Topic: Public vs Private Insurance

[2latecrew]

Which is better and why? Discuss

[thang]

of course, public insurance, look at Manitoba 

[Allen]

Private, anything the Govt gets involved with is always a $uck up, and usally in the end costs us more..

[Snowman]

The Manitoba and Saskatchewan public systems were great when I lived there. Anything would be better then the private system in Ontario.

[initial_D]

Posted earlier from another thread.

I was with SGI as a teen driver. My insurance premium was the same as everyone else, under $300. I wasn't targeted as a young and inexperience driver. If I made claims, my annual driver's license renewal fee would go up, which is fair. Now If I were in AB or ONT, I wouldn't be able to afford my own car + insurance,  while working part time for about $5 per hour, because I am in a targeted High Risk Group. In regards to that, I like the Provincial Communist Run Auto Insurance.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Private, anything the Govt gets involved with is always a $uck up, and usally in the end costs us more..

Any proof to offer, or is this more right wing blah, blah blah, social darwinism is the way to go, blah, blah Mike Harris was a god, blah, blah?

[ovr50]

I'm ususally on the side of private enterprise; but I have to say that the BC auto insurance (ICBC)works very well. Premiums are reasonable, unless you rack up a bunch of driving points or have several accidents where you were deemed at fault, and seem to be less than equivalent insurance rates in the private sector in (say) Alberta. For my son, who now has about 8 years driving experience, his rates are more reasonable than would be the case under private ins. ICBCs claims reporting, damage assessments, and ease of getting your vehicle fixed are all good. I really have no complaint with them at all.

There is a fear of reporting minor accidents under private ins that doesn't apply under the ICBC rules, particularily things like "hit and run" where you are not at fault.

ICBC is run as a separate business and makes a profit (assuming the accouting is accurate!!). I do object to their involvement in areas that are not insurance related (such as buying commercial real estate under the previous NDP govt) but they are, I think, pretty much out of that now.

Overall, I rate them highly.

[Allen]

Private, anything the Govt gets involved with is always a $uck up, and usally in the end costs us more..

Any proof to offer, or is this more right wing blah, blah blah, social darwinism is the way to go, blah, blah Mike Harris was a god, blah, blah?

Hmmmmm...  how about the gun registry...   

[tortoise]

IMO it should be public system because it is mandatory that you have insurance (if you want to drive).  The current system in Ontario is ridiculous as there seem to be penalties for every little thing.  It seems silly that private companies are making a killing from a product the government says you must buy.

[thang]

I hate the insurance system in Ontario too. 16 years of driving, no accident, no claim. Only one small accident fender-bender, the premium instantly jumps up 

[Trainman]

I'm ususally on the side of private enterprise; but I have to say that the BC auto insurance (ICBC)works very well. Premiums are reasonable, unless you rack up a bunch of driving points or have several accidents where you were deemed at fault, and seem to be less than equivalent insurance rates in the private sector in (say) Alberta. For my son, who now has about 8 years driving experience, his rates are more reasonable than would be the case under private ins. ICBCs claims reporting, damage assessments, and ease of getting your vehicle fixed are all good. I really have no complaint with them at all.

There is a fear of reporting minor accidents under private ins that doesn't apply under the ICBC rules, particularily things like "hit and run" where you are not at fault.

ICBC is run as a separate business and makes a profit (assuming the accouting is accurate!!). I do object to their involvement in areas that are not insurance related (such as buying commercial real estate under the previous NDP govt) but they are, I think, pretty much out of that now.

Overall, I rate them highly.

 

ovr said it all about ICBC, I would hate to have to go to a private system based on media reports and (some) comments posted here.

[Craig]

I've found group plan rates can be 20% better than going it alone.  I always used to toss those flyers that came with my association's mailings, but when I called them at renewal time a few years ago, I saved $400 by switching, and even after an unrecovered theft and two tickets, our premiums are no higher than they were.

I sometimes wonder if they just forgot about us, so I just keep paying monthly, and talk to them as little as possible.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Private, anything the Govt gets involved with is always a $uck up, and usally in the end costs us more..

Any proof to offer, or is this more right wing blah, blah blah, social darwinism is the way to go, blah, blah Mike Harris was a god, blah, blah?

Hmmmmm...  how about the gun registry...   

I'll see your gun registry and raise you Enron.

[safristi]

..see "your" /USA Enron and raise ya Sponsorship scandal and $65 Million in Free  Sheila Copps flags.... .......

[airbalancer]

Private, anything the Govt gets involved with is always a $uck up, and usally in the end costs us more..

Any proof to offer, or is this more right wing blah, blah blah, social darwinism is the way to go, blah, blah Mike Harris was a god, blah, blah?

Hmmmmm...  how about the gun registry...   

How about the LCBO, it think that makes money,
2006

The LCBO annual report for 2005-06 showed sales were a record $3.6 billion and the dividend a record $1.2 billion. The dividend helps pay for schools, hospitals, roads and important social programs, services and major capital projects. Net income was $1.2 billion (32.9 per cent of sales).

Not included was $342 million in PST and $446 million in GST, excise taxes and import duties. When payments to municipalities were included, the total was more than $2 billion.

And the PC want to sell this

[safristi]

hey the Gov Cherry PICKS.......................a blind 1 legged giraffe could make BILLIONS "OWNING a MONOPOLY" in BOOZE..GAMBLING..why don't they add illegal DRUGS and go fer tha Trifecta..... hell they would introduce a $10 BOINK TAX if they could get away wiffit..............

[AVToller]

I've dealt with ICBC since its inception, and I too would hate to go back to the bad old days of private auto insurance. The system is incredibly simple, straightforward, and easy to use. I have absolutely NO indication that private insurance would either improve service OR reduce the price.

[tpl]

Private, anything the Govt gets involved with is always a $uck up, and usally in the end costs us more..

Any proof to offer, or is this more right wing blah, blah blah, social darwinism is the way to go, blah, blah Mike Harris was a god, blah, blah?

Hmmmmm...  how about the gun registry...   

How about the LCBO, it think that makes money,
2006

The LCBO annual report for 2005-06 showed sales were a record $3.6 billion and the dividend a record $1.2 billion. The dividend helps pay for schools, hospitals, roads and important social programs, services and major capital projects. Net income was $1.2 billion (32.9 per cent of sales).

Not included was $342 million in PST and $446 million in GST, excise taxes and import duties. When payments to municipalities were included, the total was more than $2 billion.

And the PC want to sell this

AirB  if the gov just turned liquor sales over to private stores and imposed a suitable rate of PST to make the money they would make LOTS MORE money. That is, to be clear: get right out of the liquor business altogether, just collect taxes and run RIDE.
 Employ MANY LESS CIVIL SERVANTS and we would end up with a better choice in liquor.  HOWEVER if they "privatised"  the LCBO without replacing the "markup" with a suitable rate of PST ( say 75%) then of course they would lose out.

The GST and Excise taxes are a red herring as they go to the Feds. the payments to municiplatites are in lieu of property taxes on LCBO owned property. Private enterprise liquor stores would actually have to pay pro[perty taxes.

[tpl]

I vote Public

If I were the Ont Gov guy in charge of Insurance I would call up BC and make an offer for their software and call up IBM and put in an order for some big iron to run it.  Then get of copy of the amended Act setting up ICBC and pass it in the Ont legislature.

 ICBC is a creaky old system and it might have trouble dealing with a province nearly 3 times the size.... but
a) it could probably be made to hang in for say 10 years which is
b) loong enough for Ont and BC to find a supplier to write a new package.

I'd go for that.

People say that if Ont did that then the US insurance Companies could sue under NAFTA.  I don't think so. Nafta is a deal between the Gov of Canada and the US gov and Insurance in Canada is provincial. Anyway even if they di d we could make it last at least as long as Softwood lumber 'cos the province could spend the first decade arguing constitutional niceties with Ottawa

[airbalancer]

Private, anything the Govt gets involved with is always a $uck up, and usally in the end costs us more..

Any proof to offer, or is this more right wing blah, blah blah, social darwinism is the way to go, blah, blah Mike Harris was a god, blah, blah?

Hmmmmm...  how about the gun registry...   

How about the LCBO, it think that makes money,
2006

The LCBO annual report for 2005-06 showed sales were a record $3.6 billion and the dividend a record $1.2 billion. The dividend helps pay for schools, hospitals, roads and important social programs, services and major capital projects. Net income was $1.2 billion (32.9 per cent of sales).

Not included was $342 million in PST and $446 million in GST, excise taxes and import duties. When payments to municipalities were included, the total was more than $2 billion.

And the PC want to sell this

AirB  if the gov just turned liquor sales over to private stores and imposed a suitable rate of PST to make the money they would make LOTS MORE money. That is, to be clear: get right out of the liquor business altogether, just collect taxes and run RIDE.
 Employ MANY LESS CIVIL SERVANTS and we would end up with a better choice in liquor.  HOWEVER if they "privatised"  the LCBO without replacing the "markup" with a suitable rate of PST ( say 75%) then of course they would lose out.

The GST and Excise taxes are a red herring as they go to the Feds. the payments to municiplatites are in lieu of property taxes on LCBO owned property. Private enterprise liquor stores would actually have to pay pro[perty taxes.

SO you want employees to make $10/hr and the owner of the companies make all the money.  I rather see them make their $25/hr then to see a corporation spend on season tickets to a Leaf games
I believe in Alberta, the liquor store carry less brands now they sold there liquor outlets, please correct me if I am wrong