The Complexities of US Health Insurance: Tying Coverage to Employment and Open Enrollment

The United States is the only country where health insurance is tied to employment, and attempts to reform this system have failed. Over the past two decades, workers have been paying more and more for healthcare, with rising premiums and out-of-pocket costs. The US healthcare system is more expensive and less effective at preventing avoidable deaths compared to other countries. Breaking the link between jobs and health insurance has proven difficult due to a combination of employer benefits, skepticism of government control, and a fear of losing current insurance. As a result, Americans continue to sign up for insurance plans through their employers, despite the frustrations and financial burdens it may impose.