January 23, 2022
In America…
Health insurance is not tied to employers.
Because tying health insurance to employers is unproductive for people, companies and our country.
If we begin to look at the U.S. from the lens that our greatest resource, our greatest untapped resource, is our human resource, then tying health insurance to employers makes little sense. By marrying health insurance to employers, people out of necessity often take and stay in jobs solely for healthcare benefits. Instead of moving toward employment that maximizes their skills, their talents, their interests…too many squander the magnitude of what they can offer the world in ill-fitting careers.
Beyond the quiet desperation and opportunity costs for individuals, the current system also slices deep into the health of American companies. For businesses that offer health insurance, they are faced with skyrocketing costs, evolving and unwieldy administration, and per above end up with a certain percentage of employees who are only there for the benefits⏤which grinds away at morale and productivity. For businesses that cannot or do not offer insurance, the labor pool is significantly limited and the very best and brightest person for any given opening is often unable to take the leap without health benefits.
What a colossal waste this arrangement is for the potential genius, and creativity and productivity of our country. We can, however, shift this in a way that accesses and unleashes our human capabilities.
What if health insurance was not tied to employers ⏤ but instead, was 100% portable?
Stop and really think about that for a moment: what if your health insurance was 100% portable ⎯ that your job choice was completely independent of healthcare coverage? What would that mean for you? For your family? For your decisions about your career and where you put your energy, focus and drive throughout the course of your life?
What would it mean for employers to have fully engaged and thriving employees who are there by choice? What would it mean for the nation’s economy and spirit to have a happier, healthier, more productive population?
Can America untie the current employer/insurance knot and instead put our resources toward a more effective model? By resources I am including business contributions on a per employee basis. By model, I mean beyond the scope of the current healthcare marketplace. An improved upon model that offers access to robust coverage with maximum mobility.
A model that allows us to fully leverage the skills and talents and joy of our citizens.
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