Not really. Employer-paid benefits are in fact income and should be taxed as such. Removing the tax break for non-cash benefits would be an important step toward unhooking from the third-party payment system, which is a big part of the health care problem.
If we are going to subsidize health insurance at all (which IMHO we should not, except for low-income individuals), the subsidy should be equalized for people whose employers don't cover them.
There is no reason why Joe, who works for GM, Intel, or the government, should receive tax-subsidized health care while Sam, who works for the corner laundry, does not. In fact, Joe is probably making a lot more to begin with. While there are certainly exceptions to the rule, the tax treatment of health insurance is a classic regressive subsidy.
so let's use the tax to punish everyone down to a level where they are getting crappy coverage. that sounds like your plan.
I work for the Federal government and I get no healthcare coverage, nor am I allowed to buy into the Federal plan.
The only Federal health coverage I have is if I am injured on the job.
Personally, I think that Joe is a bit more astute than Sam....A benefit is just that a benefit. In a free system we make the cognitive decision to work at the corner grocer or for a company that offers non taxable benefits. Unfortunately, Our two party system has evolved into a choice between which type of socialism do you prefer. One party represents those that are waiting for the next political handout and the other is determined to undermine our middle class in the spirit of globalization. I think this is a huge issue that the Freepers need to take notice of.