Imagine a World Without Insurance

By Insurance Information Institute | October 2, 2019

  • October 2, 2019 at 10:21 am
    PolarBeaRepeal says:
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    • October 2, 2019 at 10:33 am
      ralph says:
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      We’ve been over this: there are NO bots, Yogi. People downvote you not because they’re socialists / communists but because they’re sick and tired of you turning literally everything into a political discussion. It IS actually possible to disagree with someone without having an ulterior agenda.

      Weren’t you one who said you’d tone it down? You have an absolute ton of experience in Insurance and are obviously a very intelligent bear (I’ll easily and humbly admit you’re much smarter than I am), why not use it for good?

      PS–there’s also NO Deep State, no Illuminati, no alien spacecraft, no Bigfoot, no time travel (because if it were possible someone from the future would’ve come back and told us to knock this sh*t off), no Loch Ness Monster, and Elvis is unfortunately still dead. There’s also Santa Claus but if there was, he’d be P*SSED at you.

      Now I gah go POTTY.

      • October 2, 2019 at 12:52 pm
        PolarBeaRepeal says:
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        • October 2, 2019 at 1:11 pm
          ralph says:
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          Yes, we HAVE been over this, Yogi. You’ve claimed NUMEROUS times that “Soros-funded BOTs” have infiltrated the IJ in order to downvote conservative posts, and even claimed that “your IT guy” has evidence proving this, even though at one point there was a flaw that allowed people to downvote posts multiple times. NO BOTs HAVE EVER BEEN USED ON THE IJ TO DOWNVOTE CONSERVATIVES. Nobody has ever switched IP addresses to downvote you, Yogi. All you’re doing is pushing yet another unfounded conspiracy in order to make up for the fact that people disagree with YOU, much like the Deep State theory. As I said above, IT IS POSSIBLE TO DISAGREE WITH SOMEONE AND NOT BE A PART OF A HIDDEN AGENDA.

          I’m actually fine with the results of 11/8/16. I’m a registered Republican and didn’t vote for Trump, nor do I plan on voting for him in 2020 (I’m sitting that one out unless some moderate or non-insane candidate decides to run). I’m not a fan of him, though I do agree with some of his policies and think he could’ve been a decent leader if Twitter never existed. That said, as a rule I don’t let myself get upset by something that I have no control over. What’s the point?

          You yourself said you were going to tone down your rhetoric. How many times does Andrew have to tell you before you get it: Keep it to insurance and save the political commentary for other sites.

          • October 2, 2019 at 4:39 pm
            PolarBeaRepeal says:
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          • October 2, 2019 at 4:48 pm
            Rosenblatt says:
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            “No reason to believe you about BOTs when they were previously detected and NEGATED by IJ software fixes.”

            I’d love to see some evidence to prove this comment

            “I see multiple down votes done INDIVIDUALLY by switching IP addresses”

            I’d love to see some evidence to prove this comment

          • October 3, 2019 at 10:02 am
            ralph says:
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            There never WAS any detection and negation by “IJ software fixes”, Yogi, because there never were any BOTs used. If there was, wouldn’t they have implemented one of those “recaptcha” or “I Am Not a Robot” boxes you’d have to check every time you posted something? It was just a flaw that allowed you to rapidly click your mouse to downvote. The IJ fixed this error and now you can’t do it.

            Do BOTs exist? Absolutely…go on that cesspool known as Twitter some time. It’s pretty rampant there and they’re used by both the left AND the right. However, I can tell you with a 99.9% degree of certainty that NOBODY ever used BOTs to downvote your or other conservative comments on the IJ, nor is anyone taking the time to switch their IP address.. Someone using a BOT has bigger fish to fry and is going to go after a publication with far higher readership in the comment section (no offense, IJ). If you’re getting downvoted, it’s because people disagree with you or the way you say it, as is their right to do so. Try making your point without immediately resulting to politics or calling people who disagree with you “communists” or “socialists.” You might be surprised at the results.

          • October 3, 2019 at 3:01 pm
            PolarBeaRepeal says:
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          • October 3, 2019 at 3:20 pm
            ralph says:
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            I realize you don’t believe me Yogi, but I hope you realize that I’m honestly trying to do you a favor by showing you the truth. There may be a few valid conspiracy theories out there, but this is not one of them.

            I sincerely wish you well.

        • October 3, 2019 at 2:03 pm
          Godot says:
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          Yogi, Yogi, Yogi…do you really (still) believe that this little forum on Insurance Journal consumes people to the point that they will spend the time and effort to switch to a different IP address to down-vote you? You are delusional.

          • October 3, 2019 at 3:03 pm
            PolarBeaRepeal says:
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      • October 2, 2019 at 12:55 pm
        PolarBeaRepeal says:
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        • October 2, 2019 at 1:15 pm
          ralph says:
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          Yogi, I realize you didn’t post anything about Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster, or Santa Claus, etc. That part was humor in order to prove the point that you’re pushing theories that just don’t exist, as far as the BOTs infiltrating the IJ goes.

          Is there “censorship of conservatives” out there by liberals? Sure, just like there are conservatives that want to shut down liberals. It’s been like that since our country was founded. BOTH sides are absolutely whacked out of their minds right now.

      • October 2, 2019 at 4:35 pm
        PolarBeaRepeal says:
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        • October 2, 2019 at 6:31 pm
          CommLinesAgent says:
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          wow. like literal QAnon crazy.

      • October 2, 2019 at 4:35 pm
        PolarBeaRepeal says:
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    • October 2, 2019 at 4:34 pm
      PolarBeaRepeal says:
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      • October 3, 2019 at 2:15 pm
        ThreePedal says:
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        As opposed to your current health insurance company which says it will or won’t pay for certain medications, procedures or doctors? The difference is I can elect government officials. I really have no choice with my healthcare as it is tied to my job. I would prefer to have some accountability vs no accountability like I do now, for which I pay many thousands of dollars a year just to have to pay many thousands more before what I paid for even starts to cover anything.

        • October 3, 2019 at 3:05 pm
          PolarBeaRepeal says:
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          • October 7, 2019 at 2:18 pm
            Well... says:
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            Primarily, I assume, the prohibitive cost.

  • October 2, 2019 at 1:21 pm
    Jack says:
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    • October 4, 2019 at 9:04 am
      Yup says:
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      you should read more if that’s what you think Socialism is..

      • October 4, 2019 at 12:41 pm
        Jack says:
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        Yup – I know I wouldn’t be living where I do and driving what I drive if I were not participating in capitalism right now!! That’s all I need to know about socialism.

        • October 4, 2019 at 1:24 pm
          Jack says:
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          Jon-betting your capitalist boss makes more than your socialist ass. :)

  • October 2, 2019 at 5:04 pm
    Vox says:
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    Well, what would it be like? Would people be more careful? I doubt it. Would there be a functioning market based system for financing health care? No. Would Hartford be a ghost town? Probably. Would there be more violence? Sure. If one can’t get money from the wrong-doer then you’ll take it from his hide. Where would I be? I’ve no earthly idea.

  • October 2, 2019 at 6:36 pm
    ME and me says:
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    I’m not a bot and come here to learn something about insurance but have to read Bear, bob and craig freaking out and accusing people of random things. That’s when I ME downvote in a hope. So when you see a downvote count ME in.

    • October 2, 2019 at 8:52 pm
      Rosenblatt says:
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      Sorry to hear you’re coming here looking for insurance information and finding a lack thereof. If you have questions, please ask.
      There have to be dozens of us, DOZENS I SAY :), who will try to help with your quest for knowledge. There are comment threads that are predominantly insurance based, although they sadly seem less frequent as time goes on.

      And to those who may rail against me for that comment, I am aware I am not blameless as to the current state of the comment section; however I have been trying to be better, as we all should strive to do, and think the record reflects that accurately.

    • October 2, 2019 at 8:58 pm
      Craig Cornell says:
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      Re-read Bear’s original post. The headline “Imagine . . . without insurance” is EXACTLY what he talks about.

      If health care is nationalized, there is no more health insurance. Duh. A “world without insurance”. The article talks about the value of the industry in part in terms of all the people employed . . . who would no longer be needed under Single Payer.

      Geez. When he’s on point, you STILL attack.

      • October 3, 2019 at 7:47 am
        Rosenblatt says:
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        methinks you replied to the wrong part of the thread

        • October 3, 2019 at 8:46 pm
          Craig Cornell says:
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          methinks I was replying to Me and me and NOT you and you . . . try to follow the thread.

      • October 3, 2019 at 2:19 pm
        ThreePedal says:
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        People’s jobs are replaced all the time. We shouldn’t hang on to some inefficient arcane way of doing things just to continue to pay people to do something we don’t need them to do. If you want to do that go pay some people to dig ditches then fill them in. Accomplishes the same thing.

        • October 3, 2019 at 8:46 pm
          Craig Cornell says:
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          Another foolish comment from someone who thinks the government that runs the Post Office, a joke compared to FedEx and UPS, can also run health care for 330 million people better than the current system does it.

          • October 4, 2019 at 11:08 am
            Jon says:
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            The post office has to compete with UPS and FedEx. If the government handles all healthcare, your argument becomes invalid pretty easily. Try to keep up gramps.

          • October 4, 2019 at 12:48 pm
            Jack says:
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            Jon- So you are saying if the US Postal Service didn’t have competition it would be run better by the current government employees and be profitable? LMAO God that’s funny.

          • October 4, 2019 at 1:04 pm
            Jon says:
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            Yeah, because it wasn’t better when there was less competition. Postal worker used to be a posiiton where you could make a good living, earn a pension and retire. The rise of email coupled with competition in the market like UPS and fed ex turned the postal system into what it is right now, but that doesn’t change the fact that the rise of email alone might not have damaged the postal system as much as our current situation. It was run by government employees just fine, so I’m not sure what exactly you find so funny – maybe it’s early onset dementia? Based on your other posts I’d find that pretty likely.

          • October 4, 2019 at 1:14 pm
            Jack says:
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            Jon- The postal system should have seen the changes coming and adapted. But that’s not what government run systems do, look at FEMA, Amtrak, etc. Why would you expect healthcare to be any different. Look at the VA.

            Tell you what, you sit back and wait the government to help you. You will go far in life Jon. Feel the Bern 2020.

          • October 4, 2019 at 2:22 pm
            Craig Cornell says:
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            Isn’t Basement Boy hilarious! The Post Office could have expanded to offer the services now provided by FedEx and UPS.

            But the sleepy government workers never pursued the opportunity and so FedEx created a monster business.

            And now NOBODY uses the Post Office when it “absolutely, positively has to be there overnight”.

            And Jon thinks they are victims. But of course, everyone is a victim in Liberalville. It is the highest honor you can receive: victim.

    • October 3, 2019 at 9:57 am
      Rosenblatt says:
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      methinks you replied to the wrong part of the thread too

    • October 3, 2019 at 10:06 am
      ralph says:
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      Yogi–

      it was just a glitch that allowed multiple downvotes or upvotes by someone clicking their mouse rapidly. I used to do it myself because I was immature and thought it was funny to see the reactions. I did it for both conservative and liberal posts. I sincerely apologize for doing this, but that’s all it was. NOBODY ever used a BOT to downvote you.

  • October 3, 2019 at 10:41 am
    Rosenblatt says:
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    ********STARTING A CLEAN THREAD – DO NOT HIJACK WITH BOT TALK********

    ME and me says: I’m not a bot and come here to learn something about insurance but have to read Bear, bob and craig freaking out and accusing people of random things. That’s when I ME downvote in a hope. So when you see a downvote count ME in.

    Rosenblatt says: Sorry to hear you’re coming here looking for insurance information and finding a lack thereof. If you have questions, please ask. There have to be dozens of us, DOZENS I SAY :), who will try to help with your quest for knowledge. There are comment threads that are predominantly insurance based, although they sadly seem less frequent as time goes on. And to those who may rail against me for that comment, I am aware I am not blameless as to the current state of the comment section; however I have been trying to be better, as we all should strive to do, and think the record reflects that accurately.

    I sincerely hope posts replying to this comment stick to the topic “ME and me” brought up.

    • October 3, 2019 at 2:14 pm
      Well... says:
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      Wasn’t Rosie the name of the Jetson’s housekeeper BOT?

      Sorry….

  • October 3, 2019 at 3:16 pm
    POLAR OPPOSITE says:
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    I HAVE seen the FUTURE that Polar Bear Repeal speaks and warns of. It’s a place where there is NO Private Health Insurance (Government Provided Health Care is Universal) furthermore, there are NO Insurance Agents, no need for HOME or AUTO Insurance, there is NO PERSONAL LIABILITY or RESPONSIBILITY as the Government takes care of EVERYTING for the Citizens. Consequently NO ATTORNEY’s, except for a few Governmental Attorney types… The citizenry of this country have Not A Care In The World; (A Social Utopia). CUBA is a beautiful place, with beautiful people, with So Much to Offer, but… the Government Keeps it All to themselves.

  • October 4, 2019 at 3:26 pm
    Dreaming says:
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    I try to imagine an IJ board with no Polar or Craig, or Jon, or Jack, or Captain, or Rosenblatt (and any others I missed) arguing with one another and going so far off topic of the actual posted article………in my imagination that is a pretty good IJ board……..

  • October 4, 2019 at 3:40 pm
    Imagining says:
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    I am imagining an IJ board with no bickering back and forth between Polar, Craig, Jon, Jack, Captain, Rosenblatt, and a few others I cannot recall right now; and it is a really nice imaginary board!

    • October 7, 2019 at 8:20 am
      Rosenblatt says:
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      I shall do my best to contribute more to the insurance discussions and less to the butting-of-head “debates”

      • October 7, 2019 at 1:00 pm
        sak74 says:
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        I do enjoy a good spirited debate on topics as I love to hear other perspectives on issues and why folks feel how they do on topics but it does get out of hand at times and does really take away from the discussion. I do enjoy reading your thoughts and comments so thank you for trying to stay out of the nasty conversations…….hopefully a few others will follow your lead on that……

        We are all adults so if we could all act like it that would be great. As I was told growing up two wrongs never make a right…..if someone says something negative about you (this applies to anyone) just ignore it, don’t attack back and make the matter worse……..

        • October 7, 2019 at 3:38 pm
          Rosenblatt says:
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          …and then I get responded to like this and it makes me wonder if my attempts are going to have any benefit (unlikely, but that won’t stop me from trying to be better!!)

          https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2019/10/07/544689.htm/?comments

          • October 9, 2019 at 1:06 pm
            sak74 says:
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            It was nice to see someone remain adult like in responding to a negative comment. I was also happy to see you did get an apology as well. Thank you for at least making the effort. I may not always agree with your views but I can respect them and do enjoying reading them.

    • October 7, 2019 at 12:29 pm
      Rosenblatt says:
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      Or you could “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

  • October 7, 2019 at 10:32 am
    Smooth says:
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    There are some groups of people that do not believe in insurance. It is a religion thing. AIG, at one time, had a Takaful Program for them. The gist is that certain religions do not believe profit should be made on insurance. Instead of paying to a Carrier, they pool their money together and pay only for the catastrophic events the group may endure. AIG was only managing the portfolio as a way to get in with the groups. Apparently it worked very well in other countries, but didn’t work so well in America. Once here, those from overseas began doing what many Americans do, using their homeowners policy as a maintenance policy, which emptied the portfolio quickly. The money was not allowed to be invested, so the pot never grew outside of people adding their yearly dues. I know the Program was around for a while, but I believe it stopped around 2012 or so. In theory, the idea worked well. Once people realize they can profit off insurance (new siding, new roof, etc. etc.), things change.

  • October 7, 2019 at 1:17 pm
    Captain Planet says:
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    I imagine more social sharing without insurance. Family and/or friends/neighbors pooling money together. Of course, more bankruptcy as a result of not being able to shift and share risk. Less ownership of property, employees working through injuries and therefore, placing their colleagues at risk. More hazards everywhere as we’d have less loss control eyes and ears in the field making recommendations to work with the insured to separate and/or avoid risk. Just a few thoughts, here.

  • October 9, 2019 at 1:07 pm
    sak74 says:
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    SORRY this was meant to be posted in a reply above!!



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