Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, independent but aligning with Democrats, continues to advocate for his pivotal healthcare proposal. Armed with new research, Sanders, a leading figure on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, released a statement following a Yale University study. This study suggests Sanders’ Medicare for All plan could potentially save 114,000 lives annually and reduce national healthcare costs by over $1 trillion.
“This study reaffirms our long-held belief: Medicare for All not only saves lives but also reduces expenses,” Sanders remarked. “It would cost $1 trillion less than the current inefficient system.”
The resurgence of Medicare for All within the Democratic Party is fueled by Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and progressive candidates who prioritize this policy in recent primary victories. Newsweek reached out to Sanders’ office for further comments.
DSA and Progressive Candidates’ Momentum
Recent Democratic primary triumphs have renewed enthusiasm for Sanders and his Medicare for All initiative. This healthcare proposal has been a cornerstone for Sanders over nearly a decade. The DSA lists it as a vital element of its platform.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani campaigned for three progressive congressional candidates who secured their June primaries. In Colorado, Melat Kiros unseated longtime incumbent Representative Diana DeGette. Michigan saw Abdul El-Sayed, supported by Sanders and Mamdani, defeat Representative Haley Stevens in the state’s Senate primary, emphasizing Medicare for All in his campaign.
In Maine’s Senate race, progressive populist Troy Jackson has adopted Medicare for All as a key issue against Republican Senator Susan Collins. Despite pushing a version of Medicare for All for nearly ten years, Sanders’ proposals have yet to pass. He introduced the Medicare for All Act of 2017 with 16 Democratic co-sponsors, but a single-payer floor amendment did not advance with a vote. Sanders reintroduced the bill in 2019 with 14 Senate co-sponsors, and a version followed in 2022 and April 2025. To date, none have progressed beyond the Senate Finance Committee. Becker’s Payer Issues reported that Sanders’ proposal remains stalled in committee, as it has in every Congress since its introduction.
Insights from the New Yale Study
Epidemiologist Alison Galvani led the Yale study, which found Medicare for All could reduce U.S. healthcare spending by nearly 20 percent. These savings would result from paying comparable rates to other wealthy nations for prescription drugs, reducing administrative waste, curbing fraudulent billing, and better reimbursing providers.
The plan is estimated to prevent 114,000 deaths annually, including over 33,000 among the currently uninsured and more than 20,000 related to coverage losses due to Republicans’ tax and spending changes. An earlier study led by Galvani, published in The Lancet in 2020, found a previous version of the plan could save approximately 68,000 lives and $450 billion annually.
Not every study aligns with these findings. A frequently cited counter-study by Charles Blahous of the Mercatus Center projected that Sanders’ plan would increase federal health spending by $32.6 trillion over a decade. Sanders’ office criticized this study as “misleading and biased.” A line in Blahous’ findings acknowledged a reduction in national health spending by about $2 trillion over ten years under certain assumptions. Sanders considers this evidence that the plan could ultimately reduce costs. However, Blahous contested the feasibility of the payment cuts assumed.
Polls Reveal Views on Medicare for All
Despite being labeled “radical socialist,” polling shows a growing support trend for Medicare for All. The level of support often varies depending on question phrasing.
A Gallup poll in November 2025 revealed that 64 percent of U.S. adults believe the federal government should ensure healthcare coverage, the highest figure since 2007. A similar trend appears in Pew Research Center surveys, with 66 percent support in 2025, up from 62 percent in 2021. This shift is mainly driven by Republicans.
A November 2025 Data for Progress survey found 65 percent of likely voters favor a Medicare for All system replacing most private insurance. Support included 78 percent of Democrats, 71 percent of independents, and 49 percent of Republicans, even after exposure to arguments about higher taxes and government intrusion.
The wording impacts support significantly. A July 2026 survey by Tavern Research for the Searchlight Institute revealed only 11 points of net support when Medicare for All was framed as replacing private insurance and funded through higher taxes. However, 70 percent preferred retaining their current plan if possible.
Overall, polling indicates increasing appetite for government involvement in healthcare. Most recently tested wordings show majority support for Medicare for All. Yet, backing drops sharply when eliminating private insurance is mentioned, as advocated by Sanders.
He counters skepticism with international comparisons. “If major countries can ensure healthcare for all, achieve better outcomes, and spend less per capita, it’s unreasonable to claim the U.S. cannot,” Sanders stated.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Edward T. Cummins.