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Out-of-pocket costs. In-network. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. HMO. PPO. Exclusive Provider Organization. Point of Service. HDHP. Health Savings Account. FSA. HRA. EOB. COBRA. SHOP. Individual coverage. Dependent coverage. Premium tax credits.

Confused? You should be. Who understands this complex system? Certainly not the average business owner. Nor the typical employee. Choosing the right healthcare insurance for our business – or for our families – appears to require it requires advanced expertise in medical insurance.

Our Healthcare System Is More Than Complicated, It's Expensive

According to recent research, typical households spends $27,000 annually on medical coverage (increasing by 6% compared to last year). Typical employer health insurance cost is projected to surpass $17,000 for each worker in 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025.

Currently federal operations is shut down due to partisan disputes over tax credits that experts say could cause premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Might We Seriously Consider Universal Healthcare?

How soon might we seriously consider a national health insurance program in the United States? I'm convinced we're getting closer since this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not proposing national healthcare. I'm advocating that our already existing Medicare system – an insurance system – merely extend to cover everyone. The existing system doesn't change. How our healthcare providers receive payment changes. Believe me, they will adjust.

How Universal Coverage Could Function

A national health insurance program would need contributions from both employees and employers. In comparable systems, a worker making average wages pays about five point three percent toward medical coverage. Their employer must contribute approximately thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this appear like a lot? Unless you compare it to what average American pays. I can name multiple businesses who are routinely paying anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of payroll costs to their healthcare costs. And keep in mind that in inclusive programs, these contributions include pension plans, illness coverage, parental benefits and job loss protection along with funding medical services. When including these expenses compared with what we pay on retirement programs, unemployment insurance and paid time off, the gap narrows.

Implementation for America

In the US, universal healthcare funding would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a framework already established. It should be income-adjusted – those at higher income levels would pay more than those earning less. There would be both worker and employer contribution. Similar to much of our government's defense, technology, welfare services and transportation services, the program could be managed to third-party administrators instead of a government office.

Advantages for Small Businesses

A national health insurance program represents a significant advantage for entrepreneurs like mine. It would put small companies in equal competition against big corporations who can afford better plans. It would make administration significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding processed similarly to retirement and Medicare taxes, instead of separate payments to insurance companies and coverage administrators).

It would enable it easier to plan expenses annual expenditures, instead of going through the complex (and ineffective) theater of bargaining with the big insurance providers that we must do each year. Due to simplification, there would exist a better understanding about benefits among workers – contrasted with the current system which require them to decipher the complexities of current options. Additionally there would certainly be less liability for employers as we no longer would be privy to workers' medical records for weighing risks and alternative plans.

Free-Market Viewpoint

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 needed infrastructure. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone via universal healthcare strengthens economic foundations. It's a better, simpler approach 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, have better attendance and increase productivity.

Considering Challenges

Are there numerous factors I haven't covered? Of course there are. But with rising medical expenses we've seen in recent years, it's clear that current healthcare legislation isn't functioning effectively. I understand that America isn't a compact European nation where big changes are easier to implement. However extending universal Medicare, despite increased taxation that would be incurred, would still be a better and less expensive strategy for not only managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage to everyone.

Need for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, we need to reduce national pride. America's medical care isn't so great. We rank well below numerous nations with the best healthcare in the world, according to major studies. Perhaps a bright spot in this current situation is that we undertake serious examination at ourselves and acknowledge that big changes need to happen.