And independent Senator Bernie Sanders unveiled his new Medicare-for-all proposal Wednesday. Fellow senators and 2020 hopefuls Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, Cory Booker and Kamala Harris are backers of the legislation. The updated legislation adds new provisions to cover long-term care and would eliminate premiums, deductibles and copays. Private insurance would only be able to cover elective surgery not otherwise covered by the government. This is Bernie Sanders addressing press and supporters Wednesday.
Sen. Bernie Sanders: “We should not tolerate a system which allows the top 10 drug companies to make $69 billion in profits last year, while at the same time—and this is really unbelievable—one out of five Americans who get a prescription from their doctor cannot even afford to fill that prescription.”
Sanders said he would try to pass the bill via the budget reconciliation process if he wins the presidency—allowing him to circumvent the usual 60-vote requirement for passing such a bill. The bill currently has 14 co-sponsors in the Senate.