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Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Non-preferred providers. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. PPO. EPO. Point of Service. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. FSA. HRA. EOB. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Dependent coverage. Premium tax credits.

Baffled? You should be. Who comprehends all this stuff? Not the typical business owner. Nor the typical employee. Choosing the right healthcare insurance for companies – or for households – seems like it requires a PhD in healthcare.

Our Medical System Is More Than Complex, It Is Costly

According to recent research, typical households pays $twenty-seven thousand annually for their health insurance (increasing by 6% from last year). Typical company healthcare expense is expected to surpass $17,000 for each worker by 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025.

Now federal operations has ceased functioning because partisan disputes regarding subsidies that experts say could cause premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Will We Seriously Consider Universal Healthcare?

How soon might we seriously consider a national health insurance program here in America? I'm convinced we're approaching that point because this can't continue.

I'm not suggesting government-run medicine. I'm proposing that our already existing Medicare program – an established insurance framework – merely extend to cover everyone. The existing system remains intact. How medical professionals receive payment changes. Trust me, they will adjust.

The Way National Health Insurance Would Work

Universal healthcare coverage would need payments from both workers and companies. In comparable systems, an employee making moderate income must contribute approximately 5.3% toward medical coverage. The company pays approximately 13.75%.

Does this appear like a lot? Unless you compare it to what average US resident spends. I can name multiple clients that are routinely paying anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of payroll costs for medical benefits. And keep in mind that in inclusive programs, those payments also cover pension plans, illness coverage, maternity leave and job loss protection in addition to supporting medical services. When you add these expenses compared with our current spending on retirement programs, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits, the gap narrows.

Implementation in the US

For America, a national health premium would increase our Medicare tax deduction, a system that is already in place. It ought to be means-based – wealthier individuals would contribute higher amounts than lower-income earners. There would be both an employee and company payments. And, like much of federal military, technology, social programs and infrastructure, the system could be managed to third-party administrators rather than federal agencies.

Benefits for Entrepreneurs

A national health insurance program would be a significant advantage for small businesses such as my company. It would place us on a level playing field with our larger competitors that can pay for superior coverage. It would make administration much easier (automatic payroll withholding remitted like retirement and healthcare taxes, rather than individual transactions to insurance companies and insurance providers).

It would enable simpler to plan expenses annual expenditures, instead of going through the complicated (and fruitless) process of negotiating with the big insurance providers required annually every year. Because it's simplified, there would be improved comprehension about benefits among workers – as opposed to the current system which require them to decipher the complexities of existing plans. And there would certainly be reduced responsibility for employers as we no longer have access to our employees' health histories for weighing risks and alternative plans.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as pro-market as they get. But I've learned that government play important functions in our lives, from providing defense to funding essential systems. Providing healthcare to all through a national insurance system enhances our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, simpler approach for entrepreneurs that employ the majority of the country's workers and fund half of our GDP. It enables for workers to be healthier, come to work more often and be more productive.

Considering Challenges

Exist numerous factors I haven't covered? Certainly. But with rising medical expenses we've seen in recent years, it's evident that the Affordable Care Act isn't functioning effectively. And I realize that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms can be readily adopted. But expanding Medicare for all, despite the additional taxes required, would still be a better and less expensive approach both for controlling healthcare costs but providing access to everyone.

Need for Honest Assessment

We as Americans, we need to reduce our own arrogance. America's medical care isn't exceptional. We rank significantly behind numerous nations with the best healthcare globally, based on major studies. Perhaps a positive aspect in this current situation is that we undertake serious examination in the mirror and agree that major reforms need to happen.