Preferred plan

Broadly speaking, the field is split into three camps on health care policy: the single-payer backers, the public option proponents and those with some other sort of public-private hybrid plan.

It’s true that many single-payer backers also support a public option, and some candidates say they see a public option as a potential path to single-payer. This category lists candidates’ preferred plans — the plans they argue for on the trail and put forward on their websites.

“Medicare for All” is the single-payer plan supported by some candidates.

  • Medicare for All
  • Sanders
  • Warren
  • Public option
  • Bennet
  • Biden
  • Bloomberg
  • Bullock
  • Buttigieg
  • Klobuchar
  • O’Rourke
  • Patrick
  • Ryan
  • Sestak
  • Steyer
  • Williamson
  • Yang
  • Something else
  • Castro
  • Delaney
  • Harris
  • Unclear
  • Booker
  • Gabbard
  • Messam
What The Candidates Have Said About This
Medicare for All Bernie Sanders

Sanders has sponsored Medicare for All multiple times on the Hill and popularized the idea during his 2016 presidential run. (Source: Congress.gov)

Medicare for All Elizabeth Warren

Warren is a co-sponsor of Sanders’ Medicare for All bill in Congress. However, she has her own separate plans for how to pay for it and how to transition to that system. (Source: Congress.gov)

Public option Michael Bennet

Bennet supports Medicare X, a public option plan he has introduced on the Hill. It would give people in places with one or zero insurance options on Obamacare exchanges a public insurance option. (Source: Campaign website)

Public option Joe Biden

Biden’s plan would offer a public insurance option to anyone and would also expand Obamacare subsidies. (Source: Campaign website)

Public option Mike Bloomberg

Bloomberg’s website says he wants to “create a Medicare-like public option — health insurance that would be administered by the federal government but paid for by customer premiums.” (Source: campaign website)

Public option Steve Bullock

Bullock wants to institute a public option and also expand Obamacare subsidies. (Source: Campaign website)

Public option Pete Buttigieg

Buttigieg regularly describes his public option plan as “Medicare for all who want it,” though he has also said that it could create a “glide path toward Medicare for All.” (Source: Campaign website)

Public option Amy Klobuchar

On the campaign trail, Klobuchar has praised a bill that would create a public option through the existing Medicaid system. (Source: Vox)

Public option Beto O’Rourke

O’Rourke backs a public option plan called Medicare for America that would expand current Medicare benefits and also autoenroll some Americans. (Source: CNN)

Public option Deval Patrick

“As president, Governor Patrick will push for and support a robust, competitive public option modeled on Medicare,” Patrick’s campaign wrote to NPR. (Source: campaign email to NPR)

Public option Tim Ryan

Ryan has said he backs a public option as a step toward eventually instituting Medicare for All (Source: Campaign website)

Public option Joe Sestak

Sestak’s website says he wants a public option to “serve as incentive for the transition of choice to a universal healthcare system,” but his campaign did not respond to questions about what that means. (Source: Campaign website)

Public option Tom Steyer

Steyer told WBUR, “I am in favor of health care as a right for every American. I’m in favor of a public option.” (Source: WBUR)

Public option Marianne Williamson

Williamson’s plan would make Medicare an option on the Affordable Care Act exchanges. (Source: Campaign website)

Public option Andrew Yang

“Andrew believes in a Medicare for All system that works through a heavily subsidized public option. At the point of care, the vast majority of Americans would pay a nominal copay, with the majority of the cost covered by the federal government.” (Source: Campaign website)

Something else Julián Castro

According to Castro’s campaign, “Secretary Castro believes Medicare should be the foundation of health care coverage, but that Americans should have a private care option if they have a strong plan that meets certain standards.” (Source: Campaign email to NPR)

Something else John Delaney

Delaney’s plan, called BetterCare, would create a basic government insurance plan for everyone under 65 and allow them to purchase private insurance instead of or in addition to that. (Source: Campaign website)

Something else Kamala Harris

Harris’ plan looks a lot like the current Medicare Advantage system: People could enroll in government Medicare plans or purchase privately run Medicare plans. (Source: NPR)

Unclear Cory Booker

Booker is a co-sponsor on Sanders’ Medicare for All bill, but he did not raise his hand at a debate when asked whether he wanted to do away with private insurance, which Medicare for All would largely do. (Source: Congress.gov)

Unclear Tulsi Gabbard

Gabbard is a co-sponsor of a Medicare for All bill in the House, but she also has said she supports keeping private insurance, which that bill would not do. In addition, her website says she wants to cover everyone via “Medicare or a public option.” (Source: Campaign website)

Unclear Wayne Messam

Messam told CBS that Medicare for All is “plausible” but that he also “believes in choice.” (Source: CBS)

Should we get rid of private insurance or allow space for current plans?

“Medicare for All” would virtually eliminate private insurance as Americans know it. Several candidates have put forward plans that would still allow space for private insurance. For example, public option proponents say those plans would allow people to keep their current employer-based insurance. Meanwhile, plans that are somewhere between Medicare for All and a public option might reshape people’s current private insurance but not eliminate it.
  • Eliminate
  • Sanders
  • Warren
  • Allow space
  • Bennet
  • Biden
  • Bloomberg
  • Bullock
  • Buttigieg
  • Castro
  • Delaney
  • Gabbard
  • Harris
  • Klobuchar
  • Messam
  • O’Rourke
  • Patrick
  • Ryan
  • Steyer
  • Williamson
  • Yang
  • Unclear
  • Booker
  • Sestak
What The Candidates Have Said About This
Eliminate Bernie Sanders

Medicare for All, as put forward by Sanders, would almost entirely eliminate private insurance. (Source: Congress.gov)

Eliminate Elizabeth Warren

Warren supports Sanders’ single-payer plan, which would almost entirely eliminate private insurance. (Source: Congress.gov)

Allow space Michael Bennet

As Bennet’s plan is a public option, it would allow people to be on private insurance. (Source: Campaign website)

Allow space Joe Biden

As Biden’s plan is a public option, it would allow people to be on private insurance. (Source: Campaign website)

Allow space Mike Bloomberg

“You can have Medicare for all for people who are uncovered,” Bloomberg told reporters in January 2019. He added, “but … to replace the entire private system where companies provide health care for their employees would bankrupt us for a very long time.” (Source: The Hill)

Allow space Steve Bullock

As Bullock’s plan is a public option, it would allow people to be on private insurance. (Source: Campaign website)

Allow space Pete Buttigieg

As Buttigieg’s plan is a public option, it would allow people to be on private insurance. (Source: Campaign website)

Allow space Julián Castro

According to Castro’s campaign, “Americans should have a private care option if they have a strong plan that meets certain standards.” (Source: Campaign email to NPR)

Allow space John Delaney

Delaney says his plan would “not force individuals off their existing plans.” (Source: Campaign website)

Allow space Tulsi Gabbard

Gabbard declined to raise her hand at a June debate when moderators asked which candidates would abolish private insurance. She also has said she wants a place for private insurance “for those who want it.” (Source: CNN)

Allow space Kamala Harris

Harris’ plan would still allow people to purchase qualifying private insurance plans. (Source: NPR)

Allow space Amy Klobuchar

As hers is a public option plan, it would allow people to be on private insurance. (Source: Campaign website)

Allow space Wayne Messam

Messam told CBS that if people like their private insurance, they should be able to stay on it. (Source: CBS)

Allow space Beto O’Rourke

Medicare for America would allow large employers to provide plans, assuming those plans meet certain standards. (Source: House website)

Allow space Deval Patrick

As Patrick’s plan is a public option, it would allow people to be on private insurance. (Source: Campaign email to NPR)

Allow space Tim Ryan

As Ryan’s plan is a public option, it still allows people to be on private insurance. (Source: Campaign website)

Allow space Tom Steyer

Steyer told WBUR, “I’m not in favor of saying to 150 million Americans who get their health care through their employer, ‘That’s now illegal. You will have to do it our way.’ “ (Source: WBUR)

Allow space Marianne Williamson

Under Williamson’s plan, Americans who wish to keep their private insurance would be able to do so. (Source: Campaign website)

Allow space Andrew Yang

“Andrew doesn’t believe that private insurance should be outlawed,” Yang’s campaign wrote in an email. (Source: Campaign email to NPR)

Unclear Cory Booker

Booker is a Medicare for All co-sponsor, but he also did not raise his hand at a June debate when moderators asked who would allow the elimination of private insurance — a key part of Medicare for All. (Source: NBC)

Unclear Joe Sestak

No response to NPR’s questions

Should all Americans be required to have insurance?

The individual mandate — requiring all Americans to get health insurance or pay a fine — was perhaps the least popular aspect of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. It was also considered a key factor in making the plan work, though the rollback of it in 2017 seems to have had a smaller effect than initially expected. Some plans, like Medicare for All, would autoenroll Americans.
  • Yes
  • Bennet
  • Biden
  • Booker
  • Buttigieg
  • Castro
  • Harris
  • Klobuchar
  • O’Rourke
  • Patrick
  • Ryan
  • Sanders
  • Warren
  • Williamson
  • Yang
  • No
  • Bullock
  • Delaney
  • Unclear
  • Bloomberg
  • Gabbard
  • Messam
  • Sestak
  • Steyer
What The Candidates Have Said About This
Yes Michael Bennet

Bennet told The New York Times that all Americans should be required to carry health insurance. (Source: The New York Times)

Yes Joe Biden

Biden has said he would bring back the individual mandate that was included in the Affordable Care Act. (Source: CNBC)

Yes Cory Booker

Booker told The New York Times that all Americans should be required to carry health insurance. (Source: The New York Times)

Yes Pete Buttigieg

Buttigieg told The New York Times that all Americans should be required to carry health insurance. (Source: The New York Times)

Yes Julián Castro

Castro told The New York Times that all Americans should be required to carry health insurance. (Source: The New York Times)

Yes Kamala Harris

Harris told The New York Times that all Americans should be required to carry health insurance. (Source: The New York Times)

Yes Amy Klobuchar

Klobuchar voted against an amendment to repeal the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate. (Source: Congress.gov)

Yes Beto O’Rourke

Medicare for America would have automatic, lifetime enrollment, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, “except that individuals may opt out for a program year when they have other qualified coverage.” (Source: Kaiser Family Foundation)

Yes Deval Patrick

Patrick’s campaign told NPR that all Americans should be required to have health insurance “as the Affordable Care Act contemplated.” (Source: campaign email to NPR)

Yes Tim Ryan

Ryan told The New York Times that all Americans should be required to carry health insurance. (Source: The New York Times)

Yes Bernie Sanders

Medicare for All would automatically enroll Americans at birth. (Source: Kaiser Family Foundation)

Yes Elizabeth Warren

Medicare for All would automatically enroll Americans at birth. (Source: Kaiser Family Foundation)

Yes Marianne Williamson

Williamson told The New York Times that all Americans should be required to carry health insurance. (Source: The New York Times)

Yes Andrew Yang

“All Americans should receive health insurance through the government by default, so an individual mandate isn’t necessary.” (Source: The New York Times)

No Steve Bullock

Bullock told The New York Times that Americans should not be required to carry health insurance, but that the government should provide incentives to have coverage. (Source: The New York Times)

No John Delaney

Delaney told The New York Times that Americans should not be required to carry health insurance. (Source: The New York Times)

Unclear Mike Bloomberg

No response to NPR questions

Unclear Tulsi Gabbard

No response to NPR questions

Unclear Wayne Messam

No response to NPR questions

Unclear Joe Sestak

No response to NPR questions

Unclear Tom Steyer

No response to NPR questions

Should the federal government be allowed to negotiate prescription drug costs?

Drug prices are one of the areas where consumers feel rising health care costs most acutely. Negotiations between Medicare and pharmaceutical companies over drug prices is currently outlawed. All of the candidates want to change this. However, it would mean different things for different candidates’ plans. For example, allowing Medicare to negotiate would affect everyone under Medicare for All, but could affect fewer people under a public option plan.
  • Yes
  • Bennet
  • Biden
  • Booker
  • Bullock
  • Buttigieg
  • Castro
  • Delaney
  • Gabbard
  • Harris
  • Klobuchar
  • Messam
  • O’Rourke
  • Patrick
  • Ryan
  • Sanders
  • Sestak
  • Warren
  • Williamson
  • Yang
  • Unclear
  • Bloomberg
  • Steyer
What The Candidates Have Said About This
Yes Michael Bennet

Bennet’s plan would require the federal government to negotiate lower drug prices. (Source: Campaign website)

Yes Joe Biden

Biden’s health care plan allows the government to negotiate prescription drug prices. (Source: Campaign website)

Yes Cory Booker

Booker’s website says he wants to “lower prescription drug costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prices and import drugs from Canada and other countries.” (Source: Campaign website)

Yes Steve Bullock

Per Bullock’s website: “As Governor, Steve negotiated lower costs between hospitals and the state insurance plan, leading to significant savings. It’s long past time for the federal government to take similar action to lower drug costs.” (Source: Campaign website)

Yes Pete Buttigieg

Buttigieg told New Hampshire’s WMUR that he wants to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices. (Source: WMUR)

Yes Julián Castro

Castro told The New York Times that he wants the government to be able to negotiate drug prices. (Source: The New York Times)

Yes John Delaney

Delaney’s website says he wants to allow the government to negotiate drug prices. (Source: Campaign website)

Yes Tulsi Gabbard

Gabbard’s website says she wants to “empower the government to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies.” (Source: Campaign website)

Yes Kamala Harris

Harris’ website says she wants to “allow Medicare to negotiate for cheaper prescription prices.” (Source: Campaign website)

Yes Amy Klobuchar

Klobuchar wrote in a 2018 op-ed that she wants to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices. (Source: The Star Tribune)

Yes Wayne Messam

Messam said on his website that he wants the government to have “more authority to negotiate prescription prices for seniors.” (Source: Campaign website)

Yes Beto O’Rourke

On his website, O’Rourke says he wants to allow Medicare “to negotiate for drugs and [allow] the federal government to intervene if a drug manufacturer refuses to set a reasonable price.” (Source: Campaign website)

Yes Deval Patrick

Patrick’s campaign told NPR that he wants to allow the government to negotiate drug prices. (Source: campaign email to NPR)

Yes Tim Ryan

Ryan has tweeted that he wants to “allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices.” (Source: Twitter)

Yes Bernie Sanders

Medicare for All would allow the government to negotiate drug prices. (Source: Congress.gov)

Yes Joe Sestak

Sestak’s website says that he wants to “allow Medicare to bargain for the best drug prices directly with the pharmaceutical industry.” (Source: Campaign website)

Yes Elizabeth Warren

Medicare for All would allow the government to negotiate drug prices. (Source: Congress.gov)

Yes Marianne Williamson

Williamson told The New York Times that Medicare should negotiate lower prescription drug prices. (Source: The New York Times)

Yes Andrew Yang

“It’s ridiculous that they can’t already,” Yang’s campaign wrote in an email. (Source: Campaign email to NPR)

Unclear Mike Bloomberg

No response to NPR questions

Unclear Tom Steyer

No response to NPR questions

Should the importation of drugs be allowed?

Another proposed strategy for lowering drug prices is the idea of allowing the importation of prescriptions from Canada and other countries where drugs are often cheaper. This idea has been floated several times in recent years, and many Democratic candidates back it.
  • Yes
  • Biden
  • Booker
  • Buttigieg
  • Castro
  • Delaney
  • Harris
  • Klobuchar
  • O’Rourke
  • Patrick
  • Ryan
  • Sanders
  • Sestak
  • Warren
  • Williamson
  • Maybe
  • Yang
  • No
  • Bennet
  • Bullock
  • Unclear
  • Bloomberg
  • Gabbard
  • Messam
  • Steyer
What The Candidates Have Said About This
Yes Joe Biden

Biden would allow importation of drugs from other countries “as long as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has certified that those drugs are safe.” (Source: Campaign website)

Yes Cory Booker

Booker co-sponsored Sen. Bernie Sanders’ bill allowing the importation of drugs. (Source: Congress.gov)

Yes Pete Buttigieg

Buttigieg told The New York Times that he wants to allow the importation of prescriptions, but that it “must be done in a way that ensures safety and quality.” (Source: The New York Times)

Yes Julián Castro

Castro told The New York Times that he wants to allow the importation of prescription drugs. (Source: The New York Times)

Yes John Delaney

Delaney told The New York Times he supports importing drugs, adding, “We should also tax big pharma when they charge other countries less than they charge Americans.” (Source: The New York Times)

Yes Kamala Harris

Harris co-sponsored Sanders’ bill allowing the importation of drugs. (Source: Congress.gov)

Yes Amy Klobuchar

Klobuchar co-sponsored Sanders’ bill allowing the importation of drugs. (Source: Congress.gov)

Yes Beto O’Rourke

On his website, O’Rourke says he wants to “allow drug importation from Europe and Canada.” (Source: Campaign website)

Yes Deval Patrick

“Yes, with appropriate protections for patients and proper processes at the FDA,” his campaign wrote in an email to NPR. (Source: campaign email to NPR)

Yes Tim Ryan

Ryan told The New York Times that he supports the importation of drugs but did not elaborate. (Source: The New York Times)

Yes Bernie Sanders

Sanders introduced a bill in January that would allow the importation of drugs. (Source: Congress.gov)

Yes Joe Sestak

Sestak’s website says he wants to “permit re-importation of less expensive drugs from Canada.” (Source: Campaign website)

Yes Elizabeth Warren

Warren co-sponsored Sanders’ bill allowing the importation of drugs. (Source: Congress.gov)

Yes Marianne Williamson

Williamson told The New York Times that the federal government should import drugs from other countries, but that “strict monitoring” is needed to ensure quality. (Source: The New York Times)

Maybe Andrew Yang

Yang would allow Americans to buy drugs from other countries if other measures, such as government negotiations and generic manufacturing, did not ensure affordable drug prices. (Source: Campaign website)

No Michael Bennet

Bennet told The New York Times that he does not support importing drugs from other countries. (Source: The New York Times)

No Steve Bullock

Bullock told The New York Times: “Rather than focusing on importing drugs from other countries, we need to get our pharmaceutical companies to charge Americans less for vital medicines.” (Source: The New York Times)

Unclear Mike Bloomberg

No response to NPR questions

Unclear Tulsi Gabbard

No response to NPR questions

Unclear Wayne Messam

No response to NPR questions

Unclear Tom Steyer

No response to NPR questions

Photos: Amr Alfiky/NPR (Sanders); U.S. House (Gabbard); U.S. Senate (Warren); White House (Biden)