Bernie Sanders on Medicare for All
Bernie Sanders views Medicare for All as a necessary policy for the United States, framing universal healthcare as a fundamental human right that should not be tied to employment or wealth.
His proposal is for a single-payer healthcare plan that would cover all Americans for medical services, going beyond traditional Medicare to include necessary items like vision and dental care.
Sanders has repeatedly introduced the Medicare for All bill in the Senate, maintaining a strong commitment to this progressive policy goal throughout his political career, including his presidential campaigns.
Context
Bernie Sanders's advocacy for Medicare for All is central to his identity as a democratic socialist and progressive leader.
He positions this policy as a direct counter to what he calls the failures of the current private insurance-based system, frequently linking healthcare access to broader issues of income and wealth inequality.
His consistent push for this legislation is cited as a key factor in the leftward shift of the Democratic Party platform since his 2016 presidential run.
Actions Taken
- Legislation SponsorshipSubmitted the Medicare for All bill, a single-payer healthcare plan, along with 15 Senate co-sponsors.
- Voting RecordVoted for the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which included provisions to cap insulin costs for seniors on Medicare and allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices, despite not being fully satisfied with the bill.
Key Quotes
I don't believe government should take over the grocery store down the street or own the means of production, but I do believe that the middle class and the working families who produce the wealth of America deserve a decent standard of living and that their incomes should go up, not down. I do believe in private companies that thrive and invest and grow in America, companies that create jobs here, rather than companies that are shutting down in America and increasing their profits by exploiting low-wage labor abroad.
Comparison
- Scope of Coverage: Sanders's Medicare for All bill explicitly covers vision and dental care, which are typically excluded from original Medicare.
- Contrast with ACA: He supported the Affordable Care Act but criticized it for not going far enough, viewing it as a step toward, rather than the destination of, universal coverage.
Sources4
- In September 2017, Sanders along with 15 Senate co-sponsors submitted the Medicare for All bill, a single-payer healthcare plan. The bill covers vision and dental care, unlike Medicare.
- In mid-December 2009, Sanders successfully added a provision to the Affordable Care Act to fund $11 billion to community health centers, especially those in rural areas.
- In August 2022, Sanders voted for the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. He was not satisfied with the bill, calling it only a small step forward. Sanders joined with Democrats to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which capped the cost of insulin for seniors on Medicare to $35 a month and allowed Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices.
- In November 2015, he gave a speech at Georgetown University about his view of democratic socialism, including its place in the policies of presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson.
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.