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Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Benefit advisers. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. ACA. HMO. PPO. Exclusive Provider Organization. POS. HDHP. HSA. Flexible Spending Account. HRA. EOB. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Single coverage. Dependent coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Baffled? It's understandable. Who understands all this stuff? Not the typical business owner. Nor the typical employee. Choosing the right healthcare insurance for our business – or for households – seems like it requires advanced expertise in healthcare.

The Healthcare System Is More Than Complicated, It's Costly

According to a recent study, the average family spends $twenty-seven thousand each year for their health insurance (increasing by 6% compared to last year). The average employer health insurance cost is expected to exceed $17,000 per employee by 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025.

Currently the government has ceased functioning due to partisan disputes regarding subsidies that experts say could cause premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Will We Seriously Consider National Health Insurance?

How soon might we seriously consider a national health insurance program here in America? I have to believe we're approaching that point because this can't continue.

I'm not proposing government-run medicine. I'm proposing that our already existing Medicare system – an established insurance framework – simply expand to cover everyone. The existing system doesn't change. How our healthcare providers receive payment would change. Trust me, they'll adapt.

How Universal Coverage Would Work

Universal healthcare coverage would need contributions from employees and employers. In comparable systems, an employee earning average wages pays approximately five point three percent to their healthcare. The company pays about 13.75%.

Does this appear like a lot? Unless you compare that with what the typical US resident spends. I know multiple clients who are easily contributing between 8% to 15% of their employee wages for medical benefits. Remember that in comprehensive systems, those payments include retirement benefits, illness coverage, parental benefits and unemployment benefits along with supporting medical services. When including these expenses versus what we pay for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and paid time off, the gap narrows.

Execution in the US

For America, universal healthcare funding would increase our Medicare tax deduction, a framework that is already in place. It ought to be means-based – those at higher income levels would contribute higher amounts than lower-income earners. There would be both an employee and company payments. Similar to much of our government's defense, technology, social programs and infrastructure, the program could be managed to third-party administrators rather than federal agencies.

Benefits for Small Businesses

Universal healthcare coverage represents a huge benefit for entrepreneurs such as my company. It would put small companies in equal competition with our larger competitors who can afford superior coverage. It would render administration much easier (automatic payroll withholding processed similarly to retirement and Medicare taxes, rather than individual transactions to benefit firms and coverage administrators).

It would enable it easier for us to budget annual expenditures, instead of enduring the complicated (and fruitless) process of negotiating with major insurers required annually each year. Because it's simplified, there would be a better understanding of coverage by our employees – contrasted with existing arrangements which require them to decipher the complications of current options. Additionally there would definitely exist reduced responsibility for employers as we no longer 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 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, easier system for entrepreneurs that employ more than half of American employees and fund half of our GDP. It enables employees to enjoy better health, have better attendance and increase productivity.

Considering Challenges

Are there numerous factors I haven't covered? Certainly. Given all the healthcare cost increases we've seen recently, it's evident that the Affordable Care Act isn't functioning effectively. And I realize that America isn't a compact European nation where major reforms can be readily adopted. However extending universal Medicare, even with the additional taxes that would be incurred, would still be a superior and less expensive strategy both for controlling healthcare costs but providing access for all citizens.

Need for Realistic Evaluation

As Americans, we need to tone down national pride. America's medical care isn't exceptional. We rank significantly behind numerous nations with the best healthcare in the world, based on comprehensive research. Maybe one positive aspect in this current situation is that we undertake serious examination at ourselves and acknowledge that major reforms need to happen.