[C]alling for radical change to the country’s health care system, Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders outlined the latest version of his hallmark “Medicare for All” proposal during a speech at George Washington University Wednesday.
“Today we are in the year 2019. In my view now is the time not for tinkering around the engine,” the 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful said. “Now is the time to do what every other major country does. Now is the time to pass a Medicare for all, single payer, health care program.”
Sanders, who has been seeking to distinguish himself from a field of candidates who have increasingly embraced his progressive approach to health care, also issued a challenge to his fellow Democratic candidates to shun large contributions from health insurance companies and the pharmaceutical industry.
During his hour-long remarks, Sanders railed against the CEOs of health insurance companies and roundly rebuked how the pharmaceutical industry is able to raise the prices on prescription drugs. While Sanders did not criticize or mention other Democratic candidates, he did refer to President Donald Trump by name.
Sanders addressed a crowd at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. — the same site where he delivered a speech last month outlining why he is proud to be a democratic socialist.
Long an advocate for Medicare for All legislation, Sanders said his plan — which he introduced in April to the U.S. Senate with 14 co-sponsors — has a four-year phase-in period, with full coverage of all Americans in the final year.
Under Sanders’ plan, the age of eligibility for Medicare would be lowered from 65 to 55 years of age during the first year and all children would be covered. In the second year, the age would be lowered to 45 years of age, and in the third year the age would decrease to 35.
Then in the fourth year, Sanders says, “every man, woman and child will be covered.”
The Vermont senator predicted that in the coming months there will be a concerted effort to push back against his proposal.
“The struggle we are now undertaking, to guarantee health care to all Americans, will be opposed by some of the most powerful special interests in our country — entities that have unlimited amounts of money,” he said.
Sanders also called for Democratic candidates to pledge not to take campaign contributions over $200 from representatives of the health and drug industry. The Vermont senator then added a shot at Trump, delivered almost as though it was an afterthought.
“Now, of course President Trump should do the same, but I won’t even waste my breath,” he said.
Minutes before Sanders began his speech calling on Dems to reject health care industry money, ABC News reported that the Sanders campaign has received three donations worth $2,700 from pharmaceutical executives.
The campaign told ABC News that it was aware of the contributions and planned to return them.
“This pledge was launched today with our full knowledge that some money may need to be returned,” the campaign said.
“You can’t change a corrupt system by taking its money,” said Sanders during the speech. “That is why I am calling on every Democratic candidate in this election to join us in rejecting money from the insurance and drug companies.”
“Candidates who are not willing to take that pledge should explain to the American people why those interests believe their campaigns are a good investment,” added the Vermont senator.
The pledge seemed to be a veiled shot at presidential hopefuls including former Vice President Joe Biden and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg who have both received corporate donations to their campaigns.
Sanders and Biden have butted heads over the last week on the issue of health care, with Sanders vying for Medicare for All and Biden pitching a plan to shore up and expand the Affordable Care Act.
While campaigning in New Hampshire over the weekend, Biden said he has a “fundamental disagreement” with Sanders and others about wanting to do away with the Affordable Care Act, according to the Boston Herald.
“I think we should build on it. We should provide a public option for anybody,” Biden said. “I’m against anybody who wants to do away with it and start over.”
Biden went on to say that when it comes to health care for diseases like cancer that “it’s a matter of days, minutes, hours — and we can’t afford any break in any of this kind of coverage.”
On Saturday, Sanders issued a statement calling Biden’s remarks “misinformation.”
“Every day, Americans die because they cannot afford the health care they desperately need, while the CEOs of insurance and drug companies get rich off their suffering,” said Sanders. “We cannot continue to tinker around the edges while 80 million Americans lack health insurance or are under-insured with high premiums, co-pays, and deductibles.”
“It is preposterous to argue that as we expand Medicare For All that people with cancer and other illnesses will not get the care that they need,” he said.
Two hours after criticizing Biden, the Sanders campaign announced he would be making his speech on Medicare for All.
Sanders has also announced he will be taking people with type 1 diabetes by bus to Canada, on July 28, to purchase cheaper priced insulin. The bus trip will coincide with the 54th anniversary of Medicare becoming law and also comes 20 years after Sanders took Vermonters over the northern border in 1999 to purchase cheaper medication in Montreal.
