*shaking head*

[henry quirk]

"I don;t see how it is a complicated notion that the health insurance given to employees becomes their property - and it should be up to them how they use it."

When the employee leaves the business, does the insurance follow him or her, or does it end with employment?

If the employee loses the coverage with their employment then the benefit is a privilege offered by the employer, not the property totally controlled by the employee.

#

"My employer doesn't have to right to tell me how to spend what it pays me."

No, but your employer can stop paying you (for just cause).

And: if the employer acts as conduit for the coverage (it contracts with the insurer, not you; it bears the burden of meeting requirements, not you) then the employer is 'owner' of the coverage.

Again: the owner determines (or should determine) the nature of compensation he or she offers, not the employee.