Both Massachusetts senators are now backing a bid to establish a federal single-payer health care system in the United States.

Sen. Ed Markey’s office announced Wednesday that the Malden Democrat had signed on to a bill filed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders to create a national health insurance program called the Universal Medicare Program. Under the bill, every U.S. resident would receive health insurance through an expanded Medicare program “with improved and comprehensive benefits,” according to Markey’s office.

“Most wealthy countries in the world provide universal health insurance coverage, except the United States. That’s just plain wrong,” Markey said in a statement. “As we work to strengthen the Affordable Care Act and build upon the important progress we have made, we must also set our sights toward achieving our ultimate goal: universal health care coverage for all.”

Single-payer system opponents have argued that patients may lose choices under such a system, driving up costs, while supporters say the current system blending public and private insurance programs is failing to cover all people while also burdening the budgets of governments, businesses and families.

Warren announced last Thursday that she would co-sponsor the bill, describing the proposal as “one way that we can give every single person in the country access to high quality health care.”

“Everyone is covered,” she said in an email to supporters. “Nobody goes broke paying a medical bill. Families don’t have to bear the costs of heartbreaking medical disasters on their own.”