Why not adopt the US health insurance model for automobile insurance as well?

[guillaumeb]

Under that system, you would be restricted in what repair facilities you could use.

You would have to get all repairs pre-approved.

You would have no idea what the actual total cost of the repair would be.

Your insurance could reject your claim for repairs, and insist on a second or third opinion.

Every repair facility would need to hire people specifically tasked to dealing with the hundreds of companies offering car repair insurance.

Ridiculous you say? But this is how the US healthcare profit making machine works.

[drray23]

1. That's how most car insurance work already.

After an accident, you do have to bring your car to a place that your insurer work with, they do send an insurance adjuster to assess the scope of the repairs, etc...

[guillaumeb]

2. But this would apply for all repairs, not just accidents.

And maintenance as well.

So anything that your car needs would require pre-approval.

[Igel]

3. But currently that's not how either type of insurance works.

I can go to any doctor and completely ignore my insurance.

I'm willing to pay. I only have to be pre-approved if I want to use my insurance.

The difference between the requirements for being insured have been so hacked to death there's no point even thinking of rehashing that portion.

[guillaumeb]

4. Yes, you have the "freedom" to go anywhere,

but you also will pay more for out of network treatment.

So using your insurance is significantly restricted.

It is not that way in Canada, or other single payer systems. Only in the US do we have the "freedom" to be gouged.

[Control-Z]

5. It's already pretty much like that. eom

[guillaumeb]

6. I disagree. They are nothing alike.

The healthcare industry wastes billions each year because providers must hire people to deal with the ridiculously complex system of hundreds of plans, each with its own exclusions and networks that must be navigated.

No car repair facility does anything like that.

[Control-Z]

7. My comment was in re: what you said in your OP. eom