Time Magazine Writer Says Rationing Is 'Built Into' Obamacare

UPDATE -- Halperin has responded to reports of his Obamacare rationing claims:

In Mon intv I did not say "death panels" nor do I believe ACA contains them. Was speaking of political/policy challenge of IPAB cuts. My bad

— Mark Halperin (@MarkHalperin) November 26, 2013

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Mark Halperin, senior political analyst for Time magazine, acknowledged in an interview Monday that Obamacare would include “rationing," seeming to bolster earlier claims that the new health care law could lead to what some have dubbed “death panels.”

Time magazine's Mark Halperin said rationing is "built into" Obamacare. (Getty Images)

“Rationing is part of” Obamacare, Newsmax's Steve Malzberg said Monday.

“I agree,” Halperin replied. “Huge. It’s going to be a huge issue, and that’s something else about which the president was not fully forthcoming and straightforward."

“Alright, so you believe that there will be rationing, AKA death panels,” Malzberg pressed.

“It's built into the plan. It's not like a guess or like a judgment. That's going to be part of how costs are controlled,” Halperin said.

Halperin, the co-author of the new book "Double Down: Game Change 2012" about the 2012 presidential campaign, added that a "very high percentage of our health care spending is for a very small number of people at the last stages of their life."

"I'm not saying the system shouldn't allow that, but there's too much cost. There are judgments have to be made," he said.

The Newsmax host asked who should be making such judgements.

“By individuals. No, by individuals. And health insurance companies," Halperin said.

“But it’s not going to be made by individuals if you say it’s included in the health care -- ” Malzberg said.

“It’s not now for many people who have insurance, their insurance companies make those decisions," Halperin said.

“But they don’t pull, it’s very rare that they, in other words, if someone needs a bypass, the insurance company doesn’t say put them in a hospice or give them a pill,” Malzberg said.

Halperin responded by saying the country has yet to have a serious conversation on these costs, adding that the White House and supporters of the health care law have so far avoided these tough discussions.

The segment concluded with the two agreeing that President Barack Obama has been less than forthcoming when discussing these weighty and nuanced issues regarding his signature health care law.

Watch the discussion below, beginning around the eight-minute mark (refresh page if video doesn't appear):

(H/T: NewsBusters)

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