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Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Non-preferred providers. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Co-payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Medical advisors. ACA. Health Maintenance Organization. PPO. Exclusive Provider Organization. POS. HDHP. HSA. FSA. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. Explanation of Benefits. COBRA. SHOP. Individual coverage. Family 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 healthcare insurance for our business – or for households – seems like it requires advanced expertise in healthcare.

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

Based on recent research, the average family pays $twenty-seven thousand annually on medical coverage (up 6% compared to last year). Typical company healthcare expense is projected to exceed $seventeen thousand per employee in 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025.

Currently the government has ceased functioning due to partisan disputes regarding tax credits that experts say will lead to premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Might We Seriously Consider National Health Insurance?

How soon might we genuinely evaluate universal healthcare coverage in the United States? I'm convinced we're getting closer since 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 include all citizens. The existing system remains intact. How medical professionals receive payment would change. Believe me, they'll adapt.

The Way National Health Insurance Could Function

A national health insurance program would require payments from both workers and companies. In comparable systems, an employee earning average wages pays about 5.3% to their healthcare. Their employer pays about thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this appear expensive? Unless you compare it to what average US resident spends. I can name dozens of businesses that are routinely paying between 8% to 15% of their employee wages for medical benefits. And keep in mind that in comprehensive systems, those payments also cover retirement benefits, illness coverage, parental benefits and unemployment benefits along with supporting medical services. When including those costs compared with our current spending for our retirement plans, job loss coverage and paid time off, the difference decreases.

Execution in the US

For America, universal healthcare funding would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a system already established. It ought to be means-based – those at higher income levels would pay more than those earning less. There would be both an employee and employer contribution. And, like many federal defense, IT, welfare services and infrastructure, the system could be managed to third-party administrators rather than a government office.

Benefits for Small Businesses

A national health insurance program represents a significant advantage for entrepreneurs such as my company. It would put us on a level playing field with our larger competitors that can pay for superior coverage. It would make administration much easier (automatic payroll withholding remitted like retirement and healthcare taxes, instead of individual transactions to insurance companies and insurance providers).

It would enable simpler for us to budget annual expenditures, rather than going through the complicated (and fruitless) theater of bargaining with major insurers required annually each year. Due to simplification, there would exist a better understanding about benefits among workers – contrasted with existing arrangements which require them to decipher the complications of existing plans. And there would definitely exist less liability for companies since we wouldn't would be privy to workers' health histories for weighing risks and alternative plans.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as capitalist as they get. But I've learned that public institutions has a significant role in society, from providing defense to funding needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare for everyone via universal healthcare strengthens economic foundations. It represents superior, simpler approach for small businesses which hire the majority of American employees and generate half the economic output. It enables employees to enjoy better health, have better attendance and be more productive.

Addressing Concerns

Are there numerous factors I haven't covered? Certainly. Given all the healthcare cost increases we've seen in recent years, it's clear that current healthcare legislation isn't functioning very well. And I realize that America isn't a compact European nation where big changes can be readily adopted. But expanding Medicare for all, even with increased taxation required, would remain a better and more affordable approach for not only controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage to everyone.

Time for Honest Assessment

As Americans, must reduce our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't exceptional. We rank well below many other countries in healthcare quality in the world, based on major studies. Perhaps a bright spot in this current situation is that we undertake serious examination in the mirror and acknowledge that major reforms are necessary.