Technically, you just need money to pay for it. However, buying the employer’s choice lets you pay for premiums with pre tax funds, and the employer usually subsidizes 70% of the premiums.
So for an individual, it is roughly a $10k per year benefit to get it via employer and for a family of 4, $40k per year benefit.
So for an individual, it is roughly a $10k per year benefit to get it via employer and for a family of 4, $40k per year benefit.