Dan Foster: ACA will benefit business

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In 1942, Congress passed a law that, unknowingly at the time, redefined American society. In addition to many other provisions, the Stabilization Act made it clear that wartime wage and price controls did not apply to fringe benefits, such as health insurance.

In a rush to compete for the best employees, many employers began to offer medical coverage as part of total compensation. This historical accident propelled the United States to become the only industrialized country in which employer-sponsored health insurance continues to play a major role. Statistics indicate that nearly 60 percent of insured Americans still get coverage through their employers, a rate that has decreased only slightly over the years with some state-to-state variability.