Jay-Z backs Obama healthcare reform

Jay-Z has spoken out in support of President Barack Obama's plans to reform the US healthcare system.

The rapper, who released his new album The Blueprint 3 last week, claimed that everyone had a right to healthcare and action should be taken to support the most vulnerable people in society.

"I think for a long time a segment of the population has been under-insured and not taken care of," he told the BBC.

"If this is America, or any country, and we care about all the citizens, not just the privileged ones, then I think it's only right that everyone has healthcare. I think everyone should be able to take care of themselves."

He added: "It's not socialist to think that way, I think it's more elitist to think the other way."

President Obama recently told Congress that the US needed to introduce a series of reforms to ensure that millions of its citizens could have access to better healthcare.

"Everyone understands the extraordinary hardships that are placed on the uninsured, who live every day just one accident or illness away from bankruptcy," he said.

"These are not primarily people on welfare. These are middle-class Americans."