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Yep, that's something we're in agreement on. Health insurance has no natural association with employment except perhaps very indirectly that a business is served better by healthy employees.
Insurance covers individuals, yet the policies are written for a group. That doesn't make sense. Someone financially responsible might choose a high deductible plan and pay for the usual and expected checkups and trivial health issues out of pocket, while someone less financially responsible might pick a higher cost plan with a lower deductible/copay. Most employers have a few options to pick from, but that's unnecessary if insurance covers individuals instead of groups. It should be more like auto insurance; you pick the coverage you're comfortable with and pay the associated premium.
We're probably headed toward single payor universal health, and I'm not necessarily opposed to it. It still leaves room in the market to purchase more/different/better care. The downside of universal health is the abandonment of personal responsibility, and liberty. If the taxpayors are footing the bill, then they have a say in your lifestyle choices, and they certainly have a say in how much to spend on everything, including end of life decisions.
I can imagine it being illegal to smoke, be overweight, or refuse vaccination. It's like living in someone else's house, you have to live by their rules.
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