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Out-of-pocket costs. In-network. Non-preferred providers. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Co-payment. Co-insurance. Benefit advisers. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. HMO. Preferred Provider Organization. EPO. Point of Service. HDHP. Health Savings Account. FSA. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Dependent coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Baffled? You should be. Who comprehends all this stuff? Certainly not the average business owner. Nor the typical worker. Choosing the right medical coverage for companies – or for our families – appears to require it requires a PhD in healthcare.

Our Medical System Is More Than Complex, It's Costly

According to a recent study, typical households spends $27,000 each year on medical coverage (increasing by 6% from last year). Typical company healthcare expense is projected to exceed $17,000 for each worker by 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025.

Now federal operations is shut down due to political disagreements over tax credits that experts say will lead to a doubling of premiums for numerous US citizens.

When Will We Truly Examine National Health Insurance?

When will we seriously consider universal healthcare coverage here in America? I have to believe we're approaching that point because this can't continue.

I'm not proposing national healthcare. I'm advocating that our already existing Medicare program – an established insurance framework – merely extend to cover everyone. The existing system remains intact. The way our healthcare providers receive payment changes. Trust me, they'll adapt.

How Universal Coverage Would Work

A national health insurance program would need contributions from both workers and companies. In similar programs, an employee making moderate income must contribute approximately 5.3% to their healthcare. Their employer pays about thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this seem expensive? Not if you contrast that with what the typical US resident spends. I know multiple clients that are routinely paying between 8% to 15% of payroll costs to their healthcare costs. Remember that in comprehensive systems, those payments include pension plans, sick pay, parental benefits and job loss protection in addition to funding healthcare facilities. When including these expenses compared with what we pay for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits, the difference decreases.

Implementation for America

For America, a national health premium would increase existing Medicare taxes, a system already established. It should be income-adjusted – those at higher income levels would pay more than lower-income earners. There would be both worker and company payments. And, like many federal military, IT, social programs and transportation services, the system should be outsourced by private contractors rather than federal agencies.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

Universal healthcare coverage represents a significant advantage for entrepreneurs such as my company. It would put small companies in equal competition with our larger competitors who can afford better plans. It would render administration significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding remitted like social security and Medicare taxes, rather than individual transactions to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would enable simpler to plan expenses our yearly costs, instead of enduring the complex (and fruitless) theater of bargaining with major insurers that we must do every year. Because it's simplified, there would be a better understanding of coverage among workers – contrasted with the current system which require them to interpret the complexities of current options. And there would definitely exist reduced responsibility for companies as we no longer would be privy to our employees' health histories for purposes of risk assessment and different options.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as capitalist as possible. However I recognize that public institutions play important functions in our lives, from providing defense to funding needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare to all via universal healthcare strengthens our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, easier system for entrepreneurs that employ the majority of the country's workers and generate half the economic output. It makes it possible employees to enjoy better health, come to work more often and be more productive.

Considering Challenges

Exist a million considerations I'm not addressing? Of course there are. But with rising medical expenses experienced in recent years, it's clear that the Affordable Care Act is not working effectively. And I realize that America isn't a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms can be readily adopted. However extending universal Medicare, even with increased taxation that would be incurred, would still be a superior and more affordable strategy both for managing medical expenses but providing access for all citizens.

Need for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, we need to tone down our own arrogance. America's medical care isn't exceptional. We rank significantly behind many other countries in healthcare quality globally, according to comprehensive research. Perhaps a bright spot in this current situation could be that we take a hard look at ourselves and agree that big changes are necessary.