Millions of Americans are sitting on a business idea, a band, a novel or a little studio they’d love to open, and the only thing stopping them is that quitting their job means losing their health insurance.
We tied healthcare to employment by accident.
During World War II, the government froze wages, so companies started offering health insurance to compete for workers. That became the whole system, and about 154 million Americans under 65 now get coverage through their boss.
Even Barack Obama and Ted Cruz, who agree on basically nothing, both called it a historical accident.
Economists have a name for what it does to people: “entrepreneurship lock.”
Researchers found that business ownership jumps right when workers turn 65 and qualify for Medicare. They checked every other birthday between 55 and 75. No jump.
So people are waiting until retirement age to chase the dream, because that’s the first moment they can do it without gambling their health.
Republicans love to talk about freedom. But your freedom to quit a bad job, start a company or spend a year making art depends on whether your boss keeps you covered. Get fired, lose your doctor.
Imagine how many restaurants, startups, albums and paintings never happened because someone couldn’t risk losing their insurance.
Bernie has been fighting for this for decades. AOC and Mamdani are carrying it forward. The renaissance is within reach.
Author: Saikat Bhattacharya
