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> Not to mention the millions of people locked into careers they would otherwise get out of, if not for the health coverage. Replying with a throwaway for obvi
by throwaway22424 7y ago
> Not to mention the millions of people locked into careers they would otherwise get out of, if not for the health coverage.
Replying with a throwaway for obvious reasons. I work at one of the big tech companies -- I'm paid well, but the benefits are very good. I just got an offer from a startup that I really like. It's a job I would like to take.
I'm going to have to turn down the offer. Part of the reason I'm going to have to turn it down is that even though it offers insurance, its coverage isn't as good as what I have and the subsidy offered will add $15k a year minimum to my health care expenses. My partner needs surgery (an expensive surgery), and I'm the primary bread-winner (for now) -- I have to make pragmatic decisions because of stuff like healthcare, even at the expense of my own aspirations.
And to be clear, my scenario is significantly better than so many others who are stuck in truly terrible places (where I work is not terrible by a longshot) or in careers they would like to change, because the truth is, health care in the US is a joke.
- JMTQp8lwXL 7y agoSounds like this could be solved, if the startup could offer a higher base salary, bonus, or a combination.
- charwalker 7y agoYes, but that isn't the root cause is it? Even if the current employer is big enough to negotiate lower prices or deals for its coverage and that's a barrier to entry for the startup, both companies could be set one a level field in a universal healthcare system removing this cost center from both companies. Even if the cost is (partially) rolled into something like payroll or income taxes, it would still impact the big company and the startup much more equitably. Barriers to entry are one item this site and many of its users and are fighting to better disrupt industries and create value. If you can't get talent because you can't provide healthcare and a solution for that exists in most developed nations (universal care), why are we not engaging that?
- hardtke 7y agoLarge employers are self insured. The insurance companies just manage the benefits. In that sense there is no negotiation, beyond a manager fee. Price is determined by health of employees and benefit level.
- kelnos 7y agoI'm assuming the unspoken point here is that, after negotiation, the startup couldn't make up for enough of the difference for the parent to be able to seriously consider them.
- sheeshkebab 7y agoInsurance on healthcare.gov is really not bad - just get $20k more from startup and buy your own insurance. Assuming idiot republicans don’t fuck it up in the next few months.