Charles Mostoller/Reuters
Hillary Clinton will announce she is backing the addition of a so-called “public option” to the Affordable Care Act that would allow people to join the Medicare rolls when they turn 55. While she did not provide details of how the policy would specifically work, the move is widely seen as a concession to Bernie Sanders, who is expected to endorse her next week. “As president, I will make sure Republicans never succeed in their attempts to strip away their care and that the remaining uninsured should be able to get the affordable coverage they need to stay healthy,” Clinton's campaign said in a statement. She also came out in favor of increased funding for medical clinics servicing low-income Americans.
The full embrace was met with praise from Sanders, who said Clinton decided to back the public option after the two campaigns engaged in discussions over various isssues. “Today's proposal by @HillaryClinton is an important step toward expanding health insurance and health care access to millions of Americans,” Sanders tweeted.