Try the basic business argument for it. Health coverage has become a massive cost center inside American business. Not only are the benefits expensive, but you have to hire armies of benefits admins just to sort through the whole mess. It eats up a ridiculous amount of time and effort that could be going to the things that make you money. Also, people get so worked up over insufficient coverage and a system no one understands that it makes them less productive.
On top of that, if everyone just had health coverage no matter what, it would be a lot easier to attract talent, and it would encourage more entrepreneurship. Our current system stifles the ability of businesses to grow and pursue new opportunities.
Honestly, I’ve never understood why the business-wing on the right thinks putting employers on the hook for health benefits is a good idea. Seems like the sort of unfunded mandate on the private sector they should hate.
People: It’s money. And time, and personnel, which is money.
Everyone needs money. That’s why they call it money.
Big business loves tying health care to employment because big business loves regulations that hurt small business competition and competition for workers.
Mass Democrats get major support from hospital, insurance, finance, education. Will they go for single payer and lose their jobs?
Yes. The business case for single payer is incredibly logical, but businesses still value more power in the employer-employee relationship over the cost savings of a universal system disconnected from employment.
If heath care was not so connected to employment, I know a whole lot of people who would have left their jobs a while ago and/or taken a far less stressful job. Employers might not want to lose that leverage they have over their employees.
This assumes that the only options are business-provided health care and government-provided health care for which business pays part. Many businesses seem to be fine with an outcome where individuals have to pay for 100% of their own health care (or not receive it at all).