When many employers stop offering health insurance to their employees... [View all]

[riderinthestorm]

I believe that more than a few employers will find it more cost effective and efficient to simply pay the penalty rather than continue offering health insurance. Since everyone will be mandated to purchase it elsewhere and insurers will be mandated to give it to them, the employers will get out of offering it. Remember no one could have foreseen the end of defined pension benefits even 25 years ago and now its a rare thing as most employers moved to a 401k system. The demise of unions will facilitate this action by employers since no union will remain strong enough to oppose the change for long.

So, with that stipulated, I believe the demand for single payer will ultimately be driven by employers. Why?

Sooner or later they're going to resist paying the $3,000 per person penalty. They will begin to wonder why health insurance was ever coupled with employment and will begin to chafe.

I believe Vermont's example offering a public option will be a shining beacon and other states (and corporations) will see and understand. Most multinational corporations like GM for example are already in favor of single payer because they've seen the cost effectiveness of Japanese companies up close and personal. They know how much this will increase their global competitiveness.

I'd be happy to be proven wrong but I believe in 10 years we will see a real change in attitudes and it will come from the top management - probably the only "trickle down" benefit I'll ever see in my whole life.