Study Finds Medicare for All Could Save 114,000 Lives and Cut $1 Trillion in Costs

Researchers from Yale and the University of Maryland estimate that a universal single-payer system would prevent 114,000 deaths annually and lower U.S. health-care spending by over $1 trillion each year.

A new preprint by scholars at Yale University and the University of Maryland calculates that implementing the Medicare for All Act would avert 114,000 deaths annually, most of them among people currently underinsured or uninsured and a sizable share of those projected to lose coverage under recent Republican legislation. The study also predicts a reduction of 21,000 senior deaths linked to unaffordable prescription drugs and nursing-home care.

Financially, the model suggests the single-payer system would cut national health-care expenditures by more than $1 trillion, roughly 20 % of the 2024 spending level of $5.3 billion, driven by lower administrative overhead, drug pricing, fraud and unnecessary emergency care. The researchers contend that the United States already possesses sufficient resources; the challenge lies in reallocating them efficiently. Senator Bernie Sanders praised the findings, emphasizing both life-saving and cost-saving aspects. The paper aligns with prior research showing the U.S. spends far more on health care than other wealthy nations while achieving poorer health outcomes.