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Deductibles. In-network. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Co-payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. HMO. Preferred Provider Organization. EPO. POS. HDHP. Health Savings Account. Flexible Spending Account. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. SHOP. Single coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Baffled? You should be. Who understands all this stuff? Certainly not the average business owner. Nor the typical worker. Selecting the appropriate medical coverage for our business – or for households – seems like demands a PhD in medical insurance.

Our Healthcare System Is More Than Complicated, It Is Expensive

According to a recent study, the average family spends $twenty-seven thousand each year for their health insurance (increasing by 6% compared to last year). The average employer health insurance cost is projected to exceed $seventeen thousand per employee in 2026, an increase of 9.5% compared to 2025.

Now federal operations has ceased functioning due to partisan disputes regarding tax credits that experts say could cause premium increases up to 100% for numerous US citizens.

When Might We Seriously Consider Universal Healthcare?

When will we seriously consider a national health insurance program here in America? I'm convinced we're getting closer because this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not proposing government-run medicine. I'm advocating for our current Medicare program – an established insurance framework – merely extend to cover everyone. Our infrastructure doesn't change. How our healthcare providers get paid changes. Trust me, they will adjust.

The Way National Health Insurance Could Function

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

Does this seem like a lot? Unless you contrast that with what average US resident spends. I can name multiple businesses that are routinely paying between eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages for medical benefits. Remember that in comprehensive systems, these contributions also cover pension plans, illness coverage, parental benefits and job loss protection in addition to supporting medical services. When including these expenses compared with what we pay on retirement programs, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits, the gap narrows.

Execution for America

For America, a national health premium would increase existing Medicare taxes, a system already established. It should be means-based – those at higher income levels would pay more than those earning less. There would be both worker and employer contribution. Similar to many federal military, IT, social programs and transportation services, the system could be managed to third-party administrators instead of federal agencies.

Benefits for Small Businesses

A national health insurance program would be a significant advantage for entrepreneurs such as my company. It would put us on a level playing field against big corporations that can pay for superior coverage. It would render management much easier (automatic payroll withholding remitted like social security and Medicare taxes, rather than individual transactions to insurance companies and coverage administrators).

It would make simpler to plan expenses annual expenditures, rather than enduring the complicated (and ineffective) process of bargaining with major insurers required annually every year. Due to simplification, there would be a better understanding of coverage by our employees – as opposed to existing arrangements where they have to decipher the complexities of current options. Additionally there would certainly be reduced responsibility for companies as we no longer would be privy to our employees' medical records for purposes of risk assessment and alternative plans.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as capitalist as possible. However I recognize that public institutions play important functions in society, including national security to supporting needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare to all through a national insurance system strengthens economic foundations. It's a better, easier system for small businesses which hire more than half of the country's workers and generate half the economic output. It enables for workers to be healthier, come to work more often and increase productivity.

Addressing Concerns

Exist numerous factors I haven't covered? Certainly. But with all the healthcare cost increases experienced recently, it's clear that the Affordable Care Act is not working very well. I understand that we're not a compact European nation where major reforms are easier to implement. However extending universal Medicare, even with the additional taxes that would be incurred, would remain a better and less expensive approach both for controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Need for Honest Assessment

As Americans, we need to reduce national pride. America's medical care isn't so great. The US places significantly behind many other countries with the best healthcare globally, according to comprehensive research. Maybe one positive aspect amid current situation could be that we undertake a hard look at ourselves and acknowledge that big changes are necessary.