Obama gives check-up on health care
At a press conference, President Obama talked about how much his health care overhaul might cost and the effect a public insurance option might have on private companies.
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference in the James S. Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
TEXT OF STORY
Kai Ryssdal: President Obama had three things he wanted to talk about at his press conference this morning. Iran. Energy policy. And health care. He didn't do so bad. He went two for three. The White House press corps didn't really bite on the energy thing. Iran and what Mr. Obama has had to say so far about their election last week took up a good chunk of time. But there were some questions about his health-care plan in there. How much any overhaul might cost.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: So there's been a lot of talk about a trillion-dollar price tag. What I've said is if we're going to spend that much money then it's going to be largely funded through reallocating dollars that are already in the health-care system, but aren't being spent well.
And what the much-talked about public-insurance option might mean to private companies in the health-care market.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: If private insurers say that the marketplace provides the best quality health-care. If they tell us that they're offering a good deal. Then why is it that the government, which they say can't run anything, suddenly is going to drive them out of business. That's not logical.
Finally, a word about Ben Bernanke. The president was asked how the Fed chairman's been doing of late, and whether he'll re-appoint Mr. Bernanke when his term is up at the end of January. Nice try, the president said. But no dice.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: I'm not going to make news about Ben Bernanke, although I think he has done a fine job under very difficult circumstances.
Comments
Comment | Refresh
From High Point, NC, 06/24/2009
As a concerned middle school teacher, my question is whether or not someone has considered reestablishing the Public Health Hospital and the Public Health Corps which I believe worked for Americans several decades ago. One way to help those who do not have health care coverage during that time was to go to the community hospital. We must look at what is working, what has worked, and finally what is best for all of the people. We did not have so many indigent people, homeless and downtrodden when public health hospitals were in existence. Can we please look at this proposal. Thank you for the opportunity to voice my concerns.
From Austin, TX, 06/23/2009
There is a very good way to have a public plan and keep market-choice and private health care in the U.S.
One key piece is the idea that a public plan should be *very* narrowly focused on proven, cost-effective treatments only, leaving *all* the further options to supplemental private insurance.
This would prevent most of the numerous death in the U.S. from lack of preventative and basic care, but still preserve full choice and complete flexibility in actual health care.
How it works, and more about better incentives in health care:
http://findingourdream.blogspot.com/2009/06/good-healthcare-ideas-help-think-up-new.html
Post a Comment: Please be civil, brief and relevant.
Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. All comments are moderated. Marketplace reserves the right to edit any comments on this site and to read them on the air if they are extra-interesting. Please read the Comment Guidelines before posting.
You must be 13 or over to submit information to American Public Media. The information entered into this form will not be used to send unsolicited email and will not be sold to a third party. For more information see Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.