Warren Says She'll Release Details On How She'd Pay For Medicare For All Plan 'In Next Few Weeks'

Democratic presidential contender Elizabeth Warren says she'll release details on how she'd pay for her Medicare for All plan in "the next few weeks."

The Massachusetts senator came under criticism from her opponents during last week's Democratic primary debate for refusing to say whether her plan would raise taxes on the middle class to pay for expanding Medicare to the entire nation.

At a campaign event in Indianola, Iowa, on Sunday, Warren said: "What I see is that we need to talk about costs."

At a town hall in Des Moines later Sunday, Warren said she's been working on the plan for a long time, and she still has a little more work to do.

"But this much I promise you: I will not sign a bill into law that does not reduce the cost of health care for middle-class families," Warren said. "That's what matters to them, and that's what matters to me."

Democratic rival Bernie Sanders has acknowledged that his plan to expand Medicare to everyone would require higher taxes on the middle class while eliminating most health care expenses for the public.

Warren has made detailed, progressive policy proposals central to her presidential bid, so the fact that thus far she's signed on to Sanders' plan, rather than unveiling her own, has surprised some political watchers.

With reporting by The Associated Press, Clay Masters of Iowa Public Radio and the WBUR Newsroom