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main menu: Julieville on Insurance |
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| "Think upon what hath chanced" A few years ago, I remember seemingly endless debates fueled by the Clinton White House's focus on "universal coverage." There was no talk of giving people health care. There was only talk of giving people health insurance. How odd, I thought, that everyone seems obsessed with the notion of providing citizens with insurance. Insurance doesn't fix a broken wrist. Insurance isn't an end; it's a means to an end. Universal coverage shouldn't be the goal of anyone but insurance agents. Recently, Ohio hatched a new scheme in which the Department of Transportation sends out letters to a random sampling of registered vehicle owners. This letter demands the recipient provide the state proof of automobile insurance or his license is revoked and his car impounded. I object to the policy for so many reasons, and on so many levels, that discussion of it is impossible. But even if I had no further objection, I think I'd wonder why, again, government seems to be single-mindedly working to keep insurance companies in business. Is it the word? Does "insurance" sound enough like "assurance" that everyone gets a warm fuzzy feeling just thinking about it? Does "insurance" sound expensive (God knows it is) and so everyone equates it with money? Is there something sinister in the use of "state" in Allstate? State Farm? Is Nationwide really on my side? Aetna, am I glad I met ya? I don't really dislike insurance companies—I just don't think they need any help. Given a choice, though, I'd pick Allstate over Algore any day.
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