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Deductibles. Preferred providers. Out-of-network. Concierge medical services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Fixed payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Medical advisors. ACA. Health Maintenance Organization. PPO. Exclusive Provider Organization. Point of Service. HDHP. Health Savings Account. FSA. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Single coverage. Dependent coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Confused? It's understandable. Who comprehends this complex system? Certainly not the average business owner. Nor the typical employee. Selecting the right medical coverage for our business – or for households – seems like demands a PhD in healthcare.

The Medical System Is More Than Complex, It Is Expensive

Based on recent research, typical households pays $twenty-seven thousand each year for their health insurance (increasing by 6% compared to last year). The average employer health insurance cost is expected to surpass $17,000 for each worker in 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025.

Now the government has ceased functioning due to partisan disputes over tax credits that experts say will lead to a doubling of premiums for millions of Americans.

When Might We Seriously Consider Universal Healthcare?

When will we genuinely evaluate a national health insurance program in the United States? I have to believe we're approaching that point since this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not suggesting government-run medicine. I'm proposing for our current Medicare program – an established insurance framework – simply expand to cover everyone. The existing system remains intact. How our healthcare providers get paid would change. Believe me, they will adjust.

How National Health Insurance Would Work

A national health insurance program would need contributions from employees and employers. In comparable systems, a worker making average wages must contribute about 5.3% to their healthcare. The company must contribute about thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this appear expensive? Not if you contrast it to what the typical US resident spends. I can name multiple clients who are easily contributing anywhere from 8% to 15% of their employee wages to their healthcare costs. And keep in mind that in inclusive programs, those payments include retirement benefits, illness coverage, parental benefits and job loss protection in addition to supporting medical services. When you add those costs compared with what we pay for our retirement plans, job loss coverage and paid time off, the difference decreases.

Execution for America

For America, universal healthcare funding would raise existing Medicare taxes, a system already established. It should be means-based – wealthier individuals would pay more than those earning less. There would be both an employee and company payments. Similar to many federal military, IT, welfare services and infrastructure, the program could be managed to third-party administrators instead of a government office.

Benefits for Entrepreneurs

A national health insurance program would be a huge benefit for small businesses like mine. It would place small companies in equal competition against big corporations that can pay for superior coverage. It would render administration significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding remitted like retirement and healthcare taxes, rather than separate payments to benefit firms and coverage administrators).

It would enable it easier to plan expenses annual expenditures, instead of going through the complicated (and fruitless) process of bargaining with major insurers required annually each year. Due to simplification, there would exist a better understanding about benefits among workers – as opposed to the current system which require them to decipher the complications of existing plans. And there would definitely exist less liability for companies as we no longer have access to workers' medical records for purposes of weighing risks and alternative plans.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as capitalist as possible. But I've learned that government has a significant role in our lives, from providing defense to funding needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare to all via universal healthcare strengthens economic foundations. It represents superior, simpler approach for small businesses that employ more than half of the country's workers and generate half of our GDP. It makes it possible employees to enjoy better health, come to work more often and be more productive.

Considering Challenges

Are there a million considerations I'm not addressing? Certainly. But with all the healthcare cost increases experienced in recent years, it's clear that current healthcare legislation is not working effectively. And I realize that America isn't a small, Scandinavian country where big changes can be readily adopted. However extending universal Medicare, despite increased taxation required, would still be a superior and less expensive approach both for managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage to everyone.

Need for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, we need to tone down our own arrogance. America's medical care isn't so great. The US places significantly behind numerous nations with the best healthcare in the world, according to comprehensive research. Perhaps a bright spot amid present circumstances could be that we take a hard look in the mirror and acknowledge that major reforms need to happen.