> the patient does not pay for insurance their employer does
Not really true, as the employer could otherwise pay that money to the employee who would then shop for his own insurance. So the employee pays, but doesn't have a choice.
Because they compete with other employers? If an employee costs X, it doesn't matter to the employer if X is all cash to the employee or split with the insurance provider.
The entire reason health insurance got so mixed up with employment was as a workaround to WW-II era wage freezes. Employers couldn't pay more salary, so they offered other benefits including insurance to attract and retain employees. Now we're stuck with that.
Not really true, as the employer could otherwise pay that money to the employee who would then shop for his own insurance. So the employee pays, but doesn't have a choice.