Comprehensive pays for windshields, is usually very inexpensive. It is not collision or liability both of which are far more expensive. If you dropped it as well as collision you probably did yourself no favor.

But following your example, if everyone had insurance a case could be made that costs would skyrocket to $900 for everyone!

Unless, of course you, enforced price controls. Would that it were that simple. How are you going to pay for all of the people who cannot afford this 'insurance' you propose everyone have? Who is going to run this program?

Those that can do pay do indeed subsidize those who cannot or won't. Doctors, nurses, the whole complex hospital system, does not operate for free; someone has to pay. The tough nut to crack would seem to be who, how much, and who will run the show.

after everyone started getting health insurance and/or Medicare. When that happened, docs and hospital could charge whatever they wanted, and the consumer didn't care because their bills were paid by the insurance company. Providers were no longer accountable to the consumers. I think that's the same thing that happened with colleges and financial aid.

so you know exactly what it costs. Medicare and medicaid set the prices that providers can be paid and they must accept the amounts or not participate.
HMO's and PPO's negotiate prices with a provider network. Auto insurance companies do the same, they are not paying $900 for a $300 windshield.

College tuition skyrocketed when the student loan program went into effect.