became ill. reporter: in 2016, his was a lone voice. but many democrats are now getting in line behind bernie sanders, who has long called for a single payor system. i m with bernie for medicare for all. how does this differ from what senator sanders is proposing? i think they re very similar. in a single payer system, everyone would be automatically enrolled in a government-run health care program like medicare. reporter: it would cover doctor s visits, hospitalizations, including hearing aids, dental, vision, these candidates say. there would be some co-pay for brand name prescription drugs. a lit must test is starting to take shape. would it also eliminate private insurance as we know it? who here would abolish their private health insurance in favor of a government-run plan? reporter: at the debates only senators sanders and harris, and
at georgia state says the system has fundamental flaws. it s really the worst consumer experience. reporter: and we pay a lot for it. the united states has the most expensive health care in the world. around $3.5 trillion a year. people should not be forced into financial ruin, into bankruptcy for what reason? because someone in the family became ill. reporter: in 2016 his was a lone voice. but many democrats are now getting in line behind bernie sand who are has long called for a singer payer system. i m with bernie on medicare for all. so how does this differ from what senator sanders is proposing? i think that they re very similar. in a single payer system, everyone would be automatically enrolled in a government-run plan for health care. reporter: it would also cover hearing aides, dental, and vision. there would be copays for brand name prescription drugs.
medicare for all actually means. and now senator bernie sanders and senator michael bennet s proposals differ. first, the term universal health care, that refers to a system and place where every single person has health coverage. think of it as an umbrella term that refers to a common goal that many of the candidates share that something that every other developed country enjoys. now take a look at the methods of achieving that for sanders proposal. in which a single entity. in this case it would be the federal government, is responsible for covering all health care claims. private insurance would cease to exist. some candidates oppose overhauling our system into a single payer system quickly but still endorse medicare for all. the term has been used in several different ways, but it refers to the idea that we would expand the medicare system that exists today. medicare currently exists as a combination of public and private programs. so expanding it in the way that senator michael
you have unbelievable economic power. it means that we have to stand up to the drug companies were charging us twice as much for the medicine that we need compared to other countries. it means that we have to stand up to the insurance companies. and move to a medicare for all payer system. we have to set up with there is enormous fraud and waste within the pentagon. so it does mean, chris, i think what you said is basically true. right now real power, most people understand this, rest with a handful of large corporations and very wealthy individuals. and the time is now for us to say you know what? we need an economy and government that works for all of us, not just one percent. and if people want to accuse me of believing in that i plead guilty. it is what a believe in. i believe in a vibrant democracy where ordinary people get a fair shake rather than just the one percent getting it all. chris: let me drill down on that because here is what the
you have unbelievable economic power. it means that we have to stand up to the drug companies were charging us twice as much for the medicine that we need compared to other countries. it means that we have to stand up to the insurance companies. and move to a medicare for all payer system. we have to set up with there is enormous fraud and waste within the pentagon. so it does mean, chris, i think what you said is basically true. right now real power, most people understand this, rest with a handful of large corporations and very wealthy individuals. and the time is now for us to say you know what? we need an economy and government that works for all of us, not just one percent. and if people want to accuse me of believing in that i plead guilty. it is what a believe in. i believe in a vibrant democracy where ordinary people get a fair shake rather than just the one percent getting it all. chris: let me drill down on that because here is what the