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Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Non-preferred providers. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. ACA. HMO. PPO. EPO. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. HSA. Flexible Spending Account. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. Explanation of Benefits. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Premium tax credits.

Baffled? It's understandable. Who understands this complex system? Not the typical entrepreneur. Nor the typical employee. Selecting the appropriate medical coverage for companies – or for our families – appears to require it requires a PhD in healthcare.

Our Medical System Isn't Just Complicated, It's Costly

Based on a recent study, typical households spends $twenty-seven thousand annually on medical coverage (increasing by 6% compared to last year). Typical employer health insurance cost is projected to surpass $17,000 per employee in 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025.

Now federal operations is shut down because political disagreements regarding subsidies that experts say could cause a doubling of premiums for millions of Americans.

When Will We Seriously Consider National Health Insurance?

How soon might we genuinely evaluate a national health insurance program in the United States? I have to believe we're approaching that point because this situation is unsustainable.

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

How Universal Coverage Could Function

A national health insurance program would require contributions from both employees and employers. In comparable systems, a worker making average wages must contribute about five point three percent to their healthcare. The company must contribute about 13.75%.

Does this appear expensive? Not if you contrast it to what the typical American pays. I can name dozens of businesses who are routinely paying between 8% to 15% of their employee wages for medical benefits. And keep in mind that in inclusive programs, those payments also cover retirement benefits, sick pay, parental benefits and unemployment benefits in addition to supporting healthcare facilities. When including these expenses versus our current spending on retirement programs, job loss coverage and vacation benefits, the gap narrows.

Execution in the US

For America, a national health premium would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a framework already established. It should be means-based – wealthier individuals would pay more than lower-income earners. This includes both worker and company payments. And, like many federal defense, IT, welfare services and infrastructure, the program should be outsourced to third-party administrators instead of a government office.

Benefits for Small Businesses

Universal healthcare coverage represents a huge benefit for entrepreneurs like mine. It would place small companies in equal competition with our larger competitors that can pay for better plans. It would make administration much easier (a payroll deduction processed similarly to social security and Medicare taxes, rather than separate payments to insurance companies and coverage administrators).

It would make simpler for us to budget our yearly costs, instead of going through the complicated (and ineffective) theater of bargaining with the big insurance providers that we must do every year. Because it's simplified, there would exist a better understanding of coverage among workers – as opposed to the current system which require them to interpret the complications of existing plans. Additionally there would certainly be less liability for companies since we wouldn't have access to our employees' medical records for purposes of risk assessment and alternative plans.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as capitalist as possible. However I recognize that public institutions has a significant role in society, including national security to supporting essential systems. Providing healthcare to all through a national insurance system enhances economic foundations. It represents superior, simpler approach for small businesses which hire more than half of the country's workers and fund half of our GDP. It enables for workers to be healthier, have better attendance and increase productivity.

Addressing Concerns

Exist a million considerations I'm not addressing? Certainly. Given rising medical expenses we've seen recently, it's clear that the Affordable Care Act is not working effectively. I understand that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where big changes can be readily adopted. However extending Medicare for all, despite the additional taxes required, would remain a better and less expensive approach for not only controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Need for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, we need to tone down national pride. America's medical care isn't so great. We rank well below many other countries with the best healthcare globally, based on major studies. Perhaps a bright spot amid current situation is that we take a hard look at ourselves and agree that big changes are necessary.