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Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Out-of-network. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Medical advisors. ACA. HMO. PPO. EPO. Point of Service. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. FSA. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. Explanation of Benefits. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Small Business Health Options Program. Single coverage. Dependent coverage. Premium tax credits.

Baffled? It's understandable. Who understands this complex system? Not the typical business owner. Neither the average employee. Selecting the appropriate medical coverage for companies – or for our families – appears to require demands a PhD in medical insurance.

Our Healthcare System Isn't Just Complex, It Is Costly

According to a recent study, typical households spends $27,000 each year on medical coverage (increasing by 6% from last year). The average company healthcare expense is projected to exceed $seventeen thousand per employee in 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025.

Currently federal operations has ceased functioning due to partisan disputes regarding tax credits that experts say could cause a doubling of premiums for millions of Americans.

When Will We Seriously Consider National Health Insurance?

When will 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 proposing government-run medicine. I'm advocating that our already existing Medicare system – an established insurance framework – merely extend to include all citizens. Our infrastructure doesn't change. The way our healthcare providers receive payment would change. Trust me, they'll adapt.

How Universal Coverage Would Work

A national health insurance program would need payments from both employees and employers. In similar programs, an employee earning moderate income pays about 5.3% to their healthcare. Their employer pays approximately 13.75%.

Does this appear like a lot? Not if you contrast that with what average American pays. I know multiple businesses that are easily contributing anywhere from 8% to 15% of their employee wages for medical benefits. Remember that with inclusive programs, those payments also cover pension plans, sick pay, maternity leave and unemployment benefits along with supporting healthcare facilities. When you add those costs compared with our current spending on retirement programs, job loss coverage and paid time off, the gap narrows.

Execution in the US

For America, a national health premium would raise existing Medicare taxes, a system that is already in place. It ought to be income-adjusted – those at higher income levels would contribute higher amounts than lower-income earners. This includes both worker and company payments. Similar to many our government's military, IT, social programs and infrastructure, the system should be outsourced to third-party administrators instead of a government office.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

A national health insurance program represents a significant advantage for small businesses like mine. It would put small companies in equal competition against big corporations that can pay for superior coverage. It would make management significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding remitted like social security and healthcare taxes, instead of separate payments to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would make it easier to plan expenses annual expenditures, rather than enduring the complex (and fruitless) theater of bargaining with major insurers that we must do every year. Because it's simplified, there would be a better understanding about benefits among workers – contrasted with existing arrangements where they have to interpret the complications of existing plans. Additionally there would certainly be reduced responsibility for employers since we wouldn't would be privy to our employees' health histories for purposes of risk assessment and different options.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as pro-market as possible. However I recognize that government play important functions in our lives, including national security to supporting essential systems. Ensuring medical coverage to all via universal healthcare strengthens economic foundations. It's a better, simpler approach for small businesses which hire the majority of the country's workers and fund half of our GDP. It enables employees to be healthier, have better attendance and increase productivity.

Considering Challenges

Exist a million considerations I haven't covered? Certainly. But with all the healthcare cost increases we've seen in recent years, it's clear that the Affordable Care Act is not working effectively. And I realize that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms can be readily adopted. But expanding universal Medicare, even with increased taxation required, would still be a superior and less expensive approach for not only controlling healthcare costs but providing access for all citizens.

Need for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, must reduce national pride. America's medical care isn't exceptional. The US places significantly behind many other countries with the best healthcare globally, based on comprehensive research. Maybe one positive aspect amid current situation could be that we undertake a hard look at ourselves and acknowledge that major reforms are necessary.