Sanders Proposes Tax Hike To Pay For Universal Health Care

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -- Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is releasing a sweeping proposal to create a new single-payer health care system in the United States, just hours ahead of the final Democratic presidential debate before the leadoff Iowa caucuses.

Sanders' "Medicare for all" plan released Sunday would be paid for by a variety of tax increases.

Sanders says his system would provide health care coverage to all Americans, eliminate co-pays and deductibles, and bring health care spending under control.

To pay for it, Sanders proposes higher payroll taxes, a health care premium and a top marginal tax rate of more than 50 percent.

Hillary Clinton is expected to criticize the plan at Sunday night's debate. She has previously warned Sanders would raise taxes on middle-class families to pay for his plan.

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