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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. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. PPO. EPO. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. HSA. FSA. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. EOB. COBRA. SHOP. Single coverage. Dependent coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Baffled? You should be. Who comprehends all this stuff? Not the typical entrepreneur. Nor the typical employee. Choosing the appropriate healthcare insurance for companies – or for our families – appears to require it requires a PhD in medical insurance.

Our Healthcare System Isn't Just Complex, It's Costly

According to recent research, the average family spends $27,000 annually for their health insurance (up 6% from last year). Typical employer health insurance cost is projected to surpass $seventeen thousand for each worker by 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025.

Now the government is shut down because partisan disputes regarding tax credits which analysts predict could cause a doubling of premiums for millions of Americans.

When Will We Seriously Consider Universal Healthcare?

How soon might we seriously consider a national health insurance program in the United States? I'm convinced we're approaching that point since this can't continue.

I'm not proposing government-run medicine. I'm proposing that our already existing Medicare program – an established insurance framework – simply expand to cover everyone. The existing system remains intact. How medical professionals receive payment changes. Trust me, they will adjust.

The Way Universal Coverage Would Work

Universal healthcare coverage would require contributions from both workers and companies. In similar programs, a worker earning moderate income pays about five point three percent toward medical coverage. The company pays about thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this appear expensive? Not if you compare it to what average American pays. I know dozens of clients who are easily contributing between 8% to 15% of payroll costs to their healthcare costs. Remember that in inclusive programs, those payments include pension plans, illness coverage, parental benefits and job loss protection along with supporting medical services. When you add these expenses versus our current spending for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits, the difference decreases.

Implementation in the US

For America, universal healthcare funding would increase our Medicare tax deduction, a framework that is already in place. It should be income-adjusted – wealthier individuals would contribute higher amounts than those earning less. There would be both worker and employer contribution. Similar to many our government's defense, technology, welfare services and transportation services, the system could be managed by private contractors instead of federal agencies.

Advantages for Small Businesses

A national health insurance program would be a huge benefit for small businesses like mine. It would put small companies in equal competition against big corporations who can afford better plans. It would render management significantly simpler (a payroll deduction remitted like retirement and Medicare taxes, rather than individual transactions to insurance companies and coverage administrators).

It would enable it easier to plan expenses annual expenditures, rather than enduring the complex (and ineffective) process of bargaining with major insurers required annually every year. Because it's simplified, there would be improved comprehension of coverage among workers – as opposed to existing arrangements which require them to decipher the complications of current options. And there would certainly be less liability for companies as we no longer have access to workers' health histories for purposes of weighing risks and different options.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as pro-market as possible. But I've learned that government play important functions in society, including national security to funding needed infrastructure. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone through a national insurance system strengthens economic foundations. It represents superior, easier system for entrepreneurs which hire the majority of the country's workers and fund half of our GDP. It enables employees to be healthier, have better attendance and increase productivity.

Considering Challenges

Are there a million considerations I haven't covered? Of course there are. But with rising medical expenses we've seen recently, it's clear that current healthcare legislation is not working very well. I understand that we're not a compact European nation where major reforms can be readily adopted. But expanding universal Medicare, despite increased taxation that would be incurred, would still be a superior and more affordable approach both for controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Need for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, must tone down our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't so great. The US places significantly behind many other countries with the best healthcare globally, according to comprehensive research. Maybe one positive aspect amid present circumstances could be that we undertake a hard look at ourselves and agree that major reforms are necessary.