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Comment by ordinaryradical | Hacker News Reader

This is a useful way to discuss the cost of healthcare. Premiums are a silent tax we pay out of our paychecks.

I actually think the most capitalist solution is to remove this burden from businesses entirely and create some public alternative to live alongside the private system. There should not be some magic number of employees where your startup suddenly has to put together a benefits package for everyone. That's not good for growth or competition.

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If we really want to get politicians on board we should bring up how much our current healthcare system hurts small businesses. There is not a politician in the US that doesn't kiss up to the small business owner, yet we have what is probably the worst possible system for someone trying to start a home business.

If you have a family it's borderline irresponsible to quit your job and leave behind that employer sponsored health plan. As an individual you're at the mercy of the insurance companies and they are merciless.

I can't even image who would argue against it. What was the point of tying health insurance to work in the first place? I'm finally in a situation where I'm managing my own insurance and being compensated for the "lack of benefits" directly. I got a plan way better than my last one, for $5 more than what my side of the cost was. And I no longer feel chained to my employer. Even if you like where you work, that's not a good situation to be in. Companies get the worst options, and it still cost both parties a horrible amount, and now the employee is stuck with that crappy plan when they could have shopped around for a much better deal directly.

The current system is because of wage fixing by the government during WW2. It was a way for employers to differentiate at a time when wages weren't available as an option. I agree that the free market is the place to do this.

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