They were providing a “service”? Healthcare became part of the benefits required from the time that Kaiser shipyards began providing it— from WWII.
The size of the corp, like in all labor laws, determined the extent of coverage required, and paralelled the union participation (surprise, surprise).
It is no accident that Teddy Kennedy supported and created the HMO idea.....with designs to FAIL totally, with the ERISA statutes that protected HMO’s from liability suits— which also failed. End result— HMOs were a failure. Next step govt. healthcare managed by govt. paid for by -— why... everybody of course. Socialism writ large.
The employers are wiling participants and lobbyists in this socialism— it props up their bottom line as they cost shift the burden to... us the supposed taxpayers whom they have unemployed so that we cannot pay.
A useful parallel is the coal operators in the 20s and 30s who “cost shifted” their black lung liability expenses over to a NEW federal agency (created by their influence peddlers and Congress people) to over see a “trust fund” to pay for the medical care-— so THEY wouldn’t have to ever again. This is the SAME thing. And Mr. Subsidy— Warren Buffett is finally realizing how much he will lose if this goes through— his “bank” of insurance money will dry up, as will the supply of employees.
There was not and is not (at least before Obamacare) a law that requires employers to provide healthcare. It actually began as a matter of taxes and the employers figuring out a way around them as a means to induce employees to hire on. Just because you have a hard on against employers, HMOs, PPOs, or otherwise does not make them the bad guy. These were all responses to rising costs and the intrusion of government, and lawyers. Frankly, I don't give a crap about black lung, mesothelioma, or any of the lawyer enriching afflictions you decry. I don't give a crap about Warren Buffet, that dead bastard Kennedy or any of them that have vested financial or ideological interests. I only know you are paid (and benefited) what you are worth, and no amount of floor sweeping, wrench turning, French fry bagging or burger selling is gonna make you worth any more than that. Government, employers, capitalism doesn't owe you sh!t except to compensate you for what you are worth. If you want better for everybody, you could go to England and try and fight off the Muslims.