think everybody agrees that the system is radically broken. But I can tell you this, I have no use for universal healthcare. In fact, we just learned today that universal healthcare advocates are going to try to get it on the ballot again here in Maine and they're going to try to force everybody into a universal healthcare style system. We have a really good look of what universal health care looks like. It looks like the pandemic where if you don't take the vaccines that they want you to take, you can't get healthcare or maybe you can't go to work. It looks like if you don't take the experimental drug that we want you to take for your, you know, whatever ailment that it is, then you can't get any more medical services. That's what singlepayer health healthcare looks like. [...] Universal healthcare is not what we need. We need a functioning health care system in this country and the Affordable Care Act has done nothing but destroy it.” [Garrett Mason, The Garrett Mason Show, 11/5/25] (VIDEO)
¶ 2026: There Were More Than 58,500 Mainers Enrolled In An Affordable Care Act Marketplace Plan
2026: There Were 58,523 Individuals Enrolled In An Affordable Care Act Marketplace Plan In Maine. According to KFF, in 2026, there were 58,523 individuals enrolled in the Affordable Care Act marketplace plan in Maine.
[KFF, Accessed 4/21/26]
¶ Garrett Mason Promoted Unregulated Christian Healthcare Sharing Ministries As An Alternative To The Affordable Care Act
¶ Mason Promoted Christian Health Care Sharing Ministries As An Alternative To The Affordable Care Act And Described His Faith As Influencing His Policy Views
Mason Promoted Christian Health Care Sharing Ministries As A Lower-Cost Alternative To The Affordable Care Act And Attacked Maine Democrats For Opposing Them. According to Garrett Mason on The Garrett Mason Show, "That's an option that can bring premiums down and give you a product that you can afford. In fact, there's also other programs that aren't that that people do take advantage of in the State of Maine like Christian healthcare sharing ministries where you share the cost of health care amongst believers. But there's Maine Democrats who want to take that away from you as well that don't think that that should be allowed. In fact, many of them have called it a quote unquote scam. Imagine that. A Christian healthcare ministries program that shares the costs of medical burdens. And the response from Maine Democrats is that it's a scam. It's a scam when you open up your your envelope and there's checks in there for your for your payment combined with prayer requests. That's a scam. Absolutely absurd. Instead of trying to make healthcare more affordable in Maine, Maine Democrats have done everything that they can to make it more expensive. There are solutions out there for us for people to have. There are better options for people to have even in the face of the destruction of Obamacare. And yet there are some Maine Democrats who don't want that for you. We must do something about healthcare." [Garrett Mason, The Garrett Mason Show, 11/5/25] (VIDEO)
¶ The Maine Bureau Of Insurance Warned Mainers Should Be “Wary” Of Purchasing Unregulated Health Care Sharing Ministries Plans
The Maine Bureau Of Insurance Warned Mainers Should Be “Wary” Of Purchasing Health Care Sharing Ministries Plans Because The Bureau Would Likely Be Unable To Assist Them Since They Were Not Subject To The Same Rules As Insurers. According to the Bangor Daily News, "Insurance alternatives take many forms, but they share a commonality: they are not subject to the same rules as insurers. Many will only cover care for preexisting conditions after a waiting period. They often do not cover abortion and some won’t accept smokers or people who weigh above a certain amount. [...] Consumers should be ‘wary’ of purchasing plans from health care sharing ministries and similar entities, said Timothy Schott, deputy superintendent of the Maine Bureau of Insurance, the state agency that regulates insurance. ‘The Bureau will likely be unable to assist them,’ he said." [Bangor Daily News, 4/23/26]
¶ Georgetown University Center On Health Insurance Reforms: Health Care Sharing Ministries Were Not Required To Comply With The Consumer Protections Of The Affordable Care Act And Typically Excluded Preexisting Conditions
Georgetown University Center On Health Insurance Reforms: Most States Did Not Consider Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSMs) Plans As Health Insurance And Did Not Subject Them To The Same Regulations As Insurers, And HCSMs Were Not Required To Comply With The Consumer Protections Of The Affordable Care Act. According to the Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms, "What are HCSMs? HCSMs’ members agree to follow a common set of religious or ethical beliefs and contribute regular payments to help pay the qualifying medical expenses of other members. HCSMs have many features that are similar to those of insurance. For example, members’ payments are typically required on a monthly basis and may vary depending on age and level of coverage, much like a premium. Members must pay some costs out-of-pocket before they can submit bills to the HCSM for payment, akin to a deductible; member guidelines for coverage often require members to pay co-insurance and use a network provider when getting care. Even the marketing relies heavily on the similarity to insurance, which can mislead consumers into thinking they’re getting more from a membership than an HCSM provides. Despite these similarities, most states do not consider HCSMs to be health insurance issuers, and do not subject them to the standards that insurance companies must meet. This can leave members financially vulnerable. HCSMs make no guarantee that they will cover any health care claim, even those that meet guidelines for sharing, and they don’t have to meet financial standards to ensure they have enough funds to pay claims. They also do not have to comply with the consumer protections of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). For example, HCSMs do not have to cover essential health benefits, which include hospitalization, maternity care, mental health and substance use disorder services, prescription drugs, and preventative services. In fact, HCSMs typically exclude coverage for preexisting conditions, behavioral health, and maternity care except in limited circumstances, and limit coverage for prescription drugs." [Georgetown University, Center on Health Insurance Reforms, 8/21/23]
- Georgetown University Center On Health Insurance Reforms: HCSMs Typically Excluded Preexisting Conditions, Behavioral Health, And Maternity Care Except In Limited Circumstances, And Limited Coverage For Prescription Medications. According to the Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms, "They also do not have to comply with the consumer protections of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). For example, HCSMs do not have to cover essential health benefits, which include hospitalization, maternity care, mental health and substance use disorder services, prescription drugs, and preventative services. In fact, HCSMs typically exclude coverage for preexisting conditions, behavioral health, and maternity care except in limited circumstances, and limit coverage for prescription drugs." [Georgetown University, Center on Health Insurance Reforms, 8/21/23]
¶ The Affordable Care Act Allowed States To Expand Medicaid, Which Dramatically Lowered The Uninsured Rate Among Low-Income Workers
The Affordable Care Act Allowed States To Expand Medicaid, And States That Expanded Medicaid Dramatically Lowered The Number Of People Without Health Insurance. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “The Affordable Care Act (ACA) permits states to expand Medicaid coverage to adults with incomes up to 138 percent of the poverty level (about $20,780 annually for an individual or $35,630 for a family of three). States that have adopted the expansion have dramatically lowered their uninsured rates. Extensive research finds that the people who gained coverage have grown healthier and more financially secure, while long-standing racial inequities in health outcomes, coverage, and access to care have shrunk.” [Center On Budget And Policy Priorities, 6/14/24]
- The Uninsured Rate Among Low-Income Workers Fell From 38 Percent In 2013 To 17 Percent In 2022, Which Coincided With Implementation Of Medicaid Expansion. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “Millions of workers have gained coverage through Medicaid expansion, including people working in industries that provide critical goods and services such as health care, transportation, grocery stores, food manufacturers, and child care. Many have no access to health coverage through their jobs. In expansion states, the uninsured rate among low-income workers fell from 38 percent in 2013 to 17 percent in 2022; this sharp decline coincided with a large increase in the share of low-income workers enrolled in Medicaid.[16] In non-expansion states, the uninsured rate among low-income workers fell much less, from 46 percent to 31 percent. (See Figure 3.)” [Center On Budget And Policy Priorities, 6/14/24]