Single Payer Bill Introduced to US Senate

May 20, 2011

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) introduced a bill last week to bring a Medicare like system of single payer insurance to all Americans.  This comes on the heels of legislation in Vermont to establish state-wide coverage through the nation’s first single payer system.

At the press conference introducing the bills, Senator Sanders commented:

“We spend about twice as much per capita on health care with worse results than others that spend far less. It is time that we bring about a fundamental transformation of the American health care system. It is time for us to end private, for-profit participation in delivering basic coverage. It is time for the United States to provide a Medicare-for-all single-payer health coverage program."    

-- The Hill / CWA News / Bernie Sanders