(CNN) California Sen. Kamala Harris fully embraced "Medicare-for-all" single payer health insurance at a CNN town hall Monday and said she's willing to end private insurance to make it happen.

"We need to have Medicare-for-all," Harris told a questioner in the audience, noting it's something she feels "very strongly" about.

When pressed by CNN's Jake Tapper if that means eliminating private insurance, the senator answered affirmatively, saying she would be OK with cutting insurers out of the mix. She also accused them of thinking only of their bottom lines and of burdening Americans with paperwork and approval processes.

"The idea is everyone gets access to medical care," she responded when Tapper asked if people who like their insurance would get to keep it.

It was an answer that Republicans immediately jumped on. Michael Ahrens, rapid response director for the Republican National Committee, said on Twitter, "Dems in 2019: If you like your plan, we're eliminating it."

Dems in 2009: If you like your plan, you can keep it.



Dems in 2019: If you like your plan, we're eliminating it. https://t.co/u59loeVZuW — Michael Ahrens (@michael_ahrens) January 29, 2019

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