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Deductibles. Preferred providers. Non-preferred providers. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Medical advisors. ACA. Health Maintenance Organization. Preferred Provider Organization. Exclusive Provider Organization. Point of Service. HDHP. HSA. FSA. HRA. EOB. COBRA. SHOP. Individual coverage. Dependent coverage. Premium tax credits.

Confused? You should be. Who comprehends all this stuff? Certainly not the average business owner. Nor the typical employee. Selecting the appropriate medical coverage for our business – or for our families – seems like it requires a PhD in healthcare.

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

According to recent research, typical households pays $27,000 annually for their health insurance (up 6% compared to last year). Typical company healthcare expense is projected to surpass $seventeen thousand for each worker in 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025.

Currently the government is shut down because political disagreements over tax credits which analysts predict could cause premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Might We Truly Examine National Health Insurance?

When will we seriously consider a national health insurance program in the United States? I have to believe we're getting closer since this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not proposing national healthcare. I'm advocating for our current Medicare system – an established insurance framework – merely extend to cover everyone. The existing system doesn't change. The way medical professionals receive payment changes. Believe me, they will adjust.

The Way Universal Coverage Would Work

A national health insurance program would require payments from workers and companies. In comparable systems, a worker earning average wages pays about 5.3% toward medical coverage. Their employer pays about 13.75%.

Does this appear like a lot? Not if you contrast that with what average US resident spends. I can name multiple clients that are routinely paying anywhere from 8% to 15% of payroll costs to their healthcare costs. Remember that in comprehensive systems, those payments also cover pension plans, illness coverage, maternity leave and job loss protection along with funding healthcare facilities. When including these expenses versus our current spending on retirement programs, unemployment insurance and paid time off, the difference decreases.

Implementation for America

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 contribute higher amounts than those earning less. There would be both worker and employer contribution. And, like much of our government's defense, IT, social programs and transportation services, the system could be managed to third-party administrators instead of federal agencies.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

A national health insurance program would be a huge benefit for entrepreneurs such as my company. It would place small companies in equal competition with our larger competitors that can pay for superior coverage. It would render administration significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding processed similarly to social security and healthcare taxes, instead of individual transactions to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would enable it easier for us to budget annual expenditures, rather than enduring the complicated (and fruitless) theater of negotiating with the big insurance providers that we must do every year. Due to simplification, there would be a better understanding about benefits by our employees – as opposed to the current system where they have to decipher the complications of current options. Additionally there would certainly be less liability for employers since we wouldn't have access to workers' health histories for risk assessment and alternative plans.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as pro-market as they get. However I recognize that public institutions play important functions in our lives, from providing defense to funding needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare to all via universal healthcare strengthens our economy's infrastructure. It represents superior, simpler approach for small businesses that employ the majority of the country's workers and generate half of our GDP. It makes it possible employees to enjoy better health, come to work more often and be more productive.

Considering Challenges

Exist numerous factors I haven't covered? Of course there are. Given rising medical expenses we've seen recently, it's clear that current healthcare legislation is not working very well. And I realize that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms can be readily adopted. However extending universal Medicare, despite increased taxation that would be incurred, would remain a better and more affordable strategy both for controlling healthcare costs but providing access to everyone.

Need for Realistic Evaluation

As Americans, must reduce our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't exceptional. We rank well below many other countries with the best healthcare globally, based on major studies. Maybe one bright spot in this current situation is that we take a hard look at ourselves and acknowledge that major reforms are necessary.