Last week, NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg spoke out about what he sees as the problem with the health care system: it manages disease, rather than emphasizing prevention. In his speech at the National Health Policy Conference (available online as a video and a transcript), Mayor Bloomberg mentioned that New York is one of the healthier cities in America: the life expectancy of a City resident is longer than the national average. Mayor Bloomberg has gained national attention for banning smoking in bars and trans fats in restaurant cooking (currently being phased in). We think the conversation about preventive care is an important one. While Mayor Bloomberg wants to shift the focus from just insurance coverage to prevention, it's important to note that many people forego preventive care precisely because they aren't insured.