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Out-of-pocket costs. In-network. Non-preferred providers. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Shared insurance. Benefit advisers. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. HMO. Preferred Provider Organization. EPO. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. Flexible Spending Account. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. Explanation of Benefits. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. SHOP. Individual coverage. Dependent coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Baffled? You should be. Who understands this complex system? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Nor the typical worker. Choosing the right medical coverage for companies – or for our families – appears to require demands a PhD in medical insurance.

The Medical System Is More Than Complex, It Is Costly

According to a recent study, the average family spends $27,000 each year for their health insurance (increasing by 6% from last year). The average company healthcare expense is projected to exceed $seventeen thousand per employee in 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025.

Currently federal operations has ceased functioning because partisan disputes over subsidies that experts say could cause premium increases up to 100% for numerous US citizens.

When Might We Seriously Consider National Health Insurance?

How soon might we genuinely evaluate universal healthcare coverage here in America? I have to believe we're approaching that point because this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not suggesting national healthcare. I'm proposing for our current Medicare program – an established insurance framework – simply expand to cover everyone. Our infrastructure remains intact. The way our healthcare providers get paid changes. Believe me, they'll adapt.

How National Health Insurance Could Function

Universal healthcare coverage would require contributions from employees and employers. In similar programs, an employee earning average wages must contribute about 5.3% to their healthcare. Their employer pays about thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this seem expensive? Unless you contrast it to what the typical US resident spends. I know multiple clients who are easily contributing anywhere from 8% to 15% of payroll costs to their healthcare costs. Remember that in inclusive programs, these contributions include pension plans, sick pay, maternity leave and unemployment benefits along with funding medical services. When you add these expenses compared with our current spending on retirement programs, job loss coverage and vacation benefits, the difference decreases.

Execution in the US

For America, universal healthcare funding would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a system already established. It should be means-based – wealthier individuals would pay more than lower-income earners. This includes both an employee and employer contribution. Similar to many our government's military, IT, social programs and transportation services, the program could be managed by private contractors instead of a government office.

Benefits for Small Businesses

Universal healthcare coverage represents a huge benefit for small businesses like mine. It would put small companies in equal competition with our larger competitors that can pay for better plans. It would make administration much easier (a payroll deduction remitted like retirement and healthcare taxes, rather than individual transactions to insurance companies and coverage administrators).

It would enable it easier to plan expenses annual expenditures, rather than enduring the complex (and ineffective) process of negotiating with the big insurance providers that we must do each year. Due to simplification, there would exist improved comprehension about benefits among workers – contrasted with existing arrangements where they have to decipher the complications of existing plans. And there would definitely exist less liability for employers as we no longer would be privy to our employees' medical records for risk assessment and alternative plans.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as pro-market as possible. However I recognize that government has a significant role in society, including national security to funding needed infrastructure. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone through a national insurance system enhances economic foundations. It represents superior, easier system for entrepreneurs which hire the majority of the country's workers and generate half of our GDP. It makes it possible employees to be healthier, come to work more often and be more productive.

Addressing Concerns

Exist numerous factors I'm not addressing? Of course there are. Given all the healthcare cost increases experienced in recent years, it's clear that the Affordable Care Act isn't functioning effectively. I understand that America isn't a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms are easier to implement. However extending universal Medicare, even with increased taxation required, would remain a superior and more affordable strategy both for controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage to everyone.

Time for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, we need to tone down our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't so great. The US places well below many other countries in healthcare quality in the world, according to major studies. Perhaps a positive aspect in this current situation could be that we take serious examination at ourselves and acknowledge that big changes need to happen.