Michigan Senate nominee El-Sayed says Medicare for All would raise taxes for most workers
Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed told NBC's Meet the Press that a universal health-care system would require modest tax increases for most earners, framing it as a trade-off for guaranteed coverage.
Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed told NBC's "Meet the Press" that implementing Medicare for All would likely mean a modest increase in taxes for most Americans, including those earning less than $1 million annually. He said the additional tax would replace premiums paid to private insurers, noting that "instead of paying a health-insurance company whose CEO makes $20 million a year, you would pay a little bit more in taxes for healthcare that you wouldn’t lose if you lost your job or turned 26 or got married or got divorced."
El-Sayed described the proposal as a trade-off, arguing that paying a small amount more into the payroll tax system would secure coverage at the point of care and protect people from losing insurance due to employment changes. He emphasized that the approach would shift funding from private insurers to the government, which already provides health care for seniors.
Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers responded on social media, characterizing the plan as "more money for the government" and questioning the campaign's promise of putting money in voters' pockets. El-Sayed replied, inviting Rogers to a debate to discuss the details.
El-Sayed secured the Democratic nomination after defeating establishment-backed candidate Haley Stevens in the primary. Political observers noted his victory reflects ongoing tensions within the Democratic Party between establishment figures and progressive groups.
Fox News Digital sought comment from El-Sayed's campaign but did not receive an immediate response.