You think that my employer will give me a raise now for something that they no longer have to pay for? I don’t. So now his plan has just increased my cash outlay every year and its a deduction, not a credit so I may get back 0.30 cents on every dollar.
You're not getting a raise. Your medical dollars are being transferred to your own control.
“You think that my employer will give me a raise now for something that they no longer have to pay for? I don’t”
I agree. Also how many people could afford the $1000-1400 per month for a decent family coverage? I know some people will come back and say theirs is only $350 per month but not everyone is 23 years old and and in perfect health.