Re:Ask HN: If you didn't have to worry about healthcare, wou...
by mojonixon on Friday December 04, 2009 @11:06AM
(#976541)
" I have no idea how insurance companies and employers ended up married like that"
I believe the short answer is WWII. Price controls meant employers needed to find a way other than higher wages to attract workers.
Re:Ask HN: If you didn't have to worry about healthcare, wou...
by yardie on Friday December 04, 2009 @12:45PM
(#976810)
They are married through price controls and tax deductions. If the choice was 10000$ additional pay or 10000$ annual insurance premium. From a payroll and tax view that insurance premium is much cheaper.
Not to mention in many states, once you reach a certain number of employees you are required to offer a HMO.
Re:Ask HN: If you didn't have to worry about healthcare, wou...
by joshfinnie on Friday December 04, 2009 @12:25PM
(#976739)
The reason it is cheaper through your employer than individually is simple (or complex) math. Increasing the risk pool allows for premiums to be reduced. I am not sure that employers and insurance companies are married; you can (for a price and acceptable risk) get insurance without an employer.
Without going into details, health insurance is a big issue for my family. I looked at my options (I'm in the US) and there really aren't any unless my employer has insurance. I have no idea how insurance companies and employers ended up married like that, but if one wants to get/change insurance, the only option is to change employers. And it seems fewer employers offer it every year.
Then I landed a gig with a very nice place that has great benefits, including epic insurance. So, for this year, I'm here in a job that's about as far one can get from a startup without being a government gig and surprisingly happy about it. That's a big 180 from where I was 6 months ago. :-)