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'Out of touch' RFK Jr. believes $40K a month is affordable price for rehab: 'That's a salary' (www.latintimes.com)

submitted 11 hours ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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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.

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[–] [email protected] 25 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago) (3 children)

I misread this as "being able to afford rehab if you make 40,000/yr" which is a bit silly because that's just over $20 per hour. But taking it PER MONTH means this costs $55/hr as a subscription type model. I'd wager most Americans don't make that. Certainly not one struggling with addiction. He actually said 20-40k, so he clearly has no idea. "Is a Banana $10" moment.

Rehab, according to google, generically hosts people for 30-60-90 days. (I could not find anything as to what a Gold Star rehab facility is other than the brand Goldstar with a single quick google search) With a proper reading of the headline, this means 40k-80k-120k which, for the average American is the price of a new car up to a home loans. Translating that means a 5 - 30 year loan. Imagine taking out a 30 year loan to spend 3 months somewhere. Rediculous

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

You mean 40-80-120 no? If 1 month is 40k then 3 months is 120k

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 hours ago

Uh....I wasn't fully awake when I was typing, but yes

[–] [email protected] 12 points 8 hours ago

To add to that, most people end up going back to rehab at some point whether they have slipped back into addiction or they are at a place in life they feel might lead to addiction again

Rehab saves lives better than removing drugs from the street ever will, but saving lives isn't really the goal for the government

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 hours ago

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.