Healthcare in the United States is tied to employment.
Posted by The Jimmy Dore Show, Checked
- Sources
- 4 support1 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 80%
The Jimmy Dore ShowAug 3, 2026
Multiple reliable sources show that most U.S. health coverage runs through employment: GAO reports most Americans rely on employer-sponsored coverage, and NCBI and Vox describe U.S. insurance as tied to jobs. The extracted claim is a faithful paraphrase of the passage's point, though sources say 'often' or 'majority' rather than 'all', and KFF notes the link is not always straightforward.
This claim is about the present, so it is judged as of the day it was checked.
What was said
… Well, the problem that I see with that, and I absolutely agree with you that that's the best course of action, however, we have really allowed ourselves to be put behind the eight ball because we've allowed ourselves in this country to develop a society in which things like healthcare are tied to our employment. So it is very scary for people to venture into even the thought of a mass protest or a mass strike or anything like that, because then you can't take your kid to the doctor, and you can't afford to pay your bills, and you can't buy groceries. …
The Jimmy Dore Show · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. GAO reports that a majority of Americans (about 55% in 2010) rely on employer-sponsored health coverage, and that having coverage tied to employment is a recognized concept ('job lock').[1]
Supports. An NCBI publication states that in the United States, health insurance is often tied to employment, and that job disruption causes many workers to lose coverage.[2]
Supports. Vox reports that 57% of Americans under 65 get insurance through their jobs and that the US is distinctive in tying insurance to employment, with reform attempts failing.[4]
Supports. A DOL ERISA Advisory Council report states that about two-thirds of the U.S. population is covered by employment-based medical plans, and describes the system as built on employer-based coverage since World War II.[3]
Context. KFF Health News notes that about 60% of Americans under 65 receive insurance through a job or family member's job, but that getting a job does not guarantee coverage, so the link is not always straightforward.[5]
Sources
5 sources: 3 primary, 1 tier 2, 1 not rated
- 1587152.txtgao.gov · primary source · cited for: supports
- 2The U.S. Health Disadvantage and Why It Matters to Business - NCBIwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › books › NBK568874ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · primary source · cited for: supports
- 3Advisory Council Report of the Working Group on ...dol.gov · primary source · cited for: supports
- 4Why is US health insurance tied to employment? - Voxvox.com · tier 2 · cited for: supports
- 5Thune Says Health Care Often 'Comes With a Job.' The Reality's Not ...kffhealthnews.org · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post