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Deductibles. Preferred providers. Out-of-network. Concierge medical services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Co-payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. ACA. Health Maintenance Organization. Preferred Provider Organization. EPO. POS. HDHP. Health Savings Account. FSA. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. Explanation of Benefits. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Confused? You should be. Who comprehends all this stuff? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Nor the typical employee. Choosing the right healthcare insurance for companies – or for our families – appears to require demands advanced expertise in medical insurance.

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

Based on recent research, typical households spends $twenty-seven thousand each year for their health insurance (up 6% compared to last year). Typical employer health insurance cost is projected to surpass $17,000 per employee in 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025.

Now the government is shut down due to political disagreements over subsidies that experts say could cause premium increases up to 100% for numerous US citizens.

When Might We Seriously Consider Universal Healthcare?

When will we seriously consider universal healthcare coverage in the United States? I'm convinced we're getting closer because this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not proposing government-run medicine. I'm advocating that our already existing Medicare system – an established insurance framework – simply expand to include all citizens. Our infrastructure doesn't change. How our healthcare providers get paid would change. Believe me, they'll adapt.

The Way National Health Insurance Would Work

Universal healthcare coverage would require payments from both workers and companies. In similar programs, an employee making average wages must contribute about five point three percent toward medical coverage. Their employer must contribute about 13.75%.

Does this seem like a lot? Not if you compare it to what the typical US resident spends. I know multiple businesses that are routinely paying between eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages to their healthcare costs. Remember that with inclusive programs, those payments also cover retirement benefits, sick pay, maternity leave and unemployment benefits along with supporting medical services. When including these expenses compared with our current spending on retirement programs, job loss coverage and paid time off, the difference decreases.

Implementation in the US

For America, universal healthcare funding would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a framework already established. It should be means-based – those at higher income levels would pay more than those earning less. This includes both worker and employer contribution. And, like much of federal military, IT, welfare services and infrastructure, the program should be outsourced to third-party administrators rather than federal agencies.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

A national health insurance program would be a huge benefit for small businesses such as my company. It would put small companies in equal competition with our larger competitors who can afford better plans. It would make administration much easier (a payroll deduction remitted like social security and Medicare taxes, rather than separate payments to insurance companies and insurance providers).

It would enable it easier to plan expenses annual expenditures, instead of going through the complex (and fruitless) process of bargaining with the big insurance providers that we must do every year. Due to simplification, there would be improved comprehension about benefits among workers – contrasted with the current system where they have to decipher the complexities of current options. And there would definitely exist less liability for companies as we no longer have access to our employees' medical records for purposes of risk assessment and alternative plans.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as pro-market as possible. However I recognize that government has a significant role in our lives, from providing defense to funding needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare for everyone through a national insurance system enhances our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, simpler approach for small businesses which hire the majority of the country's workers and fund half of our GDP. It enables for workers to be healthier, come to work more often and be more productive.

Considering Challenges

Exist numerous factors I'm not addressing? Of course there are. Given rising medical expenses we've seen in recent years, it's evident that the Affordable Care Act isn't functioning effectively. And I realize that America isn't a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms can be readily adopted. However extending universal Medicare, even with increased taxation that would be incurred, would remain a superior and more affordable approach for not only managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Need for Honest Assessment

We as Americans, must tone down our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't exceptional. The US places significantly behind many other countries in healthcare quality globally, based on comprehensive research. Maybe one bright spot in this current situation could be that we take serious examination in the mirror and acknowledge that big changes are necessary.