system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why are employers the ones providing insurance under Obamacare?

In the wake of all of craziness following the Hobby Lobby ruling earlier this week, I'm very confused as to why employers are involved in this at all. Are all employers supposed to provide healthcare? Why is this even an issue in the first place?

Also, I'd like everyone to stay as politically neutral as possible, please!
gpt
The story for the current system in the U.S. has its roots in WWII. There were so many people needed for the war effort and it was difficult for companies to compete with the government's hiring. Companies increased wages to try to entice workers but the government then put a temporary ban on wage increases. The companies' work-around for this was to offer health insurance (non-wage benefits), which are tax deductible for companies, in addition to wages in order to entice workers. The employer-based system stuck and at this point it would be a monumental undertaking to switch to another system.