Insurance Scams

Auto insurance is my focus today. Let’s examine my driving record.

I’m 81. Two tickets in my life, one in 1967 for a speeding ticket in Chicago while leaving a fresh green light. Three miles over the limit and then only because I accelerated a bit too quickly from a stop. A ludicrous ticket for a young cop trying to meet quota. Another ticket for an accident I caused. One accident, not caused by me in 1966 when fresh out of college in a new car and still very new to Chicago and its congestion. Another accident in 2004 I should have been able to avoid. That’s it. No DUIs. Maybe two million miles driven. A very low insurance risk based on my record.

But what I can’t avoid is living. 81 is a daunting age for insurance companies and I think they would rather I not drive due to age. That’s it. Ageism plain and simple. Not based on driving record or health issues.

There are many insurance ads for much lower rates. I did find a lower rate by shopping intensely. Went from $180 per month down to $70. I think I finally wheedled it down to $57 currently. But I battle soaring insurance rates every renewal time.

Some recent ads tell us that AARP has the lowest rate access. Others tout Social Security offers cut rate insurance plans for senior citizens. From my research none of these exist. None. And I have answered many such ads and have found no deals. Period.

Why then do these ads get space in social media? Why?

If the policy of American insurance companies is no driving for people over 80 years of age, would they please be kind enough to say so? If this is policy, perhaps it should be a law? But then, wouldn’t social programs require assistance for transportation for senior citizens above the age of 80? That would be quite costly.

Here’s the deal. I drive less than 50 miles per week; more like 30. I go to the drug store drive-up, drive-up restaurants, grocery store and doctor appointments. I visit my kids in nearby suburbs about once a month at 26 miles roundtrip, each. That’s pretty much it. I love pleasure trips into the country, rarely into the metro downtown area. I avoid complicated traffic patterns these days as well. The pleasure trips are rare, by the way, may once a month.

All in all, I am not much of a driving risk. In fact, I am a risk avoider, have been most of my life. That alone should be obvious to the insurance industry. But no, they prefer to rob seniors blind.

What can we do? What can I do and continue driving? I’m open to suggestions. And if my comments above are plain wrong, someone please tell me where and how I’m wrong? Better yet, who can find me lower insurance rates?

November 27, 2024

 

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