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Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Co-payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Medical advisors. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. Preferred Provider Organization. Exclusive Provider Organization. Point of Service. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. FSA. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. Explanation of Benefits. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Dependent coverage. Premium tax credits.

Confused? It's understandable. Who understands this complex system? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Neither the average employee. Selecting the right healthcare insurance for our business – or for our families – seems like it requires advanced expertise in medical insurance.

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

According to recent research, the average family pays $27,000 annually on medical coverage (increasing by 6% from last year). The average employer health insurance cost is projected to surpass $seventeen thousand for each worker by 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025.

Now the government is shut down due to political disagreements over 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?

When will we genuinely evaluate universal healthcare coverage here in America? I have to believe we're getting closer since this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not suggesting government-run medicine. I'm advocating for our current Medicare program – an established insurance framework – merely extend to cover everyone. Our infrastructure remains intact. How medical professionals get paid changes. Believe me, they'll adapt.

How National Health Insurance Could Function

Universal healthcare coverage would need payments from both employees and employers. In comparable systems, an employee making moderate income must contribute about 5.3% toward medical coverage. Their employer pays about 13.75%.

Does this seem expensive? Unless you contrast it to what average American pays. I can name dozens of businesses who are routinely paying between 8% to 15% of their employee wages for medical benefits. And keep in mind that with comprehensive systems, those payments include retirement benefits, sick pay, parental benefits and unemployment benefits along with supporting healthcare facilities. When including these expenses compared with what we pay for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits, the difference decreases.

Implementation in the US

For America, a national health premium would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a system that is already in place. It ought to be income-adjusted – those at higher income levels would pay more than those earning less. There would be both worker and employer contribution. And, like many federal military, IT, welfare services and transportation services, the program should be outsourced to third-party administrators rather than a government office.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

Universal healthcare coverage would be a huge benefit for entrepreneurs like mine. It would put small companies in equal competition with our larger competitors that can pay for better plans. It would render administration much easier (automatic payroll withholding remitted like retirement and Medicare taxes, instead of individual transactions to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would enable it easier to plan expenses our yearly costs, instead of enduring the complex (and ineffective) process of bargaining with major insurers that we must do each year. Because it's simplified, there would exist a better understanding of coverage among workers – as opposed to the current system which require them to decipher the complications of existing plans. And there would certainly be less liability for companies as we no longer have access to workers' medical records for risk assessment and different options.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as pro-market as they get. However I recognize that government has a significant role in our lives, including national security to funding essential systems. Ensuring medical coverage to all via universal healthcare strengthens economic foundations. It represents superior, easier system for entrepreneurs that employ more than half of American employees and generate half the economic output. It enables for workers to enjoy better health, have better attendance and increase productivity.

Considering Challenges

Exist a million considerations I'm not addressing? Certainly. But with rising medical expenses we've seen recently, it's clear that current healthcare legislation isn't functioning very well. I understand that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where big changes can be readily adopted. But expanding universal Medicare, despite increased taxation that would be incurred, would remain a better and less expensive strategy both for controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Time for Honest Assessment

As Americans, we need to reduce national pride. Our healthcare system isn't exceptional. The US places significantly behind many other countries with the best healthcare globally, based on major studies. Maybe one bright spot amid present circumstances is that we take a hard look at ourselves and agree that major reforms need to happen.