Biden Smacks Down Bernie Sanders For Lecturing Him On Cancer Coverage

Last updated on July 18th, 2023 at 11:32 am

During Thursday night’s Democratic primary debate, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders tried to say that his health plan is better for those with cancer than Joe Biden’s, and the former VP was having none of it.

Not only did Biden tell Sanders that nobody under his plan would ever go bankrupt if they were diagnosed with cancer, but the former VP reminded the Vermont senator that Medicare for All would take years to implement, while the Biden health care plan would kick in immediately at a lower cost.

Every single person who is diagnosed with cancer or any other disease can automatically become part of this plan,” Biden said. “And we’re talking 4, 6, 8, 10 years … before we go Medicare for All. Come on!”

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Video:

Biden said:

I know a lot about cancer, and let me tell you something. It’s personal to me. Let me tell you something. Every single person who is diagnosed with cancer or any other disease can automatically become part of this plan. They will not go bankrupt because of that. They can join immediately. And we’re talking 4, 6, 8, 10 years … before we go Medicare for All. Come on! I’ve been there, you’ve been there. You know what it’s like. People need help now, hope now, and do something now!

Health care is one of Biden’s strongest issues

During each of the primary debates to date, some of Joe Biden’s strongest moments have been when health care was the issue the candidates were discussing. That was again the case on Thursday night.

Biden’s strength on this issue is likely for two reasons:

1. Health care is personal to Biden. Whether it was dealing with a family tragedy that killed his daughter and first wife in 1972 or losing his son, Beau Biden, to cancer, this issue is close to the former vice president.

2. He was central to the Obama administration’s successful effort to fundamentally change health care in America through the Affordable Care Act. That law has covered millions of Americans and protected insurance coverage for those with preexisting conditions.

Given how important health care is to Democratic primary voters, if Joe Biden continues to make a strong case on this issue, he will likely maintain his frontrunner status.

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Sean Colarossi

Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.