House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has sparked debate within the Democratic Party after saying over the weekend that he does not currently support Medicare for All legislation.
Jeffries previously co-sponsored versions of the proposal but switched his opinion in recent years.
“I haven’t co-sponsored the Medicare for All legislation that has been introduced over the last several years,” Jeffries said during an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday. “I do think we need to figure out how to fix our broken healthcare system and then build something better once we repair the damage that has been done.”
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However, public polling shows that a substantial number of Americans support expanding the government’s role in health coverage.
Large majorities of Americans have said in multiple recent surveys they believe the federal government should ensure access to health insurance, and support for a single-payer system remains significantly higher than it was a decade ago.
Why It Matters
Jeffries’ comments may reflect a growing divide within the Democratic Party over how aggressively to pursue universal health coverage.
Progressives like independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California have long argued that Medicare for All should be a central Democratic priority. But moderates like Jeffries have focused instead on lowering costs and strengthening existing programs like the Affordable Care Act, rather than replacing the current system with a government-run insurance model.
Americans are also increasingly facing rising premiums and medical debt. A June survey by The Century Foundation found that 53 percent of voters reported cutting back on care or taking on debt because of healthcare costs.
What to Know
After being asked by NBC’s Kristen Welker whether he supports Medicare for All, Jeffries said that he does not currently support the legislation.
Jeffries added that lawmakers should focus on fixing what he described as a “broken healthcare system” and making healthcare affordable.
His position is a notable shift from earlier years, when congressional records show he co-sponsored Medicare for All legislation introduced in 2019 and 2021.
“Over the last year, Democrats have seen dividing lines drawn between moderate and progressive wings of the party, with more progressive nominees earning some surprise victories in recent months,” Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek.
“Despite these wins, some Democrats fear progressive proposals could alienate voters in the upcoming midterms and next presidential election cycle in 2028.”
What Is Medicare for All?
Medicare for All refers to a single-payer healthcare system that would provide government-funded health insurance to all Americans.
While specific bills vary, recent Medicare for All proposals championed by Sanders would generally:
- Cover all U.S. residents.
- Replace most private health insurance plans.
- Eliminate most premiums, deductibles and co-pays.
- Expand benefits beyond current Medicare to include services such as dental, vision and hearing care.
- Finance the system through new taxes and federal spending.
While this type of system could reduce overall health spending and improve access to healthcare, critics say it would require massive federal expenditures and likely involve tax increases.
On top of that, many of the private insurance options that Americans currently use could be gone, and quality may vary.
“Medicare for All has often drawn harsh criticism as an expensive and unsustainable approach to an already established American healthcare system,” Beene said. “However, with healthcare expenses weighing more heavily on most households with each passing year, it’s easy to see why now some polling shows a majority favoring a solution like it, even among Republicans.”
What Polls Show
Recent polling suggests Americans broadly support government involvement in health coverage, though support varies depending on how questions are framed.
A November 2025 poll by Data for Progress found that 65 percent supported Medicare for All when described as national health insurance replacing most private insurance.
The survey found 78 percent support among Democrats, 71 percent among independents and 49 percent among Republicans. And even after respondents were told that Medicare for All would eliminate most private insurance and require higher taxes, support remained above 60 percent.
“Jeffries may be making a political calculation, but I think Democrats have to be careful not to confuse caution about the Medicare for All label with satisfaction with the current healthcare system,” Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com, told Newsweek. “The polling tells a more complicated story.”
A Pew Research Center survey conducted in November 2025 found that 66 percent of Americans believe the federal government has a responsibility to ensure everyone has health coverage.
Meanwhile, 35 percent said they favor a single national government-run insurance system and 31 percent prefer a mixed system combining government programs and private insurance.
The poll also found overwhelming support among Democrats, with 90 percent saying the government should ensure health coverage.
So while Americans may not agree on the exact structure of universal coverage, many support a larger federal role in guaranteeing access to care.
“The political danger for Democrats is answering a demand for a different healthcare system with a better defense of the existing one,” Ryan said. “Medicare for All may or may not ultimately be the vehicle. But if premiums, deductibles and medical bills keep squeezing families…then the pressure for a much larger government role isn’t going away.”
Why Americans Are Frustrated With the Current System
The popularity of Medicare for All is likely tied to growing concerns about affordability, experts said.
A KFF report from this year found that nearly half of adults say it is difficult to afford healthcare costs, and about one-third reported delaying or skipping needed care because of costs.
Four in 10 adults even reported not taking medications as prescribed because of the costs, and around 41 percent of adults reported carrying healthcare-related debt.
“I would venture to guess that many Americans could be left with higher disposable incomes when this is all said and done,” Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, said of what may happen if Medicare for All is enacted.
“What many Americans don’t realize is that people in other developed countries may pay more in taxes, but some of the expenses Americans pay directly are instead funded through taxation.”
Gallup research has also revealed widespread concerns among Americans.
One study this year found that nearly one-quarter of workers remained in jobs they wanted to leave because they feared losing employer-sponsored health insurance.
And more than half of Americans reported difficulty consistently paying for needed medical care or prescriptions.
Altogether, the polling show that voters continue to back Medicare for All even when presented with the common criticisms involving taxes and private insurance.
Still, Republicans and more moderate Democrats contend that replacing the entire private insurance system would be politically and financially difficult.
Experts say Medicare for All could require trillions of dollars in annual federal spending and major tax increases, even if overall national health spending eventually declines.
“Jeffries once supported a single-payer system, yet he is trying to distance himself from the DSA [Democratic Socialists of America] wing of the party that is gaining steam,” Thompson said. “I think this is purely a political move to shift more toward the center, as some Democrats feel that is the only way to win in the midterms.”
What Happens Next
Despite Jeffries’ new comments, progressive Democrats are likely to continue to push Medicare for All as health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs rise.
Moderates will likely remain focused on strengthening the Affordable Care Act.
“It’s unlikely such a sweeping overhaul will happen anytime soon,” Beene said, “but we could see a push in the coming years to use elements of it to provide some financial relief to individuals and families.”
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Dave Siminoff.