The ever-increasing cost of healthcare and the ever-increasing cost of health insurance premiums are making it increasingly difficult for employers to pay healthcare premiums for their employees. In the past, it was almost a given that employers would foot the bill for health insurance coverage. Health coverage was usually exceptional with little or no money paid out of pocket by the individual for insurance premiums. Those appear to be the “good old days,” with fewer and fewer employers shelling out money for health insurance premiums and demanding a higher percentage paid by the employee. Other employers are simply unable to financially provide health coverage to their employees and have stopped altogether. The first health insurance plans began during the Civil War in the mid-1800s, with the first plans covering only accidents related to train or steamboat travel. Eventually, the plans became more elaborate, covering all illnesses and injuries. In 1929, the first modern group health insurance plan was created. In Dallas, Texas, a group of teachers contracted with Baylor Hospital for room, board, and medical services in exchange for a monthly fee. And in 1932, Blue Cross and Blue Shield first offered group health insurance plans (Neurosurgical Medical Group, 2007). Employee health benefit plans flourished in the 1940s and 1950s. Unions bargained for better benefits, which included tax-free, employer-paid health insurance. When war broke out between 1939 and 1945, the government froze wages, which led to an increase in collective healthcare. Since employers have been unable to attract higher-wage employees, they have decided to improve their benefits package by adding health coverage. Gove... center of paper... Gery Medical Group. The history of health insurance in the United States. (2007). Retrieved from: http://www.neurosurgical.com/medical_history_and_ethics/history/history_of_health_insurance.htmThe Commonwealth Fund. New Report: Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Premiums Increase 119% from 1999 to 2008. (2009). Retrieved from http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/News/News-Releases/2009/Aug/Employer-Sponsored-Health-Insurance-Premiums-Increase-119-Percent.aspxTully, S. (2010). The documents reveal that AT&T, Verizon and others have considered eliminating employer-sponsored benefits. Fortune. Retrieved from http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/05/news/companies/dropping_benefits.fortune/Wolfe, L. (2011). Barack Obama's healthcare plan and its impact on employers. About.com Women in Business. Retrieved from http://womeninbusiness.about.com/od/womenspolitics/a/Obama-employers.htm