🔗 Share this article

Deductibles. Preferred providers. Out-of-network. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Co-payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Medical advisors. Affordable Care Act. HMO. PPO. EPO. Point of Service. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. FSA. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. SHOP. Single coverage. Dependent coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Confused? It's understandable. Who comprehends all this stuff? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Neither the average employee. Selecting the right healthcare insurance for our business – or for our families – seems like it requires advanced expertise in medical insurance.

The Medical System Isn't Just Complicated, It's Costly

According to recent research, typical households pays $twenty-seven thousand annually for their health insurance (up 6% compared to last year). Typical employer health insurance cost is expected to surpass $seventeen thousand per employee in 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025.

Now the government is shut down due to partisan disputes over subsidies that experts say could cause a doubling of premiums for numerous US citizens.

When Might We Truly Examine Universal Healthcare?

When will we genuinely evaluate a national health insurance program here in America? I have to believe we're approaching that point since this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not proposing government-run medicine. I'm proposing for our current Medicare system – an insurance system – simply expand to cover everyone. The existing system remains intact. How our healthcare providers get paid would change. Trust me, they will adjust.

The Way National Health Insurance Could Function

Universal healthcare coverage would require contributions from both workers and companies. In comparable systems, a worker making moderate income pays about 5.3% to their healthcare. The company must contribute about thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this seem expensive? Unless you compare that with what average US resident spends. I can name dozens of clients who are easily contributing anywhere from 8% to 15% of their employee wages to their healthcare costs. And keep in mind that in comprehensive systems, these contributions include pension plans, illness coverage, maternity leave and unemployment benefits along with funding healthcare facilities. When you add these expenses versus our current spending for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits, the difference decreases.

Execution in the US

For America, universal healthcare funding would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a framework that is already in place. It should be income-adjusted – wealthier individuals would pay more than lower-income earners. There would be both worker and employer contribution. Similar to much of our government's military, IT, welfare services and infrastructure, the program could be managed by private contractors instead of federal agencies.

Advantages for Small Businesses

A national health insurance program represents a significant advantage for small businesses like mine. It would place small companies in equal competition against big corporations that can pay for superior coverage. It would render administration much easier (a payroll deduction remitted like social security and Medicare taxes, instead of separate payments to insurance companies and coverage administrators).

It would make simpler for us to budget annual expenditures, instead of enduring the complicated (and ineffective) process of negotiating with major insurers required annually every year. Due to simplification, there would be a better understanding of coverage by our employees – contrasted with existing arrangements which require them to interpret the complexities of current options. And there would definitely exist reduced responsibility for companies as we no longer would be privy to workers' medical records for weighing risks and different options.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as capitalist as possible. However I recognize that public institutions play important functions in our lives, including national security to supporting essential systems. Providing healthcare for everyone via universal healthcare strengthens economic foundations. It's a better, easier system for entrepreneurs which hire more than half of the country's workers and generate half the economic output. It makes it possible employees to enjoy better health, come to work more often and be more productive.

Considering Challenges

Are there a million considerations I'm not addressing? Certainly. Given all the healthcare cost increases experienced recently, it's evident that current healthcare legislation isn't functioning very well. And I realize that America isn't a compact European nation where major reforms are easier to implement. However extending Medicare for all, even with increased taxation that would be incurred, would remain a superior and less expensive strategy both for managing medical expenses but providing access for all citizens.

Need for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, must reduce our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't exceptional. The US places well below numerous nations with the best healthcare in the world, based on major studies. Perhaps a positive aspect in this present circumstances could be that we undertake serious examination in the mirror and agree that major reforms need to happen.