Democrats divided ahead of Bernie Sanders' 'Medicare-for-all' bill release

Senate Democrats are set to announce a new push for single-payer healthcare on Wednesday featuring several 2020 hopefuls touting legislation from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., to expand Medicare to everyone.

But divisions remain in the Democratic caucus over whether government-run healthcare may be going too far. Some of the most vulnerable Senate Democrats running for re-election in 2018 are not offering a warm embrace of the policy.

Instead, some Democratic senators are angling to expand Medicare to people ages 55 and up, from the current 65 years old.

Neither expansion of Medicare is expected to go anywhere in the Republican-controlled Senate. The rift, however, does illustrate divisions in the Democratic Party on what their next step will be after Obamacare.

Single payer has been an idea traditionally pushed on the left fringes of the Democratic Party. However, it is a policy idea that has gained greater mainstream appeal after Sanders' surprise run last year for the party's presidential nomination.