Re:She paid husband's hospital bill. A year after his death,...
by kelseyfrog on Tuesday August 29, 2023 @12:55PM
(#37310656)
Yep, we're all well aware of the origins of employer healthcare in the United States.
However, I don't want to confuse the etiology of employer healthcare and the social reproduction of employer healthcare as it exists today. In other words, just because a thing has an origin, doesn't mean that the original cause continues to exist nor can we avoid examining proximal causes.
I'm a bit confused what you meant by "it's not enshrined in law." I think we both agree that there doesn't exist a statement of law like "Employer healthcare is a benefit of virtuous employment." Rather, the motivating factors for the ACA compliance[1] are congruent in the minds of a contingent with the idea that a work ethic justifies rewards.
There are many such programs that are congruent with work ethic such as Earned Income Tax Credit(EITC)[2], unemployment benefit requirements(looking for work[3]), and FMLA requirements(work >12 months)[4].
I want to be transparent and stress that this is much more in line with a critical analysis of the US legal code and policy than a logical argument, and carries with it all of the nuance and assumptions that any critical legal analysis does.
1. "ACA, employers with 50 or more full-time employees (or the equivalent in part-time employees) must provide health insurance to 95% of their full-time employees or pay a penalty to the IRS." https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/is-my-employer-requi...
However, I don't want to confuse the etiology of employer healthcare and the social reproduction of employer healthcare as it exists today. In other words, just because a thing has an origin, doesn't mean that the original cause continues to exist nor can we avoid examining proximal causes.
I'm a bit confused what you meant by "it's not enshrined in law." I think we both agree that there doesn't exist a statement of law like "Employer healthcare is a benefit of virtuous employment." Rather, the motivating factors for the ACA compliance[1] are congruent in the minds of a contingent with the idea that a work ethic justifies rewards.
There are many such programs that are congruent with work ethic such as Earned Income Tax Credit(EITC)[2], unemployment benefit requirements(looking for work[3]), and FMLA requirements(work >12 months)[4].
I want to be transparent and stress that this is much more in line with a critical analysis of the US legal code and policy than a logical argument, and carries with it all of the nuance and assumptions that any critical legal analysis does.
1. "ACA, employers with 50 or more full-time employees (or the equivalent in part-time employees) must provide health insurance to 95% of their full-time employees or pay a penalty to the IRS." https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/is-my-employer-requi...
2. "Encouraging work" https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2016/01/29/earned-...
3. https://www.usa.gov/unemployment-benefits
4. https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/benefits-leave/fmla