Top 10 Auto Insurance Companies

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   What are the names of the top 10 insurance/business companies in the united states?
   Not neccessary auto insurance but life insurance or just any big wig insurance companies out there. For instance, one of the biggest accounting firms out there is PriceWaterHouseCoopers. So what are some business and/or insurance companies out there in the United States.

   • ANSWER:
     Blue Cross - 58,000,000 Search Results
     Geico - 3,830,000 Search Results
     Progressive - Too Common of Word.
     Kaiser Permanente - 1,540,000 Search Results
     Farmers - Too Common of Word.
     State Farm - 38,400,000 Search Results
     AllState - 10,400,000 Search Results

     Blue Cross is the biggest money maker. No other insurance company makes over 180 billion a year.

2. QUESTION:
   What are the top 10 best nationally renowned auto insurance providers?
   examples include companies such as 21st Century, Progressive, Nationwide, etc...

   • ANSWER:
     According to the July 2010 issue of Best's Review, the top ten property/casualty (includes auto) writers are:

     State Farm
     Allstate
     Berkshire Hathoway (owns Geico)
     Amerian International Group (owns/owned 21st Century)
     Liberty Mutual
     Travelers
     Nationwide
     Progressive
     Farmers
     USAA

3. QUESTION:
   Was Gingrich Right About Obama?
   President Obama passed the 0 Billion dollar Stimulus Plan of 2009. So far, only 3 Billion has been spent from the allocated funds of the “stimulus”, but following the stimulus our president also passed numerous bailouts. The Obama bailouts reach Trillion dollars in allocated funds, with only Trillion dollars being spent. Then came Cash for Clunkers, which cost us billion dollars. After a year of record spending, we were left with a record deficit of .41 TRILLION dollars. The Obama Administration had added tons of spending on top of the Bush 2009 budget. The result was a 210% increase from the federal deficit of 2008. That is a deficit which is 10% of our GDP.
   Yes it’s true, our current president made the Bush deficit look like spare change. But wait until you see the CBO (Congressional Budget Office) predictions. Under the President Obama’s budget, we will see a .5 Trillion dollar deficit at the end of 2010 (a 10% increase from 2009). In 2011 we will have a deficit of .31 Trillion and we will not see a deficit below 0 Billion for a decade. Now of course these are estimates, but judging by the CBO’s record, things might end up worse.

   1. Read the Stimulus - Actual: http://www.readthestimulus.org/
   2. Obama Budget: CBO: http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/112xx/doc11231/03-05-apb.pdf
   3. Stimulus Info/ Money Spent: http://www.everyjoe.com/articles/economic-stimulus-update-how-much-has-been-spent-on-bailouts/

   The CBO even admits this is unsustainable spending.
   http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/budget/91161-congressional-budget-office-fiscal-policy-is-unsustainable

   He's taken over the insurance companies, the auto companies, the banks, the housing industry, and now he's getting into health care - that's about 50% of our economy people...
   Liberals can't read can they? I just provided info and links... oh well, who am i kidding, those people have no education...
   @Quan, please tell me how spending unsustainable amounts of money is not crazy? idiot

   • ANSWER:
     In his mind.`

4. QUESTION:
   The Scourge of Obamacare (Government health care) ?
   Your thoughts on this informative article? Best answer to the most well thought and well reasoned comment (regardless of which side of the issue you're on). This is a challenge to either defend or refute the article.

   10 Questions for Supporters of 'ObamaCare'
   by Dennis Prager (Copyright © 2009 Salem Web Network.)
   Tuesday, July 28, 2009

   1. President Barack Obama repeatedly tells us that one reason national health care is needed is that we can no longer afford to pay for Medicare and Medicaid. But if Medicare and Medicaid are fiscally insolvent and gradually bankrupting our society, why is a government takeover of medical care for the rest of society a good idea? What large-scale government program has not eventually spiraled out of control, let alone stayed within its projected budget? Why should anyone believe that nationalizing health care would create the first major government program to "pay for itself," let alone get smaller rather than larger over time? Why not simply see how the Democrats can reform Medicare and Medicaid before nationalizing much of the rest of health care?

   2. President Obama reiterated this past week that "no insurance company will be allowed to deny you coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition." This is an oft-repeated goal of the president's and the Democrats' health care plan. But if any individual can buy health insurance at any time, why would anyone buy health insurance while healthy? Why would I not simply wait until I got sick or injured to buy the insurance? If auto insurance were purchasable once one got into an accident, why would anyone purchase auto insurance before an accident? Will the Democrats next demand that life insurance companies sell life insurance to the terminally ill? The whole point of insurance is that the healthy buy it and thereby provide the funds to pay for the sick. Demanding that insurance companies provide insurance to everyone at any time spells the end of the concept of insurance. And if the answer is that the government will now make it illegal not to buy insurance, how will that be enforced? How will the government check on 300 million people?

   3. Why do supporters of nationalized medicine so often substitute the word "care" for the word "insurance?" it is patently untrue that millions of Americans do not receive health care. Millions of Americans do not have health insurance but virtually every American (and non-American on American soil) receives health care.

   4. No one denies that in order to come close to staying within its budget health care will be rationed. But what is the moral justification of having the state decide what medical care to ration?

   5. According to Dr. David Gratzer, health care specialist at the Manhattan Institute, "While 20 years ago pharmaceuticals were largely developed in Europe, European price controls made drug development an American enterprise. Fifteen of the 20 top-selling drugs worldwide this year were birthed in the United States." Given how many lives -- in America and throughout the world – American pharmaceutical companies save, and given how expensive it is to develop any new drug, will the price controls on drugs envisaged in the Democrats' bill improve or impair Americans' health?

   6. Do you really believe that private insurance could survive a "public option"? Or is this really a cover for the ideal of single-payer medical care? How could a private insurance company survive a "public option" given that private companies have to show a profit and government agencies do not have to – and given that a private enterprise must raise its own money to be solvent and a government option has access to others' money -- i.e., taxes?

   7. Why will hospitals, doctors, and pharmaceutical companies do nearly as superb a job as they now do if their reimbursement from the government will be severely cut? Haven't the laws of human behavior and common sense been repealed here in arguing that while doctors, hospitals and drug companies will make significantly less money they will continue to provide the same level of uniquely excellent care?

   8. Given how many needless procedures are ordered to avoid medical lawsuits and how much money doctors spend on medical malpractice insurance, shouldn't any meaningful "reform" of health care provide some remedy for frivolous malpractice lawsuits?

   9. Given how weak the U.S. economy is, given how weak the U.S. dollar is, and given how much in debt the U.S. is in, why would anyone seek to have the U.S. spend another trillion dollars? Even if all the other questions here had legitimate answers, wouldn't the state of the U.S. economy alone argue against national health care at this time?

   10. Contrary to the assertion of President Obama -- "we spend much more on health care than any other nation but aren't any healthier for it" -- we are healthier. We wait far less time for procedures and surgeries. Our life expectancy with virtually any

   • ANSWER:

5. QUESTION:
   Is Obama's health care plan really just another tax to an already overtaxed population?
   WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama says requiring people to get health insurance and fining them if they don't would not amount to a backhanded tax increase.

   "I absolutely reject that notion," the president said. Blanketing most of the Sunday TV news shows, Obama defended his proposed health care overhaul, including a key point of the various health care bills on Capitol Hill: mandating that people get health insurance to share the cost burden fairly among all. Those who failed to get coverage would face financial penalties.

   Obama said other elements of the plan would make insurance affordable for people, from a new comparison-shopping "exchange" to tax credits.

   Telling people to get health insurance is absolutely not a tax increase, Obama told ABC's "This Week."

   "What it's saying is, is that we're not going to have other people carrying your burdens for you anymore," said Obama. "Right now everybody in America, just about, has to get auto insurance. Nobody considers that a tax increase."

   Obama faces an enormous political and communications challenge in selling his health care plan as Congress debates how to pay for it all.

   He told CBS' "Face the Nation" that he will keep his pledge not to raise taxes on families earning up to 0,000, and that much of the final bill — hundreds of billions of dollars over the next 10 years — can be achieved from savings within the current system. Coming up with the rest remains a key legislative obstacle.

   Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele said there is no way Obama can achieve his goals without raising taxes.

   "He has to. How else do you pay for it?" he told CBS.

   Obama put his support behind the idea of taxing employers that offer high-cost insurance plans.

   "I do think that giving a disincentive to insurance companies to offer Cadillac plans that don't make people healthier is part of the way that we're going to bring down health care costs for everybody over the long term," Obama said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

   Obama's network interviews were taped Friday at the White House. He became the first president to appear on five Sunday network shows in the same morning, an extraordinary effort to build public support for his top domestic priority.

   The goal is to expand and improve health insurance coverage and rein in long-term costs.

   Yet despite so many weeks of speeches, town halls and interviews, Obama said he has found it difficult at times to make a complex topic clear and relevant.

   "I've tried to keep it digestible," Obama said. "It's very hard for people to get their arms around it. And that's been a case where I have been humbled and I just keep on trying harder."

   Obama told Univision's "Al Punto" ("To the Point") that the strong opposition to his plan is part of a political strategy.

   "Well, part of it is ... that the opposition has made a decision," he said. "They are just not going to support anything, for political reasons."

   Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Obama doesn't understand Republicans' opposition.

   "I don't know anybody in my Republican conference in the Senate who's in favor of doing nothing on health care," McConnell said. "We obviously have a cost problem and we have an access problem."

   But he told CNN's "State of the Union" that the Democrats' plan is simply too rushed.

   Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Obama has ignored grave concerns over his plan and his media blitz won't change that.

   "The president is selling something that people, quite frankly, are not buying," Graham told NBC's "Meet the Press."

   "He's been on everything but the Food Channel," he added.

   • ANSWER:
     The President isn't comparing apples to apples. You can't compare having to carry auto insurance and health insurance for 1 simple reason - you don't HAVE to own a car. If you CHOOSE to own a car, carrying auto insurance (specifically liability insurance) is required.

     If I don't drive a car, should I have to pay a penalty that supposedly lowers the insurance premiums for everyone else??? Hell no!!! By forcing those who choose not to carry insurance to pay a penalty, it is a tax, plain and simple.

     You can hate insurance companies all you want (I'm looking at you Deb M)...they are only the way they are because the Federal and State governments have let them. Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution gives Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce (the same section Dems claim allows them to set up a gov't option). By allowing the states to set up their own rules for the sale of health insurance and not allow any company to compete freely, they are adversely affecting consumers. That is a perfect example of where Congress must step in and put a stop to it. Why they haven't probably has to do w/ campaign contributions to both sides.

     By allowing the free sale of health insurance, you now force hundreds of companies to compete for your business (just like how car insurance is sold, to take an analogy from the President). That forces rates down, service and value up. Only good things for consumers can come from that.

     Why don't we start by enforcing the rules already written in our Constitution and fixing Medicare before we try to rewrite an industry from scratch? Who knows, we may find we don't need to do that much once the free market has altered incentives.

6. QUESTION:
   Bernard Madoff is being treated differently.Whats your opinion?
   B Madoff is a crook. He has hurt many people with his scam yet he is living in luxury and giving presents to his friends and relatives in the millions of dollars. Why is he not in jail? IT sends the wrong message to "Joe The Worker" who may steal a loaf of bread to feed his children then goes to jail immediately and for a long time. It tells me if you steal do it big, if you embezzle do it in the millions of dollars so that you will be sent to a country club style detention center. Crime pays if you do it big and with flare.
   Our American values are becoming nebulous; we don't respect Sovereign countries, we back dictators, we facilitate the destruct -tion of defenseless people i.e. Palestine and elsewhere. WE give ten(10) billion to a country named Georgia and yet we do not fund the Veterans Administration so they can do a better job with veterans of our wars that will never be the same because of loss of limbs,PTSD, and head wounds and many more illness they will manifest in the future. To top it all, we import high tech people, Doctors and others who have never given anything to this country and they start at the head of the food chain. The talking heads like Lou Dobbs distract some of the American public by blaming hard working illegal workers who come here to work not beg or steal, for the most part, for all the country's problems. Something has gone terribly wrong that must be fixed quickly. WE, the tax payers who play by the rules are getting screwed by Wall Street, the Insurance companies, the auto makers and various layers of government employees in all agencies that are not worth the money they are paid. So as not to forget the blood suckers for life I have to mention the politicians. Sen Hatch, Sen. Finstein etc. Lets form our own party of one American and his neighbors and demand change from our so called leaders before we become a failed state a country that was great in many ways but now owned by the Chinese, British, and Saudi Arabia. Lets do the all American thing by being vigilant and demanding truth, honesty, and loyalty to the USA.

   • ANSWER:
     I could'nt agree more(except 4 the part about illegal immigration,that's undermining our workforce+ethic,but it's the rich who are once again facillitating that also)The problem as I see it is we're all fat,lazy,apathetic drones too fearful of voicing&acting upon the frusteration,outrage&anger we feel@the hands of this no longer great sham of a political system called woefully,American Democracy!The ones in power know exactly how far they can push it,& also know that we're all scrambleing just to hold on to what we have left!When the Madoffs of the system get caught,they're already in the loop,therefore above common mans law+justice.He should be charged w/rape+murder,that's what he's done&caused.But he'll sit in"HIS PENTHOUSE"....excuse me but I believe that penthouse belongs to the people who's lives HE's chosen to destroy....under house arrest by gaurds he hired!!!WTF!!!! The only quick fix here is armed uprising&a true house cleaning of the corruption,unchecked&unadulterated sloth+greed that are the cornerstones of the"new world order".Which is now the new diabolical face of American government!!It's a giant sh*t sandwich&it's what we're being fed daily! I don't know about you but I like ham&American Heros myself,that's what we should be having instead of crap.P.S.WTF's w/this bailout/ceo bonus pkg S**t,that whole thing is just obscene,LOL hang 'em high!!!

7. QUESTION:
   What to do if you are suspected of Insurance Fraud?
   I have been a member of a very "wonderful" insurance company for almost 8 years. I have never had a problem with the pay out of a claim, and they are one of the top rated insurers in the US for customer service. About six months ago my wife had lost her engagement ring at work and I filed the claim. They were waiting on us to find a receipt which I couldn't find, because it was bought 4 years prior, but they paid out, no problem. Then at the beginning of November, my camera received some condensation damage. I contacted my insurance company to ask about the process, but I didn't want to put a claim in until I knew how much the damage was going to be. The adjuster said that I HAD to open a claim up, so I did. The damage ended up being only 5, and I had already paid over 0 out of pocket towards that, so I was going to close out the claim. I could not get in touch with the adjuster during this time. The problem was that the camera would not auto focus, and needed a new part. Well while I was waiting on the part, I had the camera picked up for thanks giving weekend, since it was working fine in manual. During that weekend, my vehicle was broken into and the camera, amongst other stuff was removed.

   The auto adjuster covered everything else, but said because the value of the camera and because it and the lens were listed on a separate policy, that it was best to put in another claim on it and close out the repair claim. I still could not get in touch with the primary adjuster, and another adjuster paid out the full replacement of the camera and lens, only to be rescinded by the original adjuster. Who said that I should never have gotten the full amount, because the camera was damaged. I understood that, but now its almost the end of January, and the camera still hasn't been paid out(flag1). I have had to speak to a PI/Insurance investigator(flag2) waiting for paperwork that requires me to submit tax returns(flag3) to make a "settlement," not to pay out the insured, or the replacement value on the items.

   The flags lead me to believe that I am being investigated/suspected of fraud for a legitimate claim. What I don't understand, was for the damage, I was having no problem, and for the break in, i had no problem with the auto division. There was a police report to report loss, and proof of ownership. So why am I being brought through the wringer, and what can I do? I have never had to show tax returns to make a claim on a policy. I believe they are trying to say that I am a "professional" photographer, either by the quality of work that I have done, or the fact that I use my initials and the word "photography" on a "mypsace" page so that people i network with can see the photography work that i have done in the past 14 years. I do not own a studio, I shoot for free, with only compensation for travel or materials used, but not for pay or livelihood. Furthermore I have been in my career for the past 11 years and make 50K+ a year. But this was never an issue when I first began the claim for damage, so why is it now?

   I hate to be so long winded, but I am at the point of frustration. I actually like this insurance company, and don't want my policies dropped because of an overzealous adjuster who thought they were saving the company money.

   btw...the estimated loss, including damage, if covered would be around 1300-1500. And the policy has been in effect for about 10 months for this specific policy, and HO policy for almost 5 years with one claim.

   Do I have any options?
   I am one of "those" people who hates to make claims in the first place. I dont not want to say the name of the company, but in my opinion, they are one of the BEST and are one of the top three insurers in the nation, even though they are only open to a "certain" group of the population and their families.

   The first damage claim, I didn't want to make in the first place. I just wanted to know the process, if in the case it was more than I was willing to pay out of pocket. The adjuster over the phone was the one who said that in order to discuss it, I would have to open up a claim. And then after I found out it would only be 235 to fix, I was trying to close the claim since nothing had been paid out. The adjuster told me via email, that it would still count against my claim history, even if there was no payout. so the second claim on the same item came about out of vandalism and theft to my vehicle. My issue is the there was never this much work for the "1st" claim so why the 2nd?

   • ANSWER:
     1 You should have spoken to your agent for advice.

     #2 You should not have opened a 2nd or 3rd claim.

     #3 ALL insurance companies investigate theft claims. That is because their is so much fraud. What your insurance company is doing is very, very common. If you want to pursue this claim it is require that you cooperate and give them what they want.

     You have the option to call your insurance company and close the claim if either you do not want to cooperate or do not want to go through the pain of going through all that stuff.

     Now you have at least 2 claims in 5 years and that is not a good thing. My suggestion is to close that 2nd claim with the camera. Your insurance company could drop you for 2 claims, but since your with a good company they may not, but could.

8. QUESTION:
   1992 Volvo 740 Turbo Stationwagon Windshield Top Molding?
   Does anyone know where I can get a replacement top molding for a 1992 740 turbo stationwagon windshield? I have been fighting for over 2 months with AZ Diamond Auto Glass to get this replaced due to it not having come off in the first place if I hadn't had them replace the windshield that was severely pitted in November. They tried to in a round about way say it was my fault that it had come off. I fought with them for a week until I called my insurance company about the situation because no one was ever around that could help me out. A few weeks ago I got a call about the molding stating they found it, but were unable to purchase it due to their credit card not working (comforting I know *rolls eyes*) and so they had to hunt it down again. I finally got a call last Tuesday that they had finally purchased the part. The guy came out on Saturday to replace it and notified me that they found it at a junk yard, and amazingly the part wouldn't work due to his not having the clips to hold the part down. So I called my insurance company on Monday due to my not wanting to deal with the glass company. They informed me that the glass company said that they had the part including the clips, but I declined the part and didn't want them to install it. Yes I will fight with your company for 2 months for a 10 dollar part and then say "Oh, never mind I don't want it!" So, they came out yet again today and yet again the part wouldn't work! The part is missing the rubber molding that is supposed to be attached to the hard molding, leaving a 1/4" gap between the hard molding and the windshield itself. The technician also stated that even if the part had the soft molding he wouldn't have installed it due to the hard molding being extremely warped. He notified me that he contacted one of the dispatchers at the company who will try and locate the part and he even said he'd try and find it himself online when he got home anyways I don't believe that they will actually locate this part and if they do it will be a pain for them to get it installed again. Sorry about this rant, but I am extremely irritated with AZ Diamond Autoglass...the difference is not clear the difference is crap! Ugh!
   I have already informed my insurance company about the whole situation, many, many times, they are confused as to why it is taking so long to do it. It's all a big pain in the butt, I'm just trying to find the stupid part so, I can tell them where to get the thing because, apparently it is far too difficult for them to do it on their own.

   • ANSWER:
     Since your insurance company is involved I recommend you call your adjuster in the claims department and tell her/him everything you have been through with this claim and tell them you want it replaced and you don't care how, but you want it done. IT IS part of the w/s claim and they need to make sure it gets taken care of. I am in Northern Arizona and I know there is another glass company that they can arrange to have take care of it, if the first can't get the job done. Explain to the adjuster that you just want your car the way it was before the glass was replaced. Let the adjuster be the "Heavy" and tell them you are done. Make sure to tell them that you did not refuse anything and tell them what happened when they came out with the used part.

9. QUESTION:
   This was on yahoo new. Whats your opinion?
   What does everyone think about this? This is on yahoo news.

   WASHINGTON – Americans who refuse to buy affordable medical coverage could be hit with fines of more than ,000 under a health care overhaul bill unveiled Thursday by key Senate Democrats looking to fulfill President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.

   The Congressional Budget Office estimated the fines will raise around billion over 10 years. Senate aides said the penalties would be modeled on the approach taken by Massachusetts, which now imposes a fine of about ,000 a year on individuals who refuse to get coverage. Under the federal legislation, families would pay higher penalties than individuals.

   In a revamped health care system envisioned by lawmakers, people would be required to carry health insurance just like motorists must get auto coverage now. The government would provide subsidies for the poor and many middle-class families, but those who still refuse to sign up would face penalties.

   Called "shared responsibility payments," the fines would be set at least at half the cost of basic medical coverage, according to the legislation. The goal is to nudge people to sign up for coverage when they are healthy, not wait until they get sick.

   In 2008, employer-provided coverage averaged ,680 a year for a family plan, and ,704 for individual coverage, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation's annual survey. Senate aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said the cost of the federal plan would be lower but declined to provide specifics.

   The legislation would exempt certain hardship cases from fines. The fines would be collected through the income tax system.

   The new proposals were released as Congress neared the end of a weeklong July 4 break, with lawmakers expected to quickly take up health care legislation when they return to Washington. With deepening divisions along partisan and ideological lines, the complex legislation faces an uncertain future.

   Obama wants a bill this year that would provide coverage to the nearly 50 million Americans who lack it and reduce medical costs.

   In a statement, Obama welcomed the legislation, saying it "reflects many of the principles I've laid out, such as reforms that will prohibit insurance companies from refusing coverage for people with pre-existing conditions and the concept of insurance exchanges where individuals can find affordable coverage if they lose their jobs, move or get sick."

   The Senate Health Education, Labor and Pensions bill also calls for a government-run insurance option to compete with private plans as well as a 0-per-worker annual fee on larger companies that do not offer coverage to employees.

   Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., said in a letter to colleagues that their revised plan would cost dramatically less than an earlier, incomplete proposal, and help show the way toward coverage for 97 percent of all Americans.

   In a conference call with reporters, Dodd said the revised bill had brought "historic reform of health care" closer. He said the bill's public option will bring coverage and benefit decisions driven "not by what generates the biggest profits, but by what works best for American families."

   The Congressional Budget Office, in an analysis released Thursday evening, put the net cost of the proposal at 7 billion over 10 years, down from trillion two weeks ago. Coverage expansions worth 5 billion would be partly offset by savings of billion, the estimate said.

   However, the total cost of legislation will rise considerably once provisions are added to subsidize health insurance for the poor through Medicaid. Those additions, needed to ensure coverage for nearly all U.S. residents, are being handled by a separate panel, the Senate Finance Committee. Bipartisan talks on the Finance panel aim to hold the overall price tag to trillion.

   The Health Committee could complete its portion of the bill as soon as next week, and the presence of a government health insurance option virtually assures a party-line vote.

   In the Senate, the Finance Committee version of the bill is unlikely to include a government-run insurance option. Bipartisan negotiations are centered on a proposal for a nonprofit insurance cooperative as a competitor to private companies.

   Three committees are collaborating in the House on legislation expected to come to a vote by the end of July. That measure is certain to include a government-run insurance option.

   At their heart, all the bills would require insurance companies to sell coverage to any applicant, without charging higher premiums for pre-existing medical conditions. The poor and some middle-class families would qualify for government subsidies to help with the cost of coverage. The government's costs would be covered by a combination of higher taxes and cuts in projected Medicare and Medicaid spe
   http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_overhaul
   I do not have any insurance for myself or my family, and heres why. Since I am self employed it will cost me 0 per month to cover my family. If by chance a member of my family needs a doctor then I pay for the services right then. I have a tear in my abdominal muscle just above my belly. Now here's my complaint. I went to the Dr. and he said it will cost me 00. just for him but since i'm uninsured he will do it for 0. Since i'm uninsured I had to contact each person myself to set things up. The hospital told me it will cost me ,000. to rent a hospital room, nurse and the tools the Dr. will need, but since i'm uninsured they will rent me everything for ,000. Then the same for the anesthesiologist, 00 but he'll cut it to 00. for his service. Now this ,500 surgery will cost me ,000 out of my pocket. Now if they could do it for less then half since i'm uninsured, why couldn't it be that price to begin with? Then insurance would be affordable.

   • ANSWER:
     I think that it is great. Look at what has happened with Holland.

     First of all, too many people do not know that Obama is not going to bring in universal healthcare. He wants to make insurance more available to all.

     Second, of course universal health-cover sucks. That is why we in Western Europe have it. We think, hmm, our healthcare system sucks. I know, lets keep it. I guess that is the same with Japan and Canada as well.

     FACT - the USA spends more on healthcare PER PERSON than any other nation on the planet.

     FACT - the US has higher death rates for kids aged under five than western European countries with universal health coverage.

     That means that a dead American four year old would have had a better chance of life if they were born in Canada, France, Cuba, Germany, Japan etc, all of which have universal health coverage.

10. QUESTION:
    what do you think about the new 2010 ford car features?
    What do you think about the new features,
    Do you think its better, worse, ??????

    DETROIT - So you think junior is a little too lead-footed when he drives the family car? Starting next year, Ford Motor Co. will give you the power to do something about it.

    The company will roll out a new feature on many 2010 models that can limit teen drivers to 80 mph, using a computer chip in the key.

    Parents also have the option of programming the teen's key to limit the audio system's volume, and to sound continuous alerts if the driver doesn't wear a seat belt.

    "Our message to parents is, hey, we are providing you some conditions to give your new drivers that may allow you to feel a little more comfortable in giving them the car more often," said Jim Buczkowski, Ford's director of electronic and electrical systems engineering.

    The feature, called "MyKey," will be standard on an unspecified number of Ford models when the 2010 cars and trucks come out late next summer. The feature will spread to the entire Ford, Lincoln and Mercury lineup as models are updated, spokesman Wes Sherwood said.

    Ford arrived at the 80 mph limit even though freeway speed limits are lower in most states because it wanted to leave a margin in case an unusual situation arises, Buczkowski said. In some states, freeway speed limits are above 70 mph, Sherwood said.

    "Just lopping it off at exactly 70 mph was felt to be too limiting," Buczkowski said.

    The company already uses computer chips in its keys to prevent thefts. The car won't start unless it recognizes the chip in the key.

    "It's making use of existing technology, and through the magic of software, we're able to build features on top of the features we already have," Buczkowski said.

    In addition to speed limits, MyKey also will limit the volume of the audio system, and it will sound a six-second chime every minute if seat belts are not fastened. The chime sounds for adult drivers, too, but ends after five minutes to avoid annoying adults who adamantly don't want to wear seat belts, Buczkowski said.

    Parents also have the option of having the car sound a chime if the teen exceeds 45, 55 or 65 mph.

    The feature will debut on the 2010 Focus compact car and quickly move to other company models as a standard feature, the company said.

    Ford said its market research shows 75 percent of parents like the speed and audio limits, but as you might expect, 67 percent of teens don't like them.

    Danisha Williams, a 16-year-old senior at Southfield-Lathrup High School in suburban Detroit, said she's against the idea.

    "I wouldn't want my parents to have that much control over how I'm driving," she said. "If your parents are holding your hand, you're never going to learn."

    Brittany Hawthorne, 17, another Southfield-Lathrup senior, said there may be emergency situations where she'd have to drive more than 80, possibly to accelerate to avoid a crash.

    Ford's research shows that parents would be more likely to let teens use their vehicles with the system, Sherwood said, and if it gets them the car more often, the number of teens objecting drops by nearly half.

    A top official from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a research group funded by the auto insurance industry that is pushing to raise the minimum driving age to 17 or 18, found the key intriguing and said she was not aware of any other manufacturer offering such a feature. IIHS says car crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers.

    "Research we've done has shown that speeding is a major factor in teen crashes, especially novice teen drivers," said Anne McCartt, the institute's senior vice president for research. "So I think a system that tries to correct the speeding behavior has the potential to improve safety."

    More than 5,000 U.S. teens die each year in car crashes. The rate of crashes, fatal and nonfatal, per mile driven for 16-year-old drivers is almost 10 times the rate for drivers ages 30 to 59, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

    Several U.S. auto insurers have begun offering in-car cameras or global positioning equipment to help parents monitor their teens' driving behavior, in the hope of reducing the number of crashes.

    • ANSWER:
      I belive what Fords doing is great. And the features are very cool with a tunable speed limiter and audio limiter. thats a parents dream which might boost sales. All this besides the rest of the new AWSOME features like the aluminum ball shifter and new engines.o man the new stang will be great. But besides te new stang. Ford is starting to finally realize what will sell and improving safty is a GREAT start.

11. QUESTION:
    How can we solve the primary care physician shortage in the US?
    Imagine you are the typical medical student is coming out w/ 200,000 in debt. Will you opt to be a Primary care physician (family practice, ,pediatrician, psychiatrist) who makes 140,000 a year, or will you opt for a lucrative specialty in a lucrative field, like the ROAD's (radiology,opthamology,anesthesiology,de… that banks 300,000-500,000? Even the most idealistic of students have to consider debt burden, raising a family, having free-time, reimbursement issues, threat of scope of practice being invaded by advanced nurses etc. The PCP fields have the lowest Average Board scores, because the top students are all attracted to the lucrative fields (even though PCP's are just as important to health-care). Generally, Average Step I Board scores for a specialty get higher as income of that specialty increases.

    Anyways, the fact is that with our system now, procedures are what are compensated for, and primary care doctors lag so far behind because they mostly bill based on in-office visits and don't really have too many procedures to do. But the fact is, that like any specialist, they serve an equally important role in medicine, and it is anticipated that a massive shortage will occur in the next 20 years.

    How can we bridge this gap and get more med students into these fields?

    Auto-Loan Repayment for med students going into Primary care?
    Redefining the way medicare and insurance companies compensate physicians?
    Pay-cuts from specialists?
    Stronger Organizations to counter Advanced Nurses trying to influence legislation?

    Obama has talked about this problem plenty, but I don't see anything really specific in his plan that will really encourage med students towards any of these fields.......without new medical students opting for these fields, COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE REFORM IS INHERENTLY DOOMED (the effects will be devastating to patients in the next 10-20 years)

    • ANSWER:
      What shortage? There are a buttload of doctors here.

12. QUESTION:
    How can I get media coverage on yahoo news? Do you care enough to help us do it? Please read our plight!?
    We lost the use of our home to fire August 26, 2009. We were insured, All State denied our claim! They claimed we commited arson, they forced me to split up our family, they forced us into a one bedroom apartment, they black mailed us on everything by threatening us with non compliance of policy. They put us through 9 months of sheer hell begging for them to decide one way or another so we could move forward.After I finally informed them we had a public adjustor they within 36 hours denied our claim. Their abuse of us resulted in my father who has Alzheimer's ending up in a nursing home over 500 miles away from us due to all the changes he was subjected to although they knew from day one his health was very fragile! They expected us to be able to rent a place for 4 adults my parents, my husband, myself, and our then 4 year old son, and 3 small pedigree dogs. The temporary accomodations adjustor Heather Stone told me, " We don't care where you go, who you live with, if you have to get seperate houses or kennel your dogs. You have to get out of the motel". There were my elderly parents my mom was on a walker, I am totally disabled. And about 2 weeks before this my husband started passing an enormous amount of blood in his urine along with fist sized blood clots. When I took him to the ER they found a mass in his bladder. None of it mattered. He had surgery October 26, 2009, the 2 days prior to his surgery I had to move my family by myself. Mind you nothing mattered to All State I begged, I pleaded for them to give me until November 9, 2009 to be able to move into a 2 bedroom apartment. The money was there to pay for our additional living expenses! Yet we were forced to split up our family and into a one bedroom apartment. They removed everything we owned from our home, garage, and sunroom! They disposed of, stole, and had our things in an unsecure sight where even more was stolen! And from our furnished 3554 sq. ft. home we ended up with everything left in a 10' X 30' storage unit we have had to pay for. We are paying a mortgage payment that includes insurance payments to All State! They have renewed our policy and were paid from July 31, 2010- July 31, 2011. They get auto paid each month for car and life insurance! We are strapped no furniture no nothing in a dump because we don't want to lose our home. Mind you all our bills were current and the reason of claim is idiotic so much so that a child can see it is nothing but a big sham to commit consumer fraud! Anyone who can help please check out Sakura Jade Esposito on Facebook. I don't want money, I don't want fame, I want our home fixed so we can move on! We can't afford to fix our home, because we have to pay rent on a total dump and on storage fees and keep up all the All State policies! They have been paid every month. What happened was either a defective stove or human error on the cook stove! Please don't keep on going! Just please imagine this your home with your family and you leave for a medical procedure and you come home thinking there was a home invasion, Instead there has been a fire. And from that moment your life turns into a horrible nightmare. The home you were preparing for a new family of adopted siblings is gone. The large family you dreamed of all your life was gone, and your husband a 30 year retired Navy Veteran is accused of causing a fire. By placing matches in a skillet of cooking oil! Only thing is the debris from above the stove is in the pan and the matches directly above the skillets in the cabinet fell at some point onto the debris. UNDERSTAND: ON TOP OF THE DEBRIS! And then they tell a company, " Go ahead get rid of the debris and start demoing." Only to send and adjustor to check the house progress and determine all evidence of the fire has been gutted and removed. Then turn around and the same adjustor claimed he did not give ServPro the authorization to do it. They refuse to pay them and you end up with not only a burnt home but a lien on your burnt home! Then you apply for a 2 bedroom apartment and are denied because you have a mortgage and a new lien on the home for non payment. And your credit is destroyed. How would you feel? No one seems to care to try to help us get the word out. Will you please help us? Thank you...

    • ANSWER:
      If you want media coverage you have to start locally - talk to all your local papers, radio stations, and television stations to get them to cover your story. Do a video if you can and post it on YouTube Once you get the ball rolling you'll have a better chance of it being picked up by national outlets.

13. QUESTION:
    I need some advise please.?
    How will the law see us in this situation & what would you do ?

    My 10 year old son and his two friends were throwing stones at a for sale sign as target practise ( ages 7, 8 and 10,so stupid i know, they didn't mean any harm) and after a few minutes they all sat down but the youngest thought he'd have another go and missed that landed on a car putting its main back windscreen through.

    The mother of the youngest child went to see the guy after the child had run in to tell her what had happened so she went over to sort it out, he had already called the police.

    I spoke to the mother and we agreed that no one imparticular was to blame as they were all there throwing stones so if there were any repair cost that we would split it three ways. The third mother blatantly said 'my son didn't throw the stone so im not paying anything' (she owns a garage, but shes not helping)

    The guy is now claiming on his house insurance as he doesn't have car insurance. he has said that he can claim for the windscreen but with the additional cost of £250 on top which i believe to be a little steep.

    I need to point out that this car is an old rusty Mercedes and is worth about £300-£500 on auto trader. and it was in the news paper a while ago for reportedly setting on fire for no reason. (i dont know as i didnt read it)

    I know my son was stupid but i feel like this guy is taking advantage and it also feels a little unfair that we are having to pay £125 (half) for something my son didnt do and what seems so overpriced for a car thats probably not worth fixing. It honestly feels like the guy is cashing in on the situation.

    This guy stunk of booze and the other mother(the one thats not paying that owns a garage) said she has had a run in with this man before, why she failed to tell the police, i dont know.

    My actual question is, what could this guy do to us if we say that we will not pay this £250 and say we are only prepared to pay whatever our own autoglass company quote is (around £140) , or £1 a week?

    What could he do about it, would we be taken to court?

    • ANSWER:
      Yes, he can take you to court. And yes, you should pay the 125.

      The agreement that you apparently made with the owner avoided the necessity of any police action, correct? I'm assuming that none of the boys was arrested, correct? This guy could have asked that criminal charges be filed - but there was apparently an agreement between him and the mothers to settle this without going that route. If he had pursued criminal charges, he would still have been entitled to get his vehicle repaired. (And it doesn't matter that the vehicle isn't worth that much - he's entitled to have the vehicle fixed for any amount up to and including the actual value of the vehicle.)

      You are not entitled to pay only what your own autoglass company quote ends up being. He can absolutely take you to court. He will win his lawsuit, if for no other reason than the fact that you AGREED to pay him. And I would imagine that, in addition to having to pay to fix the damage to the car, you will also have to pay all of the court costs.

      Pay the 125 and make your son do chores to pay you back.