johnnydoom They get taxes withheld that cover the insurance, thus not free at all. That tax comes from being based on their salary and from it.
Best case is where you do not pay anything out of salary, and no tax for such medical, and your employer's ins. picks up full tab, every time, any time. Never an OOP.
I used to work in a Union shop and we had such. I'm sure that is a thing of the past with all companies.