Some Analysts, Consultants Say Current System of Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Likely To Continue

The New York Times on Monday examined how, despite the increased number of U.S. employers that are "abandoning their role in providing health insurance to their employees," the "current system of providing insurance to most working Americans through their employers is not likely to disappear. According to policy analysts and consultants, "none of the other possibilities, like a government-run plan or some new private-sector solution, have enough support to serve as a replacement," the Times reports.

Employers "are not about to get out of the business of providing health insurance to employees, even though they complain so loudly about it," Paul Ginsburg, president of the Center for Studying Health System Change, said.

Recent proposals to limit tax breaks for employers and employees for health insurance and make health coverage count toward income subject to Social Security taxes have prompted the "latest round of debate" on the issue, but "the political odds are against any major tax reforms occurring anytime soon," according to the Times (Abelson, New York Times, 12/5).