Health care costs are increasing at twice the rate of inflation and today lifetime employment is almost nonexistent. The average American, by age 42, will change jobs 11 times. To stay away from the increasing health care costs, companies are forced to raise their employees’ premiums and deductibles, use cheaper insurance plans or just drop health benefits altogether. According to the Wall Street Journal, the percentage of employers providing health insurance since 2000 has declined by 10%.

Most Americans think that the only option is to get insurance through their employer, but that is false. The employer based system is inefficient and each employer purchases health insurance separately. Employees aren’t given a choice on which provider to use and don’t have the option of giving their business to insurance companies that treat them well and cover what they need. More than half of all American employers who offer some sort of health care benefits don’t offer their employees a choice.

Americans do like the benefits of the employer based system: not being denied coverage because of age and pre-existing conditions and the security of being part of a large group. But Americans also need coverage that follows them when they change jobs, lose jobs, start a business or whatever else might happen. Portable insurance that goes with them through these changes and doesn’t end because they are no longer with a specific company is what Americans should be shopping for. They need more choices, more options so that they can pick and choose what they need. With individual health insurance you can decide what you need in your plan and don’t have to worry about losing that coverage if your job changes. Portable insurance is more secure.