I've lived in both situations (currently in the US) and I would say universal healthcare is absolutely essential for a first world nation to have. Tying it to your employment is most certainly a form of keeping people dependent.
The biggest concern I have is that there are many people in the US like you who simply cannot see this. It's a disgrace that a country as large and dominant as the US cannot take care of it's own. I honestly believe that the healthcare situation adds a strong undercurrent of stress to everyone's lives here in the US. It detracts from personal flexibility and makes things like extended travel or entrepreneurship even more risky.
Unless you've had the fortune of living with universal healthcare, it's difficult to understand the feeling of security knowing that no matter what happens to your health, you will be looked after without needing to go bankrupt in the process.
The biggest concern I have is that there are many people in the US like you who simply cannot see this. It's a disgrace that a country as large and dominant as the US cannot take care of it's own. I honestly believe that the healthcare situation adds a strong undercurrent of stress to everyone's lives here in the US. It detracts from personal flexibility and makes things like extended travel or entrepreneurship even more risky.
Unless you've had the fortune of living with universal healthcare, it's difficult to understand the feeling of security knowing that no matter what happens to your health, you will be looked after without needing to go bankrupt in the process.