Former Vice President Al Gore on Tuesday called for single-payer healthcare, making him one of the most prominent Democrats to call for the progressive healthcare option.
At an event promoting his latest climate change documentary, Gore said America should adopt single-payer or a healthcare system where taxes cover basic healthcare costs for residents, according to HuffPost.
Gore’s comments come amid turmoil in Congress over Republican lawmakers’ efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. GOP-crafted legislation collapsed this week, twice, due to opposition from Republican senators.
Gore’s suggestion for the healthcare system has been championed by progressive Democrats for years. Many other developed nations, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil, Japan, and China, offer some version of single-payer or universal healthcare.
Speaking at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, Gore said health insurance companies have not offered enough affordable healthcare options.
“The private sector has not shown any ability to provide good, affordable healthcare for all,” Gore said, according to HuffPost. “I believe we ought to have single-payer health care.”
Gore’s stance on the issue has evolved over time. He did not back universal healthcare during his 2000 presidential bid, but two years later he seemed to warm up to the idea.
“I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that we should begin drafting a single-payer national health insurance plan,” Gore reportedly said at the time.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-V.t.) backed a Medicare-for-all plan during his run for president in 2016. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) have also backed a single-payer health care system in the past.