They are probably PAYING to work, add up all the costs associated with the job - commuting, higher taxes on higher income, any "extra" clothing. Do they pay into the retirement fund?
You do realize that the money going into your Medical Savings Account is YOUR money and all you get is the tax savings? I think the trend will be in that direction but people need to remember that it is not "free money". Our retiree plan went to high deductible last year and let us contribute to a HSA. Part of the program is that you have to take a greater role in your healthcare because you are playing with your own money now. Question every medication your doctor wants you on and question every blood test he/she wants. They are largely still operating under the "old way" where everything was covered...you are not. I learned the hard way last year. A routine physical cost me $2,100 (mostly lab work) which with my new $3,000 deductible came from me. Just got the bill for this year's and have yet to open it but I did push back on what was being done.
Growing up you didn't need it because nobody else had it either. Then it became an employment "perk" and with time everybody had it. During that time clinics and hospitals got bigger and bigger, the number of tests increased and the cost of healthcare skyrocketed. Now the trend for health insurance coverage is downward yet the costs continue to increase. Kinda wish they hadn't monkeyed with it to begin with.
