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Deductibles. Preferred providers. Non-preferred providers. Premium health services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Co-payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. Preferred Provider Organization. EPO. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. Flexible Spending Account. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. Explanation of Benefits. COBRA. SHOP. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Premium tax credits.

Baffled? You should be. Who comprehends all this stuff? Certainly not the average business owner. Neither the average worker. Choosing the appropriate healthcare insurance for our business – or for our families – seems like it requires advanced expertise in healthcare.

The Healthcare System Isn't Just Complicated, It Is Costly

Based on a recent study, typical households spends $27,000 annually on medical coverage (increasing by 6% from last year). Typical employer health insurance cost is projected to surpass $seventeen thousand per employee in 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025.

Now federal operations is shut down because partisan disputes over subsidies that experts say will lead to premium increases up to 100% for numerous US citizens.

When Might We Truly Examine National Health Insurance?

How soon might we seriously consider universal healthcare coverage here in America? I have to believe we're getting closer since this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not suggesting national healthcare. I'm proposing for our current Medicare system – an insurance system – merely extend to include all citizens. The existing system doesn't change. The way our healthcare providers receive payment would change. Trust me, they will adjust.

The Way Universal Coverage Would Work

A national health insurance program would require contributions from employees and employers. In similar programs, a worker earning average wages must contribute approximately 5.3% toward medical coverage. The company must contribute approximately thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this appear expensive? Unless you compare it to what average US resident spends. I can name multiple clients that are easily contributing anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of payroll costs to their healthcare costs. Remember that in comprehensive systems, these contributions also cover retirement benefits, illness coverage, maternity leave and job loss protection in addition to funding healthcare facilities. When including these expenses versus our current spending for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and paid time off, the difference decreases.

Execution in the US

For America, a national health premium would increase existing Medicare taxes, a framework that is already in place. It ought to be income-adjusted – wealthier individuals would contribute higher amounts than those earning less. There would be both an employee and company payments. And, like much of federal defense, IT, welfare services and infrastructure, the system could be managed to third-party administrators instead of a government office.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

Universal healthcare coverage would be a significant advantage for entrepreneurs such as my company. It would put us on a level playing field with our larger competitors that can pay for superior coverage. It would make management significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding processed similarly to retirement and healthcare taxes, rather than individual transactions to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would make it easier to plan expenses our yearly costs, instead of going through the complex (and ineffective) theater of bargaining with the big insurance providers that we must do every year. Because it's simplified, there would be a better understanding of coverage among workers – as opposed to existing arrangements where they have to decipher the complexities of current options. Additionally there would certainly be less liability for employers as we no longer would be privy to our employees' medical records for risk assessment and alternative plans.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as capitalist as they get. But I've learned that government has a significant role in our lives, from providing defense to supporting essential systems. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone via universal healthcare strengthens our economy's infrastructure. It represents superior, easier system for entrepreneurs which hire more than half of the country's workers and fund half of our GDP. It makes it possible employees to be healthier, have better attendance and increase productivity.

Considering Challenges

Are there a million considerations I'm not addressing? Certainly. Given rising medical expenses we've seen recently, it's evident that current healthcare legislation isn't functioning effectively. And I realize that America isn't a compact European nation where big changes can be readily adopted. However extending Medicare for all, even with increased taxation required, would remain a better and more affordable strategy both for managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Need for Honest Assessment

We as Americans, we need to reduce national pride. Our healthcare system isn't so great. The US places well below many other countries in healthcare quality globally, based on comprehensive research. Perhaps a bright spot in this present circumstances is that we take a hard look in the mirror and acknowledge that big changes need to happen.