🔗 Share this article

Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Co-payment. Co-insurance. Benefit advisers. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. HMO. PPO. EPO. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. Flexible Spending Account. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. COBRA. SHOP. Individual coverage. Dependent coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Baffled? You should be. Who understands this complex system? Not the typical business owner. Nor the typical employee. Choosing the right healthcare insurance for companies – or for our families – seems like it requires advanced expertise in medical insurance.

Our Medical System Isn't Just Complex, It's Expensive

According to a recent study, typical households pays $twenty-seven thousand each year for their health insurance (increasing by 6% compared to last year). Typical company healthcare expense is projected to surpass $seventeen thousand per employee in 2026, an increase of 9.5% compared to 2025.

Currently the government has ceased functioning due to partisan disputes regarding tax credits that experts say could cause premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Might We Truly Examine National Health Insurance?

When will we genuinely evaluate a national health insurance program here in America? I'm convinced we're approaching that point because this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not suggesting national healthcare. I'm proposing that our already existing Medicare system – an established insurance framework – simply expand to cover everyone. Our infrastructure remains intact. How our healthcare providers get paid would change. Believe me, they'll adapt.

The Way Universal Coverage Could Function

Universal healthcare coverage would need payments from both workers and companies. In comparable systems, an employee making average wages pays about five point three percent toward medical coverage. The company pays about 13.75%.

Does this appear like a lot? Not if you contrast that with what the typical US resident spends. I can name dozens of clients who are routinely paying anywhere from 8% to 15% of their employee wages for medical benefits. And keep in mind that in inclusive programs, those payments include pension plans, illness coverage, maternity leave and job loss protection along with funding healthcare facilities. When including those costs compared with what we pay on retirement programs, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits, the difference decreases.

Implementation in the US

For America, a national health premium would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a framework that is already in place. It should be income-adjusted – those at higher income levels would contribute higher amounts than those earning less. There would be both an employee and company payments. Similar to much of federal defense, technology, welfare services and transportation services, the system should be outsourced by private contractors instead of a government office.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

A national health insurance program would be a huge benefit for small businesses such as my company. It would place small companies in equal competition against big corporations that can pay for better plans. It would render administration much easier (a payroll deduction remitted like social security and Medicare taxes, instead of separate payments to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would make it easier to plan expenses annual expenditures, rather than enduring the complex (and fruitless) process of negotiating with the big insurance providers that we must do each year. Because it's simplified, there would be improved comprehension about benefits by our employees – as opposed to the current system where they have to decipher the complexities of current options. Additionally there would certainly be reduced responsibility for employers as we no longer have access to workers' medical records for purposes of weighing risks and different options.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as capitalist as they get. However I recognize that public institutions play important functions in our lives, from providing defense to funding needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare for everyone via universal healthcare strengthens economic foundations. It's a better, simpler approach for entrepreneurs which hire more than half of American employees and generate half of our GDP. It enables employees to be healthier, have better attendance and increase productivity.

Addressing Concerns

Are there a million considerations I haven't covered? Certainly. Given all the healthcare cost increases experienced in recent years, it's evident that the Affordable Care Act is not working effectively. I understand that we're not a compact European nation where major reforms can be readily adopted. But expanding universal Medicare, even with increased taxation required, would still be a better and less expensive approach for not only controlling healthcare costs but providing access for all citizens.

Need for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, must tone down national pride. Our healthcare system isn't so great. We rank significantly behind many other countries with the best healthcare in the world, based on major studies. Maybe one positive aspect amid current situation could be that we take serious examination at ourselves and agree that big changes are necessary.