Employees’ State Insurance is a self-financing social security and health insurance scheme for Indian workers.
It is one of the most effective and sustainable social measures available to the workmen employed in industrial and commercial establishments of varying sizes and nature.
It provides comprehensive full medical care and reasonable economic assistance to the beneficiaries in contingencies like hazards of sickness, maternity, disablement and death due to employment injury.
The top benefits of Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) include:
- People with ESI are generally happy with it
- ESI is an equitable way to provide insurance coverage without government involvement
- ESI encourages labor force participation and employee retention
Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) summary
ESI is mostly offered to specific types of employees such as higher income, larger businesses, or unionized employees. The cover is based on the employers own eligibility criteria limiting government involvement.
As the number of full-time jobs offering insurance cover decreases, ESI can serve as a great way of retaining and attracting best talents, consequently decreasing the turnover rates. It also reduces the taxable income, hence much valuable to taxpayers.
Questions
Q1. More than 90 percent of the privately insured, nonelderly population in the U.S. receives group coverage through the workplace. Which one of the following statements is not true about employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) in the U.S.?
a. The workplace is an ideal setting for risk pooling; workers are typically healthier than non-workers are.
b. Group coverage provides administrative savings.
c. Employees will not purchase insurance voluntarily. The employer must be involved.
d. ESI receives favorable tax treatment when the employer pays the premium.
Answer: Employees will not purchase insurance voluntarily. The employer must be involved.
Q2. Some policy makers would like us to believe several myths about employer-sponsored insurance. Which of the following statement is not a myth, but true?
a. Under ESI, employers pay the health insurance premium.
b. Like all business expenses, employers pass on the cost of ESI to customers as higher prices and workers as lower wages.
c. Employer mandates lead to the creation of more higher-paying jobs in the service sector of the economy.
d. Health benefits are a free employee benefit under ESI.
Answer: Like all business expenses, employers pass on the cost of ESI to customers as higher prices and workers as lower wages.
