The Shrinking Role of the Employer
The share of the U.S. population over the age of 15 covered by employment-based health insurance (either by their own employer or as a dependent) has been falling, dropping from 64.4% in 1997 to 56.5% in 2010.
Of the employed, 70.2% have employment based health insurance in 2010, down from 76.2% back in 2002. Of the employed, 18% have no health insurance in 2010, compared with 14.5% of the employed back in 2002.
More from Timothy Taylor.
This is a reflection of what the Great Recession has done and that is a reflection of human-natured greed. The housing crisis was a true reflection of greed, at its finest. I think we have somewhat forgotten about that.
This is just more reason why we ought to start to diverting from an insurance-minded society and face what the market deems real prices in medicine. I would assume hospitals and doctors would end up dramatically reducing the prices if they weren’t incentivized to hike prices due to the insurance middle-man, albeit accounting for catastrophic events in the form of life insurance. I’m no economist, but at least I know that our current system is absolutely broken and something drastic ought to change.
There’s really no good reason why employers should be involved in health care. Liberals like how it’s socialized health coverage; rich subsidizing poor, high-income workers subsidizing low-income workers; healthy workers subsidizing unhealthy workers, etc. But, realy it’s done more harm that good for most workers.
Teenage unemployment is at like a quarter though.. Cutting health insurance is a way to maintain employment while keeping small businesses afloat during rough times. Makes perfect sense to me.
How many economist blogs are there?
The partisan nonpartisan economist;
The conversable economist;
Anti-dismal;
etc..
I am all for individual owned insurance, this lessens the burden on businesses as well as encourages personal responsibility.
I agree with Patel. Let everyone purchase their own desired insurance, if they want it, and hold them totally accountable for it. Leave businesses out of it, they shouldn’t have to deal with the burden of health care policies.
Some fo you make true valid points. However, lets not frget the huge incentive heath insurance represents when unemployed people are looking for jobs. If this is taken away from them, then what will replace the value of acquiring health insurance through your job? Perhaps the end result will be the unemployed wanting to stay unemployed after all..
Health insurance should be a personal decision for everyone. Each person should be the judge of whether they want health care coverage or not. It shouldn’t be up to the employer to enforce it.
I’m rather healthy, and I don’t see a need to buy $200 per month health insurance. I’m ok with spending $120 per year at the CVS Minute Clinic if I happen to get sick that flu season.
Also may I add, having your own insurance is better than the employer based insurance because you insurance moves with you to the next job.