From the article:
Just as auto coverage is now mandatory in most states, Baucus would a require that all Americans get health insurance once the system is overhauled.
First of all, auto insurance is not mandated by a Federal law.
Then, as a matter of fact, not every state requires automobile insurance for all vehicle owners or drivers. Some (New Hampshire, maybe others) have no requirement at all. Others, allow individuals (or corporations that own vehicles) to post a bond with the sate and self insure. Anyone that posts the bond and meets the self insurance requirements is not required to purchase automobile insurance. To the best of my knowledge, no state requires every person in the state to have automobile insurance. In most states, a child under the age of 15 has no need for automobile insurance. Other people who do not drive and do not own vehicles are also exempt from the requirement to purchase automobile insurance.
In short, the statement that Auto Insurance is mandatory is an absurd exaggeration.
You are right the analogy is Baloney.
The one thimg always omitted from these dumb ass analogies with car insurance being “required” by many states is the fact that not one of them that I’m aware of requires anything but liability type insurance (That covers the other guy, not you)
Lendors almost always require that you have full coverage of your vehicle as a condition of loaning you the money but that’s a whole nother matter.