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Deductibles. In-network. Out-of-network. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Co-payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Medical advisors. Affordable Care Act. HMO. PPO. EPO. POS. HDHP. HSA. Flexible Spending Account. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. SHOP. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Baffled? It's understandable. Who comprehends this complex system? Not the typical entrepreneur. Neither the average worker. Choosing the right medical coverage for companies – or for households – seems like demands advanced expertise in healthcare.

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

Based on a recent study, the average family spends $27,000 annually on medical coverage (increasing by 6% compared to last year). Typical employer health insurance cost is expected to exceed $seventeen thousand per employee in 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025.

Now the government is shut down due to partisan disputes over subsidies that experts say will lead to premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Might We Truly Examine Universal Healthcare?

How soon might we seriously consider universal healthcare coverage here in America? I'm convinced we're getting closer because this can't continue.

I'm not proposing government-run medicine. I'm proposing for our current Medicare system – an established insurance framework – merely extend to include all citizens. The existing system doesn't change. How our healthcare providers receive payment would change. Believe me, they'll adapt.

The Way National Health Insurance Would Work

Universal healthcare coverage would require contributions from workers and companies. In similar programs, a worker earning moderate income pays about five point three percent to their healthcare. The company must contribute approximately 13.75%.

Does this appear like a lot? Unless you compare it to what average American pays. I know dozens of businesses that are routinely paying anywhere from 8% to 15% of their employee wages to their healthcare costs. Remember that in inclusive programs, these contributions include retirement benefits, sick pay, parental benefits and unemployment benefits along with funding healthcare facilities. When you add these expenses versus what we pay on retirement programs, unemployment insurance and paid time off, the difference decreases.

Implementation for America

For America, a national health premium would increase our Medicare tax deduction, a system that is already in place. It ought to be means-based – those at higher income levels would contribute higher amounts than those earning less. This includes both worker and company payments. Similar to many federal military, technology, welfare services and transportation services, the program should be outsourced to third-party administrators rather than federal agencies.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

A national health insurance program would be a significant advantage for entrepreneurs such as my company. It would place small companies in equal competition with our larger competitors that can pay for superior coverage. It would render management significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding processed similarly to social security and Medicare taxes, rather than separate payments to benefit firms and coverage administrators).

It would enable simpler for us to budget annual expenditures, instead of enduring the complex (and fruitless) process of bargaining with major insurers that we must do each year. Because it's simplified, there would be a better understanding about benefits among workers – as opposed to existing arrangements which require them to interpret the complexities of current options. And there would definitely exist less liability for employers as we no longer have access to workers' medical records for purposes of weighing risks and different options.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as capitalist as possible. However I recognize that public institutions has a significant role in our lives, from providing defense to supporting needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare to all through a national insurance system strengthens economic foundations. It's a better, easier system for small businesses that employ more than half of American employees and fund half the economic output. It enables for workers to enjoy better health, come to work more often and increase productivity.

Considering Challenges

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 isn't functioning very well. And I realize that we're not a compact European nation where major reforms are easier to implement. However extending universal Medicare, even with the additional taxes required, would remain a superior and less expensive approach both for managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage to everyone.

Time for Honest Assessment

As Americans, we need to tone down our own arrogance. America's medical care isn't so great. The US places significantly behind numerous nations with the best healthcare globally, based on comprehensive research. Maybe one positive aspect in this present circumstances could be that we take serious examination in the mirror and agree that major reforms need to happen.