Discussion: Insurance

Insurance is meant to provide security in times of need, yet for many people it feels confusing, expensive, and adversarial. In this Civic Discussion Meetup, we’ll examine how insurance functions in American society and why so many individuals struggle to understand premiums, deductibles, coverage rules, and claim denials. We’ll explore whether this complexity is an unavoidable feature of managing risk—or whether it reflects incentives that prioritize profit, opacity, and limited consumer power.

The discussion will take a broader civic lens, looking at rising premiums, the balance between individual responsibility and shared risk, and the role government should play as a regulator, provider, or competitor. We’ll also reflect on public frustration with the insurance system, including reactions to high-profile incidents that have exposed deep anger over denied care and financial vulnerability. By comparing U.S. insurance models to approaches used in other countries and considering emerging trends like AI-driven underwriting and automation, this meetup invites participants to think critically about whether insurance is addressing real social needs—or compensating for deeper failures in healthcare access, infrastructure, and economic security. The goal is not to debate personal insurance choices, but to understand what a fair, functional, and trustworthy insurance system should look like in a modern democracy.

Relevant Content:

How Insurance Works:
https://www.ibc.ca/insurance-basics/how-insurance-works