Sanders doubles down on ‘Medicare For All’ defense: ‘We have not changed one word’

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a 2020 White House hopeful, on Sunday dismissed criticism that he is backtracking on his “Medicare For All” plan. 

“We have not changed one word,” Sanders said of the plan on CNN’s “State of the Union” when asked about “2020 rivals” attacking him for tweaking its impact on union workers. 

“Very few people have been attacking me, I think one candidate and the media picks up on it,” Sanders responded. {mosads}

Three candidates or their campaigns, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and former Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.), called out Sanders over the tweak. 

Last week, Sanders unveiled a plan that in part includes benefits for union workers who would be giving up their private insurance. 

He said on Sunday, however, that that does not change his plan. 

Sanders said “union workers gave up wage benefits over the years in order to pay for health care and non-union workers did not,” when asked why non-union workers would not receive a benefit for giving up their private insurance

He also repeated his claim that Americans would pay less under his Medicare For All plan, by forgoing premiums and copayments.