[lowercased]

> The only reason American employers are in the business of offering health insurance is because they get a federal tax break

The cost of paying me is also tax deductible, so they get a 'tax break' by paying me more money.

> This makes health insurance cheaper to the employer than to individuals.

I don't think that's the root. Large insurance companies seem to want to sell to larger companies - groups of people - vs selling insurance to individuals. Selling to a group is where it seems some price reduction happens. And... by and larger, if you're selling insurance to people who are already healthy enough to be working regularly/fulltime, your costs for insuring that 'pool' will be somewhat cheaper than the costs of insuring any random individual.

> they couldn't increase my salary enough for me to purchase the same plan myself

If the cost of my health insurance was deductible from my individual taxes, then the entire market would be turned upside down. There are certain thresholds that need to be met re MAGI (IIRC) before health insurance insurance premiums are deductible by individuals. I'm "self employed" so the entirety of my premiums are tax deductible, but for the average person working a W2 job someplace that doesn't provide health insurance for them, it's not a deductible expense, which is a total sham.

[sterlind]

I am increasingly disabled, but I'm still managing to keep my job and its amazing health insurance, thank God.

Insurance this past year has paid for like, a couple dozen specialist visits, 6 MRIs, weekly rehab, a reclining desk and a power wheelchair. I maxed out my deductable in February :D

My health would be better if I could go on disability but that pays like, $1K a month and is ridiculously hard to get.

[bombcar]

It's a tax break for the employee and hence for the employer - they can spend $X on insurance and give the employee $x+tax rate in benefits.

What should be done is entirely decouple it so that health insurance AND medical expenses are above the line deductible - or make none of it such. And then let employees pick whatever they want.

[flatiron]

Those healthy people have sick spouses and children though. That part doesn’t add up.