Anyone who thinks private insurance companies should be in charge of something as important as health care are stark raving mad.  The following is the exchange I had with my auto insurance provider today.

ME:  I want to change this auto insurance into my own name, so that my ex can transfer the car into my name.

THEM:  You have to go to the Ministry of Transportation first and get the ownership changed over.

ME:  I DID go there first.  They won't change the ownership without proof of insurance in my name.  They told me YOU have to go first.

THEM:  I'll have to check that.  Do you mind being on hold for half an hour?

ME:  argh.  ok.  it's dinner time anyway.

THEM: (upon returning)  We'll have to write you a new policy.  This policy was written in your husband's name with his information.

ME:  Good.  I have a better driving record, I've been driving longer, and my commute is shorter than my husband's.  I should get a discount!!!

THEM:  ok.  you haven't had an accident or a traffic infringement in 10 years.  correct?

ME:  correct.

THEM:  how far do you drive the car in a month?

ME:  well, my commute's only about 4 km per day (I could walk it, if I didn't have to drop off the kids), and I drive to my parents maybe once a month.  So what's that?  About 3000km?  Not even?

THEM:  what coverage do you want to have on the car?

ME:  The bare minimum to be legal.  The car's not worth anything anyway, and I have family that could help me if I was in an accident.

THEM:  ok.  let's go away for a while and write the policy.  Do you mind being on hold for the rest of the night?

ME:  sigh.

THEM:  (upon returning) That'll be $918 per year.

ME:  WHAT?!?!?!  That's $150 more than the renewal was under my husband's name!  I'm a perfect driver, I drive only short distances, I drive a cheap car, and I'm now the only insured driver on the car.  So you're INCREASING my premiums?!?

THEM:  Well, hem haw, there are all these changes in the policy...

ME:  what changes?  It's the same car it was when you quoted me $758   2 weeks ago for renewal.

THEM: Well, it was your husband's policy then...

ME:  You mean my husband, who's driver's licence was suspended for unpaid speeding tickets, and who drove without a licence for two months?!?

THEM:  Well, there's also been a statistical increase in the accidents these cars have been in....

ME:  but MY car has never been in an accident.  I"VE never been in an accident. Has the car suddenly become more dangerous than it was a month ago?  ARE  YOU PEOPLE CRAZY?  IT'S THE SAME FUCKING CAR !!!

THEM:  Can you hold some more?


ARGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGHGH

I finally told the manager I hoped the government publicized the whole damn industry.  Really.  I am beginning to believe that all large private industries are either 1. incompetent or 2. corrupt.

Or maybe I'm just having the next in a long string of bad days.

Go ahead and laugh.  There's a mennonite community not far from here, and i'm of half a mind to call them up.  Even if they did swear at me last year for being a teacher, when i tried to buy a table from them.  (I mean, what did I say that sounded like "tell me your problems with children's aid"?  All i wanted was a table!)

Trust me.  There is nothing on that policy that is not absolutely necessary under law for me to be able to drive.  Liability only, no fire, theft, or anything else.  No collision.  Only liability.  And as far as the usage--let's just put it this way.  I"m paying almost as much in insurance as I am in GAS.

I'm going to my broker tonight to see what kind of deal I can get.

Oskar, they won't actually admit that gender is any part of it.  They tell me it has to do with premiums changing on all insurance, and with the location and model of my car (kia rios aren't known for their snow prowess, and unfortunately the one thing my little town is known for is SNOW).

As for the way I was treated on the phone--I do plan to write to both the company and to my local paper in order to make my views known.  People need to know exactly how these companies are operating.  Honestly.

If the government is going to make auto insurance manditory, than it should be regulated within an inch of it's life.  There is no point in making auto insurance manditory and then letting the insurance companies gouge us for their pound of flesh.  The companies, if they want to remain private, should act like private companies, and let market competition decide the prices of auto insurance for perfect drivers.  I'm prepared to take on the lowest bidder--but i'm certainly NOT prepared to lobby for the companies to have to pay out less.  Do your own dirty work.