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In America your job is tied to your medical benefits. Lots of people would like to just move but can't because their job provides medical insurance. And they mi
by dalore 10y ago
In America your job is tied to your medical benefits. Lots of people would like to just move but can't because their job provides medical insurance. And they might have a preexisting condition preventing them from getting medical insurance elsewhere easily.
So this economics that balances out the part of life you mention, is reduced since people are less mobile due to medical insurance.
If medical insurance was provided by the state (like in most other countries), you would see more people moving where it would be more efficient for them (and the economy) to work.
- matthewmacleod 10y agoI'm not so familiar with the US healthcare system, but I was under the impression that the ACA meant that pre-existing conditions were much less of an issue? In any case, I'm not sure the conclusion follows. We see exactly the same pattern in the UK, where healthcare is almost entirely public. What the calculation fails to take into account, IMO, are other factors – someone who has lived in a location for a long time may be skeptical of moving, simply because they have roots (homes, friends, family, social groups etc.) and disrupting that is hard.
- dalore 10y agoYes disrupting social inertia is hard. But it's compounded in the states with medical insurance tied to their job. It's yet one more thing preventing people from moving, even if they want to. Not only that, if you move in the states you will want a job already lined up. If you build up a bunch of savings and then move to find a new job you won't be covered and so it's more of a risk.
- vonmoltke 10y agoI can tell you that medical insurance is about #5 on my list of reasons I am not moving without a job lined up. I think you are overstating the importance of medical coverage and understating the other factors that come with an out-of-area move.
- dalore 10y agoIt's number #5 for you, but it's still on your list. If you had a preexisting expensive medical condition, it would be #1 on your list. Most other countries, it's not even considered a factor.
- vonmoltke 10y agoI have a pre-existing condition. Don't presume to judge me based on the inflated importance you give to medical coverage. And so what if it is on my list? Taking it off removes so little friction that it is effectively irrelevant.
- maxerickson 10y agoYeah, it's now possible to get insurance for individuals with preexisting conditions. It's pretty expensive though, I'm not sure a lot of people would leave a job that included healthcare as a benefit to move to another area and look for a job.
- vonmoltke 10y agoMy understanding is that the only thing ACA exchange plans are allowed to charge extra for is tobacco use.
- awjr 10y agoI've seen this raised as a big issue with enabling a more flexible workforce.