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Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Non-preferred providers. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Benefit advisers. Coverage agents. Medical advisors. Affordable Care Act. HMO. PPO. Exclusive Provider Organization. Point of Service. HDHP. HSA. FSA. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. EOB. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Premium tax credits.

Baffled? You should be. Who comprehends all this stuff? Not the typical entrepreneur. Neither the average employee. Selecting the appropriate medical coverage for companies – or for our families – seems like demands advanced expertise in medical insurance.

The Medical System Is More Than Complicated, It Is Costly

According to recent research, the average family pays $27,000 each year for their health insurance (increasing by 6% compared to last year). The average employer health insurance cost is expected to surpass $seventeen thousand for each worker by 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025.

Now the government has ceased functioning due to partisan disputes regarding tax credits that experts say could cause a doubling of premiums for numerous US citizens.

When Will We Seriously Consider National Health Insurance?

How soon might we genuinely evaluate universal healthcare coverage here in America? I have to believe we're approaching that point since this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not suggesting government-run medicine. I'm proposing for our current Medicare system – an insurance system – simply expand to cover everyone. The existing system remains intact. How medical professionals receive payment would change. Believe me, they'll adapt.

How National Health Insurance Would Work

Universal healthcare coverage would require contributions from employees and employers. In comparable systems, a worker earning moderate income must contribute approximately five point three percent to their healthcare. Their employer must contribute approximately thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this seem like a lot? Not if you contrast it to what the typical US resident spends. I know dozens of businesses who are routinely paying between eight to fifteen percent of payroll costs to their healthcare costs. And keep in mind that with inclusive programs, these contributions also cover retirement benefits, illness coverage, parental benefits and job loss protection in addition to supporting healthcare facilities. When including these expenses versus what we pay for our retirement plans, job loss coverage and paid time off, the gap narrows.

Implementation in the US

In the US, universal healthcare funding would increase existing Medicare taxes, a framework that is already in place. It should be income-adjusted – wealthier individuals would contribute higher amounts than those earning less. This includes both an employee and employer contribution. Similar to many our government's defense, IT, social programs and infrastructure, the program could be managed by private contractors rather than a government office.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

A national health insurance program would be a huge benefit for entrepreneurs such as my company. It would place us on a level playing field with our larger competitors that can pay for better plans. It would make administration much easier (automatic payroll withholding remitted like social security and Medicare taxes, rather than individual transactions to insurance companies and coverage administrators).

It would enable simpler for us to budget annual expenditures, instead of enduring the complex (and ineffective) process of bargaining with the big insurance providers that we must do each year. Because it's simplified, there would be a better understanding about benefits by our employees – contrasted with the current system where they have to decipher the complications of current options. And there would certainly be reduced responsibility for employers since we wouldn't have access to workers' health histories for risk assessment and different options.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as pro-market as possible. However I recognize that public institutions play important functions in society, from providing defense to funding needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare to all via universal healthcare strengthens our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, simpler approach 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

Are there a million considerations I'm not addressing? Of course there are. Given all the healthcare cost increases we've seen in recent years, it's clear that current healthcare legislation is not working very well. I understand that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where big changes are easier to implement. But expanding Medicare for all, despite increased taxation required, would still be a superior and less expensive approach for not only managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Time for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, must reduce national pride. America's medical care isn't so great. We rank significantly behind numerous nations with the best healthcare globally, based on major studies. Perhaps a bright spot in this present circumstances could be that we undertake a hard look in the mirror and agree that big changes need to happen.