I can't believe the American healthcare system has reached this level of madness

A close friend of mine was on a job interview. The job is going well and he will probably get it. The only condition is that he has to provide proof of health insurance. He does have proof. But it is not enough. They want him to sign up for theirs immediately after starting the job, or his first paycheck will be delayed. So basically he has no choice.<br><br>This is the part where I couldn't believe my ears: he has to authorise them to deduct the insurance money directly from his salary. Why? Because they don't send papers to his house. No, they only send him a link where he can print them. And that link can only be used at work. Why is that? Because "that is the company policy".<br><br>So, basically the US has reached the level that a potential employee needs to accept a new job with all its conditions and obligations BEFORE getting any information about the company at all.<br><br>I can't even imagine the situation when he refuses to authorise them to deduct the money. Will they simply fire him? Or will they withhold his first paycheck? I really wonder.<br><br>I have heard so many horror stories about US healthcare. I never believed any of them. I was convinced that they couldn't be true. This one just happened to me.