Yes, employers during WW2 started offering health care as a fringe benefit because the US had wage caps. Even earlier, the government required licensing of doctors, the original purpose of which was to drive out Jewish and Black doctors.

https://www.amazon.com/Competition-Monopoly-Medical-Care-Fre...

But the big government push into health care happened in the 60's.

Another big driver of American health care costs is the FDA:

https://www.amazon.com/Regulation-Pharmaceutical-Innovation-...

P.S. The original reason for government medical certification of doctors was to push jewish and black doctors out of business.

See "Competition & Monopoly in Medical Care" by Frech https://www.amazon.com/Competition-Monopoly-Medical-Care-Fre...

Regulation is not always done in the best interests of the public. It's a blunt, and dangerous, weapon.

The massive regulation and government interference in health care in the US has definitely resulted in companies gaming it for profit.

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2009/09/how-ame...

https://www.amazon.com/Competition-Monopoly-Medical-Care-Fre...

https://www.amazon.com/Regulation-Pharmaceutical-Innovation-...