Most people in this country obtain health insurance through employer-sponsored plans. Although the historical background you just read explains how this system came about, it does not discuss whether it is a good or bad thing. Is our reliance on employer-sponsored health insurance ideal for individuals?

Providers? Employers? Society? What are the benefits and drawbacks to having employers as the primary source of health insurance? How different are the benefits and drawbacks when considered from various stakeholder perspectives? Would it be better to have more federal government involvement in providing health insurance? What primary policy goal would you use to decide how to answer these questions?