A recent EconTalk episode covers the history of this type of system in depth: http://www.econtalk.org/archives/2017/06/christy_ford_ch.html http://www.econtalk.

A recent EconTalk episode covers the history of this type of system in depth: http://www.econtalk.org/archives/2017/06/christy_ford_ch.html http://www.econtalk.org/archives/2017/06/christy_ford_ch.htm... It was widespread until insurance companies forced them out of the industry.