The numbers from Kaiser bring to mind the biggest problem with the current health-insurance system. That is, that the vast majority of workers have absolutely no idea how much is paid for their “almost free” health care. If every business said “Here! This is how much money we spend for your health care. You can continue with the plan as it is, or we can offer some lower-level plans that don’t cost so much, but you pay a larger deductible. If you take the lower-level plan, we’ll add the difference to your salary. Tax-wise, it doesn’t make any difference to us. Just remember, however, if you get sick you’ll have to pay the bigger deductible and co-pay.”
If current health insurance worked like that for most folks, they’d take the bigger deductible, pay the taxes on the “bonus” to their salary, and be a lot more choosy about what optional procedures and tests they elect to have done.
Just my $.02
