Employee benefits typically cost companies 3X what your salary is.
That is what the HR person fed us ..... lol.
Health benefits are crucial. Always good to have more than one option IMHO. Medical bills are crazy $$$ now a days for sure.
I remember my uncle had a small business of his own and never got health insurance. Stomach cancer killed him, but he racked up a HUGE debt..... he had to pay it out of his pocket!
No one would touch him until he gave them a lot of $ up front for the operation(s) he needed......... in the end he starved to death. Cancer didn't kil him - he couldn't digest food any more. Not a fun way to go.
If I had to change jobs (knock on wood) the benefits would be pretty important to me. My wife has pretty good health plan and we are all on it. Dental plan - my company is better.
Don't skimp on coverage and ALWAYS get the long term disablity insurance.... cost less than a couple of drinks a month.... well worth it!!