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Deductibles. Preferred providers. Out-of-network. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. ACA. HMO. PPO. EPO. Point of Service. HDHP. HSA. FSA. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. EOB. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

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

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

According to recent research, typical households spends $27,000 annually for their health insurance (increasing by 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 regarding tax credits that experts say will lead to a doubling of premiums for millions of Americans.

When Might We Truly Examine National Health Insurance?

When will we genuinely evaluate universal healthcare coverage here in America? I have to believe we're getting closer since this can't continue.

I'm not proposing national healthcare. I'm advocating for our current Medicare system – an insurance system – simply expand to cover everyone. Our infrastructure doesn't change. How medical professionals get paid would change. 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 approximately five point three percent to their healthcare. Their employer pays approximately 13.75%.

Does this appear expensive? Not if you contrast that with what the typical American pays. I can name multiple clients who are routinely paying anywhere from 8% to 15% of their employee wages to their healthcare costs. And keep in mind that in inclusive programs, those payments also cover pension plans, illness coverage, parental benefits and job loss protection in addition to funding medical services. When you add those costs versus our current spending for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and paid time off, the gap narrows.

Implementation in the US

For America, a national health premium would raise existing Medicare taxes, a system already established. It ought to be income-adjusted – wealthier individuals would pay more than those earning less. This includes both an employee and company payments. Similar to much of our government's defense, technology, social programs and transportation services, the system should be outsourced to third-party administrators rather than federal agencies.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

Universal healthcare coverage represents a significant advantage for small businesses like mine. It would place small companies in equal competition against big corporations that can pay for better plans. It would make management much easier (a payroll deduction remitted like retirement and Medicare taxes, instead of individual transactions to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would make simpler for us to budget annual expenditures, rather than enduring the complex (and ineffective) process of negotiating 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 the current system where they have to interpret the complexities of existing plans. Additionally there would definitely exist less liability for employers as we no longer would be privy to our employees' health histories for risk assessment and alternative plans.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as pro-market as they get. But I've learned that public institutions has a significant role in society, from providing defense to funding essential systems. 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 American employees and generate half of our GDP. It enables employees to be healthier, have better attendance and increase productivity.

Addressing Concerns

Exist numerous factors I'm not addressing? Certainly. But with all the healthcare cost increases experienced recently, it's clear that current healthcare legislation isn't functioning effectively. I understand that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms are easier to implement. However extending Medicare for all, despite the additional taxes required, would still be a superior and less expensive approach both for controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage to everyone.

Need for Honest Assessment

We as Americans, we need to tone down national pride. America's medical care isn't so great. The US places significantly behind numerous nations with the best healthcare globally, according to comprehensive research. Maybe one positive aspect amid current situation could be that we take serious examination at ourselves and agree that major reforms need to happen.