> is a consequence of tax policy; health insurance benefits are untaxed income, a tax policy often attributed to powerful unions in the early 20th century. I c

> is a consequence of tax policy; health insurance benefits are untaxed income, a tax policy often attributed to powerful unions in the early 20th century. I can't remember where I heard it, but IIRC employer-sponsored health benefits had to do with a fringe benefit that employers could give to attract employees during a national wage freeze (perhaps WW2). I just found this timeline[1] that confirms my broken memory (@see 1943). [1] https://www.ebri.org/publications/facts/index.cfm?fa=0302fact https://www.ebri.org/publications/facts/index.cfm?fa=0302fac...