Democratic Senate Leaders Back Medicare for All Bill Extending Coverage to Undocumented Residents

A group of Senate Democrats, including Bernie Sanders, are promoting a Medicare for All bill that would provide federally funded health care to every resident of the United States, regardless of immigration status. The draft specifies that the Health and Human Services secretary must issue rules to determine residency for eligibility and explicitly prohibits discrimination based on citizenship. Eighteen Democratic senators have co-sponsored the measure, despite earlier denials that Democrats sought to give free health care to undocumented immigrants.

Prominent figures like Elizabeth Warren and Tina Smith have labeled Republican claims as lies or fear tactics, yet now endorse the legislation. The bill's supporters argue it expands coverage, while opponents warn of its trillion-dollar cost and view it as a reversal of prior rhetoric.