# Your car may be spying on you **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [March 29, 2025, 1:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/your-car-may-be-spying-on-you/199671 "2025-03-29T13:21:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Robert-Gift](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/robert-gift/32/356_2.png) [@Robert-Gift](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert-Gift)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 1:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/your-car-may-be-spying-on-you/199671/1 "2025-03-29T13:21:30Z")
[https://www.9news.com/article/money/consumer/steve-on-your-side/car-spying-driving-opt-out/73-b7c3574a-4138-4a1a-a574-1924b04adae8](https://www.9news.com/article/money/consumer/steve-on-your-side/car-spying-driving-opt-out/73-b7c3574a-4138-4a1a-a574-1924b04adae8) ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 2:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/your-car-may-be-spying-on-you/199671/2 "2025-03-29T14:53:23Z")
First off - your data is out there. Not much you can do about it. Much of the data collected is NOT personal, but just META data to see trends and patterns. Not necessarily where YOU are driving. But where EVERYONE is driving. Targeted data is there, but you have to be extremely naive to think it’s not already out there. Data breaches (mainly due to extremely poor security) happens almost daily. And many times companies just sell their data. Radio-Shake always told us they don’t sell their customer data - UNTIL they filed bankruptcy. Their last act as a company to give bonuses to high-level exes was selling their customer data. Now 23AndMe has filed bankruptcy and they are looking to sell their data even though they said they’d only SHARE their data with researchers if customers opt in. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 3:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/your-car-may-be-spying-on-you/199671/3 "2025-03-29T15:12:55Z")
Not really breaking news . Our car , our PC’s , the utility companies and our phones all track . Who ever is looking at those is going to see we are really boring. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 3:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/your-car-may-be-spying-on-you/199671/4 "2025-03-29T15:17:51Z")
I think 5g took care of that at least for on star. They can’t communicate with me any more. 7 We did the dna test and not sure what information they would have that would be that big a deal. I suppose if they were matching dna with a crime scene o4 something. I don’t think buffet really cares if I’m a distant relative or not. We both drive old cars. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 3:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/your-car-may-be-spying-on-you/199671/5 "2025-03-29T15:38:36Z")
> [@MikeInNH](#): > > 23AndMe has filed bankruptcy and they are looking to sell their data even though they said they’d only SHARE their data with researchers if customers opt in. That bankruptcy was surely coming, and that’s why I had them delete all of my info about 3 months ago. Or, at least they _claim_ to have deleted all of my info. 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 4:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/your-car-may-be-spying-on-you/199671/6 "2025-03-29T16:01:30Z")
And you should see some of the things I do in my car, boy are they in for a shock when they spy on me… ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 7:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/your-car-may-be-spying-on-you/199671/7 "2025-03-29T19:41:05Z")
> [@bing](#): > > We did the dna test and not sure what information they would have that would be that big a deal. Really? DNA is one of my personal pieces of information I don’t want public. Insurance companies would LOVE to deny you a policy (or charge you exorbitant rates) because you have a gene that gives you a higher-than-normal risk of developing Alzheimer. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 8:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/your-car-may-be-spying-on-you/199671/8 "2025-03-29T20:22:08Z")
Not to talk insurance but I’ve always had blue cross under the group plan. After Medicare I just went with the bc supplemental plan. Maybe $125/a month. For prescriptions we went with welfare last year for 50 cents a month. This year they lowered it to zero per month. I went to urgent care yesterday for an anti biotic. No charge for the visit. I picked up the prescription and was charged 93 cents. I grumbled a little at the bc cost but I have no idea how they can charge zero per month and still provide the prescription for a dollar. Someone must be paying it. At any rate I’m not real concerned about getting profiled. Those not in a group plan though or with Medicare might be an issue. ---
**Author:** ![oldnotdeadyet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a6a055/32.png) [@oldnotdeadyet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldnotdeadyet)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 11:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/your-car-may-be-spying-on-you/199671/9 "2025-03-29T23:08:29Z")
You go to the hospital for a procedure and the hospital “charges” $1000. Then Medicare comes and says they only pay $200 for that procedure. The hospital says “OK”. BUT, if you do not have health insurance of any kind, the hospital bills YOU for $1000. I vote for free universal healthcare. Why do we have to add insurance company profits to the equation? ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 11:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/your-car-may-be-spying-on-you/199671/10 "2025-03-29T23:11:45Z")
> [@MikeInNH](#): > > Insurance companies would LOVE to deny you a policy (or charge you exorbitant rates) because you have a gene that gives you a higher-than-normal risk of developing Alzheimer. Would that apply to people on Medicare or Medicare Advantage? I don’t think so. For younger folks, absolutely it would matter. Bing is old, very old, and he isn’t faced with medical insurance of problems. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 11:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/your-car-may-be-spying-on-you/199671/11 "2025-03-29T23:18:21Z")
> [@bing](#): > > I have no idea how they can charge zero per month and still provide the prescription for a dollar. Because medicare advantage plans are private insurance plans that are paid for by the medicare dollars assigned to you. These private plans are more efficient with your medicare dollars than medicare so they can offer more services and lower co-pays. Nearly half of medicare recipients are now on these plans. > [@oldnotdeadyet](#): > > I vote for free universal healthcare These is no such thing. We all would pay for such plans in taxes rather than when services are delivered. That said, our current system is so screwed up, it is un-fixable so something better is needed like a universal system. But we should learn from the Canadians and Brits and not copy their systems. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2025, 11:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/your-car-may-be-spying-on-you/199671/12 "2025-03-29T23:54:57Z")
I don’t have an advantage plan though but a supplement. And welcare is not a Medicare plan. Part c I think is the Medicare prescription plan. Welcare is somehow linked or contracted with the legion now I believe. 50 cents or zero is a pretty good deal. I asked my insurance agency about it but they didn’t know any more. I thought I would be paying full price up to the $3000 or whatever but guess not. As far as government universal coverage, careful what you wish for based on the UK and Canada. One guy recently said he was on the list for two years for a hip replacement but could schedule it right away in the us. Even with Medicare they try to reduce the payments to providers to the point where some will not take it anymore. I don’t propose to understand the whole thing but I’ve seen how sausage is made and the people involved and it’s not pleasant. ---
**Author:** ![oldnotdeadyet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a6a055/32.png) [@oldnotdeadyet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldnotdeadyet)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 12:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/your-car-may-be-spying-on-you/199671/13 "2025-03-30T00:03:46Z")
Maybe we will adopt the Canadian system when it becomes the 51st State. All those kicked off Medicaid will certainly vote for it. I think my car is communicating over Signal, so there is no possible way that data will be made public. It is a perfect system. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 1:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/your-car-may-be-spying-on-you/199671/14 "2025-03-30T01:40:47Z")
Medicare C is Medicare Advantage. Medicare D is prescription coverage. My wife has United Healthcare Medicare Advantage and is happy with it. It’s the plan that AARP recommends, and is available in MN. The article from Forbes linked below is recent. > **[Best Medicare Advantage Plans In Minnesota For 2025](https://www.forbes.com/advisor/health-insurance/medicare/medicare-advantage-in-minnesota/)** > > If you’re considering enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan (also known as Medicare Part C) in Minnesota to meet your various health insurance needs, you’re not alone. > > According to recent Census data estimates, approximately 1 million people ages... ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 2:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/your-car-may-be-spying-on-you/199671/15 "2025-03-30T02:43:43Z")
Ok. I only have an and b. I’ve never paid a whole lot of attention to it, just take the advice of the agent. ---
**Author:** ![RandomTroll](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/randomtroll/32/12184_2.png) [@RandomTroll](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RandomTroll)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 3:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/your-car-may-be-spying-on-you/199671/16 "2025-03-30T03:06:09Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > These private plans are more efficient with your medicare dollars than medicare so they can offer more services and lower co-pays. From ‘Medicare Advantage Has Become Notorious for Prior Authorization’: > ‘The Sollars are not alone in facing obstacles to care under the Medicare Advantage program. A new analysis by KFF, formerly the Kaiser Family Foundation, found that Medicare Advantage insurance plans denied 3.4 million,or 7.4%, of 46 million prior authorization requests in 2022. Those actions often shut the door on care, since only about 1 in 10 patients appeal the decisions.’ https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2823261 . Medicare Advantage pays for insurers because they can deny care - they pay people to deny care. ‘Regular’ Medicare doesn’t, though it doesn’t pay full price either. The problem is that you can be underwritten if you apply for a new Medicare Advantage or Supplemental plan after your first enrollment. If you’re sick, denied care by your MA plan, any new insurer (except regular Medicare) can charge as much as it likes. > 'Private Medicare Advantage (MA) plans will reap $83 billion in overpayments from taxpayers this year, according to Congress' official Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). What do patients get for that money? Not financial protection, according to Park and colleagues' study. > > During Medicare's open enrollment period between 15 October and 7 December, advertisements for MA flood the airwaves: 643 852 English-language television commercials (including 9 daily on the popular show Dr. Phil) and morethan 40 000 Spanish-language ones aired during that period in 2022, of which 93% touted extra benefits and 88% mentioned lower costs).' from ‘Medicare Advantage: High Costs and Poor Protection’ https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M24-0881 ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 12:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/your-car-may-be-spying-on-you/199671/17 "2025-03-30T12:52:48Z")
> [@RandomTroll](#): > > Medicare Advantage pays for insurers because they can deny care - they pay people to deny care. That may be true for most Medicare Advantage programs, but definitely not for all of them. As a retired State of NJ employee, I’m entitled to coverage beyond regular Medicare, and for several years we had a supplemental plan from BCBS that was awful. They nickel and dimed me on a lot of medical bills. Then, about 7 years ago, they switched us to an Aetna Medicare Advantage program. In addition to saving the state $15 million per year, the coverage is unbelievably good. The best example would be my outpatient hernia surgery, about 6 years ago. My GP sent me to the Chief of Surgery, and I was initially skeptical about how much I would have to pay for this guy’s expertise. When all of the billing was accounted for, he billed a bit more than $5k for the procedure, and Aetna Medicare paid him $666. (Yes, that number sounds like somebody had a sense of humor) My co-pay for his bill was $10. The Anesthesiologist billed a bit more than $2k, and she was paid $200. My co-pay was zero. For my 6 hours in the hospital, the hospital billed more than **$16k**. 😲 My co-pay was zero. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 1:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/your-car-may-be-spying-on-you/199671/18 "2025-03-30T13:33:54Z")
Would have loved to see the DNA of a former coworker, I’m sure he was at least 20% Neanderthal. No offense to the other Neanderthals on this site. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 1:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/your-car-may-be-spying-on-you/199671/19 "2025-03-30T13:42:37Z")
> [@RandomTroll](#): > > Medicare Advantage Has Become Notorious for Prior Authorization My wife has been dealing with this for a number of years with Medicare Advantage. Some plan suppliers are awful. Some are very good. Even with the bad ones, diligence pays off in lower overall costs and copays. Not all providers suck. My wife’s last one did… (Aetna) and her current one does not (Humana). But all provided more services and lower costs than straight Medicare. I am not on Medicare as yet but I’ve had the exact same prior authorization and approval issues with various suppliers. Florida Blue (BCBS) is a pretty good one, again Aetna was not. Your experience may vary… see @VDCdriver’s good experience with Aetna and bad with BCBS. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 2:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/your-car-may-be-spying-on-you/199671/20 "2025-03-30T14:02:45Z")
I have a Medicare Advantage PPO and can choose my doctors and their treatments without prior authorization. This company also has a HMO version that is less expensive but does require preauthorization. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/your-car-may-be-spying-on-you/199671.md?page=2)