Employer-Based Health Care: We Have to Think Long Term

Posted on | October 25, 2006 | Comments Off on Employer-Based Health Care: We Have to Think Long Term

This week’s Health Politics program is about employer-based health insurance. Nearly 63% of non-elderly Americans get their health insurance in this way. Have you ever stopped to think about how odd this is? As I mentioned in the program, the system basically developed without much planning and certainly without any long-term considerations. Adding health care as a benefit was a desperate attempt for employers to lure workers at a time (during and after WWII) when salaries were being capped.

But I do admit, with little government attention focused on health care at the time, I can see why employers like Charlie Wilson of General Motors chose to offer health care and pensions as benefits. He and many others did what they had to do at the time — it’s just a shame that we are now paying so dearly for their short-sightedness.

How can we ensure that we’re not doing the same thing to our future generations? Are consumer-directed health care plans and health savings accounts (HSAs) the answer? What about universal health care? Health Politics has spent some time exploring the options, but I’d like to hear from you. Please comment below.