Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders Wants To Use Democrats' Midterm Victory To Expand Medicare. Has He Looked at Europe?

Sanders wants to expand government-funded health care, even as European countries struggle with rising costs, lengthy waiting lists, and shortages.

Reem Ibrahim | 11.9.2026 9:45 AM

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Fresh off the Democrats' midterm victory, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I–Vt.) has a lengthy wish list for the incoming Congress, starting with increasing the government's role in healthcare.

"As an immediate first step, Democrats must lower the Medicare eligibility age from 65 down to 55, expand Medicare to cover dental, vision, and hearing, and guarantee universal health care coverage for every child from birth through age 19," Sanders said in a video posted to social media on Thursday. "All of this can be accomplished with 51 votes in the Senate through the reconciliation process."

"Healthcare must be considered as a human right, not a privilege. That means passing Medicare for All legislation, now supported by 66 percent of the American people," he continued.

It may seem easy to simply declare something a human right and decide that everyone........

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