8th Democratic Primary Debate: on Health Care

Amy Klobuchar: Medicare-for-All will kick 149 million off their insurance

Sanders responded that the "status quo" offered by Biden will cost even more. "We are spending twice as much per capita as the people of any other country," Sanders told Biden, who was vice president during the passage of the Affordable Care Act championed by President Barack Obama. "Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the health care industry last year made $100 billion in profit."

Klobuchar then broke in. "I keep listening to this same debate, and it is not real. It is not real, Bernie, because two thirds of the Democrats in the Senate are not on your bill, and because it would kick 149 million Americans off their current health insurance in four years," she said, garnering a loud reaction from the crowd.

Bernie Sanders: Health care industry last year made $100 billion in profit

Sanders responded that the "status quo" offered by Biden will cost even more. "We are spending twice as much per capita as the people of any other country," Sanders told Biden, who was vice president during the passage of the Affordable Care Act championed by President Barack Obama. "Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the health care industry last year made $100 billion in profit."

Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren favor Medicare for All--a plan that would eliminate private insurers--while the other candidates favor building on the Obama-passed plan with features like a public option.

Bernie Sanders: FactCheck: US pays twice OECD average, but not every country

According to the most recent Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development data, which is for 2018, US per capita spending on health care totaled $10,586. That's twice as much as every country, except for six. Sanders is correct that the U.S. spends a lot more than other nations. It spends more than double the $3,992 average for OECD countries ["OECD counties" means "the developed world," excluding developing countries -- ed.]. But Switzerland, Norway, Germany, Sweden, Austria and Denmark all pay a little more than half of what the U.S. does.

Joe Biden: Of course Medicare-for-All will require raising taxes

"The idea [that] middle class taxes aren't going to go up is just crazy," Biden added.

Sanders responded that the "status quo" offered by Biden will cost even more. "We are spending twice as much per capita as the people of any other country," Sanders told Biden, who was vice president during the passage of the Affordable Care Act championed by President Barack Obama. "Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the health care industry last year made $100 billion in profit."

Pete Buttigieg: 2018: Medicare-for-All; 2020: only for those who want it

At the time, Buttigieg was the mayor of South Bend, and not yet a candidate for president. As a candidate, Buttigieg has proposed a more centrist health care proposal than some Democrats. He does not support the Medicare for All plan proposed by Sanders, which would expand Medicare and create a new universal, single-payer health care system in the United States. Rather, Buttigieg is proposing what he calls "Medicare for All Who Want It." It would essentially allow people to buy into Medicare through the Affordable Care Act exchanges.

Amy Klobuchar: Medicare-for-All will kick 149 million off their insurance

Bernie Sanders: Bring America together:end international shame of healthcare

Bernie Sanders: Bring America together:end international shame of healthcare

Elizabeth Warren: Reduce the cost of commonly-used prescription drugs

Joe Biden: My Medicare if you want it plan is affordable

Pete Buttigieg: Don't command, it should be Medicare for those who want it

Pete Buttigieg: Don't command, it should be Medicare for those who want it

Pete Buttigieg: 2018: favored single-payer Medicare-for-All

A: [@PeteButtigieg]: Buh? When/where have you ever heard me oppose Medicare for All?

Q: We never said that you opposed it, but where did you say that you support #SinglePayer?

A: I've been on the record on this one since 2004: [Article in The Harvard Crimson, 3/8/04]: "We could finally see a single-payer health care system that closes the gap between the US and other nations when it comes to medical treatment."

Q: You wrote that article 14 years ago as a student. I don't think you were a politician 14 years ago. Can you affirmatively say that we need #MedicareForAll now and that insurance does not belong in healthcare?

A: Gosh! Okay: I, Pete Buttigieg, politician, do henceforth and forthwith declare, most affirmatively and indubitably, unto the ages, that I do favor Medicare for All, as I do favor any measure that would help get all Americans covered.