Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Universal Car Care?

Having just recently bought a car, I found myself in need of insurance. My parents were planning to add the car to their existing policy, thinking that would save me a few bucks. But that dream was squashed because, apparently, insurance policies can't cross state lines. Something about state rights to write laws; something about different requirements in different states. Right. Translation: What a pain!

Perhaps it's because it's campaign season, but I liken this car insurance issue to the debate over universal health care.

What's the purpose of universal health care?
To raise the national baseline for health care.
To protect hospitals and ultimately states from covering the loss in unpaid / un-pay-able medical expenses.


How many car accidents happen in a year in which one or either party does not have medical insurance?

How many car accidents happen in a year in which one or either party is driving with a suspended license or without insurance because they couldn't afford the upkeep?

Join me in support of universal car care laws!
Facilitate greater competition in the car insurance market. With universal car care laws, all companies would be able to do business nationally. (I just spent a substantial amount of time trying to find insurance providers my dad knew, none of which offered coverage in MA.) SDIP--some sort of point system that calculates your insurance premium in relation to your driving record--should be standardized! An accident is an accident in any state. It's going to count against you when you're looking for an insurance policy--shouldn't it always count in the same way?

What would you like to change about the way insurance is dealt with?


2 comments:

Unknown said...

communist! (that violates the tenth amendment)

Sandy said...

The tenth amendment:
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved for the States respectively, or to the people."

And states have representatives, and those representatives speak on behalf of their communities... Moreover, if said representatives got together and decided that a set standard for all states was best for the citizens of their state, how does that violate the tenth amendment.

Not to mention that universal car care could fall under the commerce clause: "The Congress shall have Power ...To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes."