It's by design; we had salary caps during WWII so employers offered benefits. In the 1960s when healthcare costs began to rise there was a conversation around

It's by design; we had salary caps during WWII so employers offered benefits. In the 1960s when healthcare costs began to rise there was a conversation around changing it, but by 1970s it was concluded that on balance tying it to employment had benefits in reducing labor action (strikes), which was a big concern back then. We've stuck with it since.