Hillary Scholten, Abdul El-Sayed and the Medicare for All debate
A campaign centered on healthcare
El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s open Senate contest. Democrats also captured both chambers of Congress that night, and El-Sayed is entering Washington as a prominent Medicare for All advocate.
Healthcare costs concerned 85% of respondents in an NBC News Exit Poll of more than 79,000 voters. In the same poll, 61% said the federal government should take a larger role in helping Americans obtain healthcare.
Democrats differ on the solution
Many moderate Democrats favor strengthening the Affordable Care Act, which broadened coverage through Medicaid and subsidized private marketplaces. El-Sayed and other progressives instead support Medicare for All as their preferred approach.
The proposal would shift much of the insurance system from private companies to a public payer. UnitedHealth Group ranks third on the 2026 Fortune 500, CVS Health is sixth, and Elevance Health is 18th.
A plan for broad coverage
El-Sayed, 42, has a medical degree and a doctorate. He led Detroit’s health department from 2015 to 2017 and later directed Wayne County’s Department of Health, Human and Veterans Services.
In their 2021 book, Medicare for All: A Citizen’s Guide, El-Sayed and Micah Johnson describe insurance for every American throughout life. They propose coverage for doctor visits, prescription medicines and emergency care, with long-term care, dental and vision services also possible. Patients could use any provider participating in the system without out-of-network charges.
Private plans and program oversight
El-Sayed once said the proposal would eliminate the private insurance market, Bridge Michigan reported. During his Senate campaign, however, he said his version would allow plans provided through employers or unions, while his campaign website says those options should become unnecessary.
At a July roundtable hosted by More Perfect Union, El-Sayed proposed placing oversight beneath but apart from the executive branch, along the lines of the Federal Reserve. He said this could keep the program from changing abruptly with each president, and added that Medicare would negotiate drug prices for the country.
How the authors propose funding it
El-Sayed and Johnson argue that Americans already pay for healthcare through taxes, insurance premiums, deductibles and copayments. Under their proposal, funding would pass through the public sector instead of private insurers.
Their financing outline would combine federal spending on Medicare, Medicaid and private-insurance subsidies. They also propose state-level administration, higher taxes on wealth, corporations and investment income, and savings from lower administrative expenses and reduced prices for drugs and services.
Key points
- El-Sayed defeated Mike Rogers in Michigan’s open Senate race while campaigning for Medicare for All.
- An NBC News Exit Poll found widespread concern about healthcare costs and support for a larger federal role.
- El-Sayed’s campaign position allows some employer and union plans, despite his earlier support for ending private insurance.
- His proposed funding combines existing federal spending with progressive taxes and anticipated savings.