How is universal health care "elitist"?

I am confused. I heard a tea party animal say that it's pure elitism. How is making sure that every American has access to preventative care, and doesn't just have to wait until he has to go to an emergency room "elitist"? Wouldn't elitist be for keeping the status quo, where companies regularly practice denials, rescission, cancel insurance after a person has been paid and make a great deal of money while Americans who work get the shaft (not every person proposing health insurance reform is a welfare case, living large off the money brought in by hard-working Republicans).