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Out-of-pocket costs. In-network. Non-preferred providers. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Co-payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. ACA. Health Maintenance Organization. Preferred Provider Organization. Exclusive Provider Organization. Point of Service. High Deductible Health Plan. HSA. FSA. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. SHOP. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Premium tax credits.

Baffled? It's understandable. Who comprehends all this stuff? Not the typical business owner. Nor the typical employee. Choosing the appropriate medical coverage for our business – or for households – appears to require demands a PhD in healthcare.

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

According to recent research, typical households pays $27,000 each year for their health insurance (up 6% compared to last year). Typical employer health insurance cost is expected to exceed $17,000 per employee in 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025.

Now federal operations is shut down because partisan disputes regarding subsidies that experts say will lead to a doubling of premiums for numerous US citizens.

When Might We Truly Examine National Health Insurance?

When will we seriously consider a national health insurance program here in America? I have to believe we're approaching that point because this can't continue.

I'm not proposing government-run medicine. I'm proposing that our already existing Medicare system – an established insurance framework – merely extend to cover everyone. The existing system doesn't change. The way medical professionals receive payment changes. Trust me, they will adjust.

The Way Universal Coverage Would Work

A national health insurance program would need payments from workers and companies. In comparable systems, an employee earning average wages must contribute about five point three percent toward medical coverage. Their employer pays about thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this appear like a lot? Unless you compare it to what the typical American pays. I know multiple businesses who are routinely paying anywhere from 8% to 15% of payroll costs for medical benefits. And keep in mind that in comprehensive systems, those payments include retirement benefits, illness coverage, parental benefits and unemployment benefits along with supporting medical services. When including those costs compared with our current spending for our retirement plans, job loss coverage and paid time off, the gap narrows.

Execution in the US

In the US, universal healthcare funding would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a framework already established. It ought to be income-adjusted – those at higher income levels would pay more than lower-income earners. There would be both worker and company payments. Similar to much of federal defense, technology, welfare services and infrastructure, the system should be outsourced to third-party administrators instead of federal agencies.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

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 that can pay for better plans. It would make management significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding remitted like retirement and Medicare taxes, rather than separate payments to insurance companies and insurance providers).

It would enable simpler for us to budget our yearly costs, instead of enduring the complex (and ineffective) theater of negotiating with major insurers that we must do every year. Due to simplification, there would exist a better understanding about benefits by our employees – contrasted with the current system where they have to interpret the complexities of existing plans. Additionally there would definitely exist less liability for employers 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 they get. But I've learned that government has a significant role in our lives, including national security to funding essential systems. Providing healthcare to all via universal healthcare enhances our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, simpler approach for entrepreneurs that employ the majority of the country's workers and generate half the economic output. It enables for workers to be healthier, come to work more often and increase productivity.

Considering Challenges

Are there numerous factors I'm not addressing? Of course there are. But with rising medical expenses we've seen recently, it's evident that the Affordable Care Act is not working very well. And I realize that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where big changes are easier to implement. However extending universal Medicare, even with increased taxation that would be incurred, would still be a better and more affordable strategy both for managing medical expenses but providing access for all citizens.

Time for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, we need to reduce national pride. America's medical care isn't so great. We rank well below numerous nations with the best healthcare in the world, according to major studies. Perhaps a positive aspect in this present circumstances is that we undertake a hard look in the mirror and agree that major reforms are necessary.