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Deductibles. Preferred providers. Non-preferred providers. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. ACA. Health Maintenance Organization. PPO. EPO. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. HSA. FSA. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. Explanation of Benefits. COBRA. SHOP. Individual coverage. Dependent coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Baffled? It's understandable. Who understands all this stuff? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Neither the average employee. Choosing the appropriate healthcare insurance for our business – or for our families – seems like it requires a PhD in healthcare.

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

Based on recent research, the average family spends $twenty-seven thousand each year on medical coverage (up 6% compared to last year). The average employer health insurance cost is projected to exceed $17,000 for each worker by 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025.

Now federal operations is shut down because political disagreements regarding tax credits which analysts predict could cause premium increases up to 100% for numerous US citizens.

When Will We Seriously Consider National Health Insurance?

When will we genuinely evaluate universal healthcare coverage in the United States? I have to believe we're approaching that point since this can't continue.

I'm not suggesting national healthcare. I'm advocating for our current Medicare program – an insurance system – merely extend to include all citizens. Our infrastructure remains intact. How medical professionals receive payment would change. Believe me, they will adjust.

How Universal Coverage Could Function

Universal healthcare coverage would require contributions from employees and employers. In similar programs, a worker earning average wages must contribute about five point three percent to their healthcare. The company must contribute approximately 13.75%.

Does this seem expensive? Unless you compare that with what the typical American pays. I know dozens of clients who are easily contributing between eight to fifteen percent of payroll costs to their healthcare costs. And keep in mind that with comprehensive systems, those payments include retirement benefits, illness coverage, parental benefits and unemployment benefits along with supporting medical services. When including those costs versus what we pay on retirement programs, unemployment insurance and paid time off, the difference decreases.

Execution for America

In the US, universal healthcare funding would increase existing Medicare taxes, a framework already established. It should be means-based – wealthier individuals would contribute higher amounts than lower-income earners. This includes both an employee and company payments. Similar to much of federal defense, IT, social programs and infrastructure, the program could be managed to third-party administrators rather than a government office.

Benefits for Small Businesses

Universal healthcare coverage represents a significant advantage for entrepreneurs such as my company. It would put small companies in equal competition against big corporations that can pay for better plans. It would render administration significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding remitted like social security and Medicare taxes, instead of individual transactions to benefit firms and coverage administrators).

It would make it easier for us to budget our yearly costs, instead of going through the complex (and ineffective) theater of negotiating with the big insurance providers that we must do each year. Because it's simplified, there would exist a better understanding of coverage by our employees – contrasted with existing arrangements which require them to interpret the complexities of existing plans. Additionally there would definitely exist less liability for employers since we wouldn't have access to workers' health histories for risk assessment and alternative plans.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as pro-market as possible. But I've learned that government has a significant role in society, including national security to supporting essential systems. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone via universal healthcare strengthens our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, easier system for small businesses that employ the majority of the country's workers and fund half of our GDP. It makes it possible for workers to be healthier, come to work more often and increase productivity.

Considering Challenges

Exist a million considerations I haven't covered? Certainly. Given all the healthcare cost increases we've seen in recent years, it's clear that current healthcare legislation is not working very well. I understand that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where big changes are easier to implement. But expanding universal Medicare, even with increased taxation that would be incurred, would remain a superior and less expensive approach for not only managing medical expenses but providing access for all citizens.

Time for Honest Assessment

We as Americans, must reduce our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't so great. We rank significantly behind many other countries with the best healthcare in the world, according to comprehensive research. Perhaps a bright spot amid present circumstances is that we undertake a hard look in the mirror and acknowledge that big changes are necessary.