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If Cars Were Sold Like
Health Insurance
This commentary aired on Marketplace
Radio, October 26, 1999.
Intro:
Some people say the cure for rising health care costs is not more
government control or regulation, but rather free market competition.
Free-marketeers say informed consumers could buy health coverage just
like they buy a car.
Commentator Andrew Holtz offers a vision of the flip-side of that
equation. Picture if you will, buying a car just like you buy health
care coverage.
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(Telephone rings)
Hello. HCB – Qualtrans Cars. “We care about
where you're going.” Ed here.
How can I be of service?
So you'd like to buy a car? Well ya called
the right place.
Let me tell you about our three most popular models:
- There's the “reliant”: it'll get you where you need to go, subject to
terms
of the lease,
- Then we've got my favorite, the “99-special”: it's fast, handles like
a
dream, fully loaded with options… of course, you’d have to pass a
special
driver exam.
- And the state mandates that we offer you the “bus pass”: it's the
least
expensive, but certainly not as convenient.
Uh-huh, uh-huh, hmmm.
You want to test drive a car?
Well, I'm afraid that's not really possible. You see, you have to
choose a
model before you need to go anywhere; otherwise you may be subject to
pre-existing
mileage restrictions.
Now rest assured, you can always trade it in once a year during the
“open
leasing” period.
Uh-huh uh-huh…
How much do the models cost?
Oh, that depends on your driving habits over the past five years… and
the
driving histories of your parents and other relatives. We'll also need
to
see your license records, gas station receipts and other documentation.
Then
a registered driving examiner will visit you, at your convenience, to
test
your reflexes, eyesight, and knowledge of the motor vehicle code.
Uh-huh, uh-huh…
Will our cars get you where you’re going?
At HCB – Qualtrans Cars,
“We care about your transportation needs.”
That's why you can drive our cars on just about any road you really
need
to drive on. Once you choose a model and mileage plan, we'll give you a
map
showing our preferred routes.
Of course, the map may be re-drawn at any time.
So, other than pre-approved trips to work, school or your designated
grocery
store… before you leave the garage, be sure to call our toll-free trip
authorization
center.
(audio fades down and out toward the end
of this graph.)
What if you get a flat? Oh, you mean the roadside breakdown policies?
Well, that's very unlikely, but if it happened, all you have to do is
write
a letter to the driver service office, and they will respond with the
proper
forms for you to fill out, and after you've done that, if you are still
on
the side of the road, you send the completed forms with supporting
documentation
to the office of driver service response forms processing, where an
authorized
representative will review the facts of your case and make a
determination
of the proper course of action and notify you within the time period
specified
in your contract blah blah blah…………………………………..
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