Bloomberg: Public Option Is Best Way To Fix Health Care

The New York Daily News:

The principles that President Obama has outlined for national health care reform are driven by a goal that I share: universal access to affordable health care. Last week, I went to Washington to speak with members of Congress about an idea that can help make that goal a reality: a public health insurance option.

Read the whole story: The New York Daily News

Comments

[platanoman]

Bloomberg is a sensible politician.

[Coinyer101]

No it's not. Single payer is the best way to reform healthcare.

[platanoman]

We can't go to single payer. Not now. So, let's get what we can.

[dennisrs]

If you really cannot afford to pay for own healthcare why don't you use the Medicade system?

[oftenon]

Mike, you're infuriating. The NYC public was unqualified to decide on your 3rd term bid, so you shoved it down their throat... now you're the champion of democratic Healthcare reform. Oy vey — away!!

[NedroidPrime]

Hehe, my rightie brother always uses Bloomberg as an example as a good Republican...

I can't wait to show him this!

[claudiam]

DUH - Bloomberg you need to talk with our elected officials. They need to understand who they work for! claudiatucsonaz

[dennisrs]

If you tax Bloomberg 90% of his wealth you could pay for healthcare for about 5 years.

[dennisrs]

Because I like having my "own" Doctor, his staff, nurses and his clinic. I had military healthcare most of my youth and then USPHS for awhile and both sucked. If you saw one Doctor in the morning you saw a different on that afternoon much less 2 weeks later. That's what we will end up later.
The State I live in (Louisiana) has a Charity hospital system which is horrendous. Most of the Medical staff are fro the LSU medical schools and they are great Doctors and Nurses but their support staff are like some kind of NAZI's. Uncaring " administrators. I have never had to use them but have waited with plenty of friends for their Med treatment and it was terrible. Folks from Louisiana who have dealt with them will know what I am talking about. Before Hurricane Katarina the New Orleans Charity only had one good thing it's trauma center if you got shot, stabbed or were badly injured in an accident that was the best place to go for your surgery but after that you had better get to another hospital. They would leave lying in your own mess in bed for a whole shift just because because a "State worker", who could not be fired was to lazy or mean to their job and change you sheets. We actually bought sheets for a friend who was in a coma and did it ourselves. Horrible hospital just horrible. A nightmare! That's what I don't want!

[SuesW]

The thing I don't understand is why american's are on the side of huge insurance corporations who are making all the money. I don't get that.

[Cleanerman]

I don't get that either. The GOP is not fighting for the "common person's" interest in this country. They are for the status quo--that is keeping the very wealthy (individuals and corporations) happy and content---to hell with the rest of us. In the part of the country where I live, the main reason many lower income people are Repugs is because of the old, worn-out, misleading "moral majority" views and the dislike of diversity.
The hypocrites and bigots of all incomes are what make and drive the Republican Party. I honestly think this is a shame. I understand ideological differences between political parties. A Democracy, of course, is driven by multiple parties and viewpoints. But, it is not right for a party to be driven by greed, hypocrisy, and bigotry. And for many years and even now, that is the case with the GOP in my view! Those negative human qualities that we all have to fight against should not be present in any political party. The social welfare of all Americans should be the goal. Everyone should have access to a good education if he/she wants it and to good healthcare without ruining his/her finances. This is sound social policy. An educated, healthy populace makes for a much stronger, caring country and a more productive one.

[ObamanextPresident]

Wow. Awesome response.

[Icantbelieveher]

I really think that they feel superior to the 50 million people who don't have insurance -- I know they feel superior to people living in poverty. Their answer is for people to get a job, but from what I've seen, there's no jobs out there! They are afraid that $1 of their tax dollar might help that poor mother who gets no child support and can't get a job. Or the father lost his job because his company moved out of the country. They will tell everyone they donate to charity, but that won't buy their way into heaven, and they wouldn't do that if they didn't get the tax deduction.

[dennisrs]

Do you know that there is system in all states for most poor people and children? There is Fed system called Medicaid and many states have their own especially for kids Oregon has a good one for kids up to school age and it's free for most lower income groups. Check out what various states have to offer.

[patricksmom]

So true about the tax deduction. That is why they feign concern that charities won't get as much in donations if we decrease the charitable tax deduction.

[Free2Speak]

Americans arent't really on the side of insurance companies.76% wants a public option.The problem is the amount of revenue the media recieves from Big Pharma ads.You can't bite the hand that feeds you.So between the media and the paid off politicians (Baucus,Fe­instein,La­ndrieu,Con­rad,Bayh,
McConnell,­Liebermann­,Graham,) it becomes a formidable force to contend with.More than 60% of bankruptcies last year was because of medical bills.You will not hear that repeated no where on TV but how we will pay for health reform or will we tax health benefit etc. you're are constantly reminded by the media.No one blink a eye about the trillions spent on the Iraq war or bank bailouts.

[dennisrs]

Let's see you left out Obama, Biden,Dodd, Frank and many others. Just look up the stats of the Insurance companies that donated to both Dems & Repub!
They don't reall care about us.

[Billl]

Private insurance systems can not compete with government’s ability to provide low cost funding to pay for health care, a national sales tax would be the best source, nor can private hospitals and care facilities compete with government owned facilities staffed by government employed doctors and health care providers to provide high quality low cost care and medications.

A dual public/private choice health care reform system in which all government funded programs would be distributed through government hospitals and clinics could control costs and outcomes to save hundreds of billions of dollars annually from the $2.5trillion now spent, and no one would be left without care, nor would seniors, Medicare and Medicaid recipients suffer from the Presidents proposals to cut $600billion in spending over the next ten years in order to pay for his convoluted forced insurance health care plan.

It is not a level playing field with government competing against private insurance and for profit care providers for patients, nor should it be.

Health care reform serving individuals, businesses, taxpayers and the national economy should be the beneficiaries of this home court advantage.

A dual public/private health care reform system has no equals or even a close contender to provide a world class solution for reform.

It is time for the President, Legislators, American businesses, unions, AARP, churches, financial institutions, insurance companies and private health care companies to become pragmatic and do a true fix for the sake of producing healthy citizens and a robust economy.

[dennisrs]

Just how will the government lower cost? It will end up with less service, less options and centralization. Then more user fees, taxes and then Good God paperwork, if you all think paper work is bad now wait until the Federal Government is running things you all willdie from doing too much paper work. Plus we will all end up with a RFD chip in our body somewhere!

[patricksmom]

Paranoid little twit aren't you?

[harriscrl3]

Thank you Mayor bloomberg you keep talking like that and I might have to vote for you.

[dennisrs]

I'd save your thanks if I was you.

[Antifascist-08]

How much do you get per post, little Denny?

Mommy must be proud to have you living in the basement and bringing home a big check every week.

[000Jade000]

Ummmmmm, no. Single paper is THE BEST WAY to fix health care.

[brt929]

I agree. But the public option is a great first step, because single payer will not pass at this time.

[Coinyer101]

It is whitewash that will penalize and fine those who don't want to participate in their 'watered-down for the insurance companies bs'.

[mendelcrosses]

We wre told Obama will not even win a primary. But he is President.

So dont tell me Single payer cant pass. or may be you wanna explain to me why It cant pass when 76% of the populace in a democratic country says Yes. Are you saying that America is NOT A DEMOCRACY?

[patricksmom]

I agree now after more thought that the public option is a good first step and what we will most likely get now. A successful public option will prod more people to think about single payer.

[FaceReality2]

Even Bloomberg can see that laissez faire capitalism is a failure in the health care arena. It has delivered the highest cost and some of the least effective (in terms of outcomes and people covered) health care in the world. It is a market which must be regulated. Every other industrialized country in the world knows this but us.

[Cleanerman]

When there is a desire and need for all citizens to have equal access to something such as education or healthcare, the government has to be the major player. It is common sense. Otherwise, only the well-to-do and a few other fortunate souls get access. The lack of enough income leaves many left out. America lacks a social conscience. An educated and healthy society should be the goal, but up to now (and perhaps for who knows when), this country has not been interested.

[dennisrs]

Do really think there is equal access to education? Do you want the healthcare system to be run like the education system? Do you want it run like FEMA? Like the Military? Like the SS Administration? The US Coast Guard? Home Land Security? Good just look at all the other Federal run programs! Wake up people to you are fixing to turn your healthcare over to.
I admit there is a need for reform but let's try reforming the private sector before going to a so called Single Payer Federal Government system! Please everybody take a deep, deep breath 'fore turning your life over to "Big Brother". Please Think -Think!

[DavidATolucaLake]

The very rich perplex me. (And Im not referring to Bloomberg here)

The want to have thriving businesses in the United States but they dont want to fix two of the main issues robbing most consumers of their spending capacity. Health care costs and student loan debt.

If the average consumer had less of a finanical burden paying for costly health care and student loan debt they would have much more to spend in the economy. Which would make businesses more profitable, which increase stock prices, etc.

But all some of the very rich want to do is complain that they might have to pay a bit more in taxes. Yet, they would probably make more money when consumers had more money in their pockets to spend at their businesses, for reasons described above.

Nah, its more fun to watch the poor and middle class struggle.

[Egalitare]

It prevents some Robber Barons to bleed you NOW.

Later just might be too late for the next quarterly report....

[mendelcrosses]

You dont get it.

They want to take all of your money ,but in a way that you dont get anything back in return

You see normally,money is there to be spent,so u have the money ,use it to get something. But with Insurance u have the money,pay it to them and they give u nothing in return.
The day when u become ill,they read out the small print to you

[dennisrs]

Do you know that this healthcare scheme will put a lot of small businesses out of business. Why because they will not be able to afford their "share" of mandated payment for each employee. Talk about unemployment! Small business employees a huge number of people especially the young (inexperienced) and uneducated or otherwise unemployable cause they have no real job skills. We will just end up with more unemployment, more poverty and then the end result will be more crime. Desperate people do desperate things, isn't that one of the Liberal mantras.

[patricksmom]

Hey Deny,
First many small businesses will be exempt due to size. So we will end up with more health care, less burden on businesses, better ability for small businesses to compete for employees. Stop listening to FOX and get some accurate information.

[jsgaetano]

So much for Bloomberg's future in the GOP.

Reality has no place in the conservative version of the world.

[dRwOOD]

i was thinkin the same thang

[Free2Speak]

My sentiments exactly...

[Roxanna]

Thank you Bloomberg.... Public health care is the only way.

[mendelcrosses]

Bloomberg did not say Public Health Care. What he said is "public health insurance option"

Probably a one which doesnt involve Government still.

[Darcman]

Wow! Mike Bloomberg supports a public option? Suddenly I don't dislike our control freak, egomaniac Mayor as much! LOL!

[cannondaddy]

I like Bloomberg. I was prepared to support him for president if Obama hadn't gotten the Democratic nomination.