Sen. Sanders Defends 'Medicare For All,' Unveils Updated Version

Sen. Bernie Sanders defended "Medicare for All" on CBS News, as he unveils an updated version of his universal health care plan on Wednesday.

"It guarantees, like every other major country on Earth, healthcare to every man, woman and child in this country," Sanders said, adding that it is not a form of socialism but rather “similar to what the Canadians have."

Once criticized as too radical by many Democrats, four of his opponents in the race for the party’s nomination for president are now co-sponsoring his universal plan in the Senate.

When asked about criticism concerning the price tag for the plan, which some put at $25 to $35 trillion over the next decade, Sanders countered that "What's expensive and what's unsustainable is the current health care system. We are spending twice as much per capita as any other nation." 

The Vermont senator said Medicare for All would "get rid of insurance companies and drug companies making billions of dollars in profit every single year," and that all Americans would be covered by a government-backed program like Medicare.

Sanders acknowledged that under his proposal one would not be able to keep a private or employer-based insurance program that he likes.

The senator explained that “you may be one of the millions of people who leaves your job this year, and you're going to leave your private insurance. You may be one of the many millions of people who finds that their employer has gone out and got another insurance company to cover you. You're going to have to change that, but essentially, under Medicare for All, all people will be covered by Medicare."

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