U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. showed just how “out of touch” he is after claiming $40,000 a month for rehab was affordable for Americans.
On Wednesday, RFK Jr. presented the health department’s fiscal 2026 budget to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. During an interaction with California Rep. Josh Harder, the health secretary attempted to defend sweeping cuts to Medicaid, a health insurance program for low- and middle-income households. But Harder pushed back.
Harder told RFK Jr. that the rehab program Kennedy participated in to overcome his heroin addiction would cost Americans $286,000 out of pocket today.
“There are, Congressman, there are many really gold star rehabs that do it for a tiny fraction, like $20,000 to $40,000 a month,” RFK Jr. interrupted to say in an X clip shared by journalist Aaron Rupar Wednesday.
The median household income in the US, as of 2024 is about $80k.
The 25%tile is $40k, so a quarter of American households live off of 40k a year or less.
You obviously cannot work while at an inpatient rehab.
A year of rehab, at $40k a month, would be as expensive as a house. As you mention, a 90 day stay would be … well, the price of a new truck or SUV.
RFK Jr is apparently still quite high on some high quality shit to think this price range is anywhere near reasonable.
Lop off a zero, cut it in half, now that would be approaching kinda sorta plausible.