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Yale study backs Medicare for All
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Yale study says Medicare for All could save $1 trillion and 114,000 lives yearly. The finding fuels debate over single-payer healthcare in the U.S.
Background
The Yale study, released as a preprint in July 2026, models the impact of adopting a single-payer system like the Medicare for All Act. It estimates savings of $1.04 trillion annually and 114,000 lives saved, building on a 2020 Lancet study. The research comes amid ongoing political debate over healthcare reform, with supporters like Bernie Sanders citing it to push for universal coverage.
How it unfolded
- Jul 24, 2026Yale and University of Maryland researchers post a preprint on medRxiv estimating Medicare for All could save $1.04 trillion and 114,000 lives annually.
- Aug 11, 2026Bernie Sanders touts the study, saying 'Medicare for All saves lives and saves money.'
- Aug 13, 2026The study gains media coverage, with outlets like Yahoo News and The American Prospect reporting on its findings.
- Aug 16, 2026Hakeem Jeffries says he doesn't support Medicare for All, while Ro Khanna cites the Yale study in support, highlighting Democratic division.
Who’s saying what
- Support
- Bernie Sanders says the study confirms Medicare for All saves lives and money, calling it 'the time is now' for universal healthcare.
- Caution
- Hakeem Jeffries states he doesn't support Medicare for All or the DSA agenda, suggesting political opposition within the Democratic Party.
- Analysts
- The American Prospect argues the study shows how private billing waste drives costs, supporting universal public insurance.
Still unverified
The study is a preprint and has not yet been peer-reviewed, so its findings are not independently verified.