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Deductibles. Preferred providers. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Benefit advisers. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. PPO. EPO. Point of Service. HDHP. HSA. FSA. HRA. EOB. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Single coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Baffled? You should be. Who comprehends all this stuff? Certainly not the average business owner. Nor the typical employee. Selecting the right medical coverage for our business – or for our families – appears to require demands advanced expertise in healthcare.

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

Based on recent research, the average family spends $27,000 annually on medical coverage (up 6% compared to last year). Typical employer health insurance cost is projected to surpass $seventeen thousand per employee in 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025.

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

When Will We Seriously Consider Universal Healthcare?

When will we genuinely evaluate universal healthcare coverage in the United States? I'm convinced we're approaching that point since this can't continue.

I'm not proposing national healthcare. I'm advocating for our current Medicare system – an insurance system – simply expand to cover everyone. Our infrastructure doesn't change. How our healthcare providers receive payment would change. Believe me, they will adjust.

How National Health Insurance Could Function

Universal healthcare coverage would need contributions from both employees and employers. In similar programs, a worker making moderate income pays about 5.3% to their healthcare. The company pays approximately thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this appear like a lot? Not if you contrast it to what average US resident spends. I know multiple businesses who are routinely paying anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages for medical benefits. Remember that with inclusive programs, these contributions also cover retirement benefits, illness coverage, maternity leave and unemployment benefits along with funding medical services. When including those costs versus what we pay for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and paid time off, the gap narrows.

Implementation for America

In the US, universal healthcare funding would increase our Medicare tax deduction, a system that is already in place. It ought to be means-based – those at higher income levels would pay more than those earning less. This includes both an employee and company payments. Similar to much of federal military, technology, welfare services and transportation services, the program could be managed to third-party administrators instead of a government office.

Benefits for Entrepreneurs

Universal healthcare coverage represents a huge benefit for small businesses such as my company. It would place us on a level playing field against big corporations who can afford better plans. It would make management much easier (a payroll deduction remitted like social security and healthcare taxes, rather than separate payments to benefit firms and coverage administrators).

It would make simpler to plan expenses annual expenditures, rather than enduring the complicated (and fruitless) process of bargaining with the big insurance providers that we must do each year. Due to simplification, there would be a better understanding of coverage among workers – contrasted with existing arrangements where they have to decipher the complications of existing plans. Additionally there would certainly be less liability for companies as we no longer would be privy to our employees' health histories for weighing risks and alternative plans.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as pro-market as possible. However I recognize that public institutions play important functions in our lives, from providing defense to supporting needed infrastructure. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone via universal healthcare enhances our economy's infrastructure. It represents superior, easier system for entrepreneurs that employ more than half 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 increase productivity.

Addressing Concerns

Are there a million considerations I haven't covered? Certainly. Given all the healthcare cost increases we've seen recently, it's evident that the Affordable Care Act isn't functioning effectively. I understand that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms can be readily adopted. But expanding Medicare for all, even with the additional taxes required, would remain a superior and more affordable strategy for not only controlling healthcare costs but providing access to everyone.

Time for Realistic Evaluation

As Americans, we need to reduce our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't so great. We rank significantly behind many other countries in healthcare quality globally, based on major studies. Maybe one positive aspect amid present circumstances could be that we take serious examination in the mirror and agree that big changes need to happen.