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Deductibles. Preferred providers. Non-preferred providers. Concierge medical services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Fixed payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Medical advisors. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. PPO. EPO. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. FSA. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. SHOP. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Premium tax credits.

Confused? You should be. Who understands this complex system? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Neither the average worker. Choosing the appropriate medical coverage for companies – or for households – appears to require demands advanced expertise in medical insurance.

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

According to recent research, the average family spends $27,000 each year for their health insurance (up 6% compared to last year). The average employer health insurance cost is expected to surpass $seventeen thousand per employee in 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025.

Currently the government is shut down because partisan disputes over tax credits that experts say could cause a doubling of premiums for numerous US citizens.

When Will We Seriously Consider National Health Insurance?

How soon might we seriously consider universal healthcare coverage here in America? I have to believe we're getting closer since this can't continue.

I'm not proposing national healthcare. I'm proposing that our already existing Medicare program – an insurance system – simply expand to include all citizens. The existing system remains intact. The way medical professionals get paid changes. Trust me, they will adjust.

The Way Universal Coverage Would Work

Universal healthcare coverage would require contributions from both workers and companies. In comparable systems, a worker earning average wages pays approximately 5.3% toward medical coverage. The company must contribute about thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this seem like a lot? Unless you compare it to what average American pays. I can name dozens of clients who are routinely paying between eight to fifteen percent of payroll costs to their healthcare costs. And keep in mind that in comprehensive systems, those payments also cover retirement benefits, illness coverage, maternity leave and unemployment benefits in addition to funding medical services. When including these expenses compared with what we pay for our retirement plans, job loss coverage and vacation benefits, the difference decreases.

Execution for America

For America, universal healthcare funding would increase existing Medicare taxes, a framework that is already in place. It should 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, IT, social programs and transportation services, the program could be managed to third-party administrators instead of federal agencies.

Advantages for Small Businesses

A national health insurance program represents a significant advantage for small businesses such as my company. It would place us on a level playing field 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, instead of separate payments to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would make it easier for us to budget annual expenditures, rather than going through the complicated (and fruitless) process of bargaining with major insurers required annually every year. Because it's simplified, there would be improved comprehension about benefits by our employees – as opposed to the current system where they have to decipher the complexities of current options. And there would definitely exist less liability for companies since we wouldn't would be privy to our employees' medical records for weighing risks and different options.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as pro-market as possible. However I recognize that public institutions has a significant role in society, from providing defense to funding essential systems. Ensuring medical coverage to all via universal healthcare strengthens economic foundations. It's a better, simpler approach for entrepreneurs that employ more than half of American employees and fund half the economic output. It enables for workers to be healthier, come to work more often and increase productivity.

Addressing Concerns

Exist numerous factors I haven't covered? Certainly. Given all the healthcare cost increases experienced recently, it's clear that the Affordable Care Act is not working effectively. I understand that America isn't a compact European nation where major reforms are easier to implement. But expanding universal Medicare, even with the additional taxes required, would still be a superior and more affordable strategy for not only controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage to everyone.

Time for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, we need to tone down national pride. America's medical care isn't exceptional. We rank well below numerous nations in healthcare quality in the world, based on comprehensive research. Perhaps a bright spot amid present circumstances could be that we take serious examination at ourselves and agree that major reforms need to happen.