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CL says

Don't employers offer insurance as a retention strategy anyway, a perk?

When unemployment is this high, you don't need a retention strategy.

Um, no!, lol. Unless your a big shot. I know guys who are in their 50's, and 60's paying $600 a month for man and wife. It's the law you have to offer an insurance plan or plans. At Walmart for example they just make sure they are working you part time. If you are part time they do not have to offer you health insurance. A friend who recently started working at Walmart told them he does not want it, gets it through his wife's job, so they let him work 40 hours now.
I could be a little off on what I say here, I know the laws may change, I hear more employers will go to part time employees so they do not have to offer health care benefits.

everything says

I know guys who are in their 50's, and 60's paying $600 a month for man and wife.

Sadly, if they are in their 60's they are getting it cheap or have really high deductibles.

How are premiums calculated? If premiums are going up, why wouldn't the insurers just always have charged more, since they could?

CL says

Don't employers offer insurance as a retention strategy anyway, a perk?

I like to watch HR people's jaw drop when I inform them that me paying $1400 a month is hardly a Benefit to me. Especially when I can coverage on the open market for cheaper.

American company benefits are like being couped up in a car on a long road trip with Rossie Odonald as she wolfs down Boiled shrimp and deviled eggs.

It stinks!

What 401K worth less than it was 5 years ago
Insurance premiums that go up every year, while you take pay cuts.
Then if you're lucky you'll be laid off 2 years before retirement.
But you get that HCSA though, gotta love that, your money in the bank that you have to ask permission to spend.

Yay America, way to fuck the team.

CL says

What happens to employees if an employer DOES drop their insurance, either due to fears of Obamacare or simply due to rising costs? Do the employees pick up their own insurance?

It appears, based on a myriad of news articles as of late, that more employers are are giving employees a fixed amount of money to cover or help cover a health insurance plan of their chosice, a plan the employees feel meets their individual needs better than plans that are traditionally offered to employees based on agreed upon coverage between the employer and health insurance companies. It's called defined contribution. This is something a lot of smaller businesses do for their employees since they can't afford to provide health insurance for them, but it seems that defined contribution is starting to appeal to medium and and large businesses as well. Sears Holdings and Darden Concepts have chosen to start going the defined contribution route.

CaptainShuddup says

Yay America, way to fuck the team.

More like, Yay Wall Street! Since medicine is for profit, they can charge whatever the hell they want.

Companies that offer insurance will continue to do so. The way to retain good employees is to offer good benefits. There's so much hype about Obamacare it's crazy. It will cover more people and allow them to be healthier.

You know, like Romney's horse. Except not as well cared for.

elliemae says

Companies that offer insurance will continue to do so. The way to retain good employees is to offer good benefits.

Actually, healthcare coverage comprises just one of many benefits that's offered to employees.

If they really wanted to do away with it and move to defined contribution while leaving the other benefits intact, then I don't think that's something that would hurt them in terms of hiring and retention. I think the employees would probably liked defined contribution a lot better and it'd help save employers in the long run.

CL says

How are premiums calculated? If premiums are going up, why wouldn't the insurers just always have charged more, since they could?

By age, gender, and wether or not you smoke

Sounds like some solid risk assessment, NOT

Dietary and lifestyle inputs don't seem to matter when it comes to paying ones fair share, even though they are the main driving forces that determine your health

Biggest. Boondoggle. Ever