As calls for single payer escalate in the wake of Thursday's devastating Republican healthcare vote, President Donald Trump inadvertently gave a boost to the demand when he praised Australia's taxpayer-funded, universal coverage system in a meeting with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Trump's statement Thursday night that Australia has "better healthcare than we do" delighted Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a longtime single-payer advocate who laughed heartily when he heard it during an interview on MSNBC.

Australia's system, known as Medicare, provides citizens with universal access to doctors and public hospitals, largely funded through general taxation.

"That's great," Sanders said after collecting himself. "Let's take a look at the Australian healthcare system. Maybe he wants to take a look at the Canadian healthcare system or systems throughout Europe. Thank you, Mr. President. Let us move to a Medicare-for-All system that does what every other major country on earth does—guarantee healthcare for all people at a fraction of the cost per capita that we spend. Thank you, Mr. President. We'll quote you on the floor of the Senate."

Thank you Mr. Trump for admitting that universal health care is the better way to go. I'll be sure to quote you on the floor of the Senate. pic.twitter.com/GTFRHiKw6k — Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) May 5, 2017

Yes, Mr. Trump, the Australian health care system is a lot better than ours and infinitely better than the disastrous bill you supported. pic.twitter.com/SUtBRW8IKc — Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) May 5, 2017

(The Washington Post's Aaron Blake further noted that the president's remark was "merely the latest evidence that Trump, in his heart of hearts, wants single-payer healthcare. Indeed, it seems to be his forbidden fruit.")

Meanwhile, Sanders wasn't the only one to call for a single-payer system following Thursday's vote, which would decimate coverage and raise healthcare costs for millions of Americans.

"Healthcare is a right, not a privilege," said Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), whose recently re-introduced "Expanded & Improved Medicare for All Act" has more Democratic support than ever before.

"That's why I have a bill to create a single-payer, Medicare-for-All plan," he said Thursday. "Most of the Democratic party has joined me in cosponsoring that bill. Democrats will be in the majority again—given today's vote that may happen very soon. When it does, I will do everything in my power to make sure a national, universal, government-funded system is our agenda."

SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT Never Miss a Beat. Get our best delivered to your inbox.







Advocacy groups such as Physicians for a National Health Program and National Nurses United (NNU) issued similar appeals.

Those lawmakers who voted in favor of Thursday's "draconian and mean spirited, punitive legislation" have missed the point, said NNU executive director RoseAnn DeMoro: "There is only one way to fix healthcare—to improve Medicare, one of the signature reforms in U.S. history, and expand it to cover all Americans."

And voices online joined the chorus:

As fight moves to Senate, Democrats must go on offense w/ real solutions for America’s working families like #MedicareForAll. — BoldProgressives.org (@BoldProgressive) May 4, 2017

To House Dems who sang "Na na, hey hey, goodbye" to GOP after vote, I assume you've all co-sponsored @RepJohnConyers' #MedicareForAll bill? — rob delaney (@robdelaney) May 4, 2017

Our political process is OWNED by for-profit insurance companies. Break the shackles with #MedicareforAll. #AHCA https://t.co/M5nJZvKD76 — Dennis Kucinich (@Dennis_Kucinich) May 4, 2017

#Trumpcare has passed the House. America needs @TheDemocrats to put forth a plan to defend healthcare as a right — #MedicareForAll. #HR676 — Justice Democrats (@justicedems) May 4, 2017