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By Suzanne Blake
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Senator Bernie Sanders is pushing Democrats to capitalize on their incoming control of Congress to expand Medicare, reviving a long-standing effort to achieve universal healthcare.
In a video posted to YouTube on Thursday, Sanders, a Vermont independent who caucuses with the Democratic Party, called on Democrats to lower the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 55 as an “immediate first step” toward universal coverage. Sanders also urged party leaders to expand Medicare benefits to include dental, vision, and hearing, while guaranteeing health coverage for all children from birth through age 19.
"All of this can be accomplished with 51 votes in the Senate through the reconciliation process," Sanders said, adding in an interview with MS NOW host Chris Hayes that was conducted last week that he is "not absolutely certain” that President Donald Trump would refuse to sign a measure lowering the Medicare age.
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However, the specific Medicare adjustments expected in the upcoming congressional session are likely to fall short of Sanders’ broader Medicare for All proposal.
Party Divisions and Legislative Hurdles
Following the midterms, Democrats are set to take control of the House and Senate in January. The majority will allow party leaders to advance stalled legislation and potentially utilize budget reconciliation—a procedure requiring only a simple majority in the Senate—to pass select healthcare measures.
Despite their upcoming majority, lawmakers face significant political obstacles. Trump does have veto power over legislation, and Democrats remain split over whether to dismantle the private health insurance system in favor of a single-payer, government-administered plan.
A day before the midterms, Trump vowed to become "Mr. Veto" if Democrats took Congress. The president has, however, indicated that he is open to make deals with the party in an interview with 60 Minutes that aired Sunday.
Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed campaigned as a Medicare for All supporter, and several incoming House Democrats also backed either Medicare for All or government-run insurance alternatives. However, Democratic leadership has stopped short of endorsing Medicare for All as the party's healthcare plan. Hakeem Jeffries, who could be the next House speaker, and Chuck Schumer do not sponsor the current legislation.
Proposed Changes to Medicare
For current and prospective beneficiaries, the proposed expansions would alter traditional Medicare coverage. Lowering the entry age to 55 would open the program to millions of younger Americans, while adding dental, vision, and hearing coverage would address gaps in traditional Medicare that currently force many seniors to purchase supplemental insurance or pay out-of-pocket.
“The idea of expanding the current program steadily to include those 55 and older could gain more steam because it recognizes the limited capacity of the current program and looks to provide a more phased approach to what could be a massive expansion,” Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek.
Sanders’ ultimate vision for Medicare for All goes much further. Under his broader framework, nearly all U.S. residents would be enrolled in a single federal health plan, largely eliminating premiums, deductibles, and co-payments.
The shift would alter how healthcare is funded across the nation. Rather than split costs among employers, insurance companies, and individuals, financial responsibility would shift mostly to the government and be funded through taxes or other federal revenue.
“Sanders has a real opportunity to move the conversation forward with Democrats controlling Congress in January. Getting Medicare for All signed into law is a much bigger hurdle,” Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com, told Newsweek. “I'd watch his proposal to lower Medicare eligibility from 65 to 55. Think about someone who's 61, wants to retire, but can't afford to lose employer health insurance. Earlier Medicare eligibility could completely change that retirement decision.”
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What Is Bernie Sanders' Medicare for All Bill?
Sanders’ primary bill, the Medicare for All Act (S.1506), was introduced in April 2025 and seeks to create a national health insurance system covering hospital stays, primary and preventive care, prescription drugs, mental health, vision, and dental services. Its House companion bill, H.R.3069, was introduced by Democratic Representatives Pramila Jayapal of Washington state and Debbie Dingell of Michigan.
Neither bill has received a floor vote.
Under the proposed legislation, private insurers would be banned from offering coverage that duplicates benefits provided by the federal system.
Since the government would absorb costs currently covered by private insurers and employers, the proposal would increase federal spending. Republicans on the House Budget Committee and officials in the Trump administration estimate the plan would add $47 trillion in spending over a 10-year period.
Proponents note that the country already spends trillions annually across public programs, private plans, and out-of-pocket expenditures, meaning much of the current private spending would instead shift to the federal balance sheet.
While specific financing measures currently remain unknown, potential options include higher payroll taxes on employers, income-adjusted premiums, or tax increases targeting high-income households.
“Families need to see the whole bill,” Ryan said. “Replacing insurance premiums with higher taxes doesn't automatically mean they're paying more or less. It depends on who's paying, how much, and what coverage they get.”
Why Do Republicans Generally Oppose Medicare for All?
Republicans generally oppose single-payer health proposals, raising concerns over federal spending, potential tax hikes, and increased government involvement in healthcare decisions.
“Medicare for All would increase the federal budget deficit by approximately $47.4 trillion over 2027–2036 by completely replacing the U.S. health system with a fully government-run and taxpayer-funded insurance program,” the House Budget Committee said on its website. “While the government would ensure that every American has health insurance, access to physicians for Americans previously on their employer-sponsored plan would be reduced by 44 percent.”
Some GOP lawmakers also contend that individuals satisfied with their private or employer-provided health plans should not be forced into a government program, cautioning that lower reimbursement rates could lead providers to reduce services.
“The reality is that the money must come from somewhere, potentially through cuts to military spending or other programs,” Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. “My concern isn't necessarily what the system would look like, but how it would impact the average American. If substantial tax increases are required, Americans need to understand how those increases compare to what they currently pay for healthcare and what they actually bring home.”
What Happens Next
While the incoming Democratic majorities ensure healthcare policy will receive debate in the next Congress, legislative paths remain tight due to intra-party disagreements and the prospect of a presidential veto.
Beene told Newsweek that "even this more moderate approach could fall on deaf ears if this administration doesn't want to engage in any discussion that would serve as an entry point to Medicare for All."
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