By Andy Cohen
The American healthcare system since World War II is based on employer supplied health insurance. It happened almost by accident, as tight wage controls prevented employers from offering prospective workers higher wages, so they got creative and offered benefits such as health insurance instead. It has since become the bedrock of our system, and remains that way today. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 55.1 percent of Americans received health coverage through an employer; among those aged 18-64 who were employed, 68 percent received health insurance from an employer.
Employer provided insurance is the cornerstone of our healthcare system, but now many employers are not happy about it. The cost is too prohibitive, they say. Having to provide health insurance to their employees hurts their ability to be competitive in the global marketplace. Manufacturing jobs have been off shored, in part, because of the rising cost of health care.
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