Changing jobs has really confirmed my biases against employer-sponsored benefits (especially, but not just, health) - and the tax system that encourages all of them.

I've spent abt 2 mos 1) trying to clear out the acct balances tied to my old job (& no longer open for new claims); 2) trying to set up the exact same things for my new job (but now w $0 balances); 3) trying to eliminate gaps in coverage (I was unemployed for 6 days!). Crazy.

There are a lot of reasons why economic dynamism in the USA is struggling these days, but this stuff has gotta be a contributor. Makes changing jobs burdensome at best and terrifying at worst.

Now if you'll excuse me I need to get back to figuring out if I have to pay a small fortune for a whole MONTH of COBRA to ensure that I had no gaps in health coverage when I took a 6-day funemployment break over the July 4 weekend.