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Out-of-pocket costs. In-network. Non-preferred providers. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Co-payment. Shared insurance. Benefit advisers. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. ACA. HMO. Preferred Provider Organization. Exclusive Provider Organization. Point of Service. HDHP. HSA. Flexible Spending Account. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. SHOP. Single coverage. Family coverage. Premium tax credits.

Baffled? You should be. Who comprehends all this stuff? Not the typical entrepreneur. Nor the typical worker. Selecting the right healthcare insurance for our business – or for households – appears to require it requires advanced expertise in healthcare.

Our Medical System Is More Than Complicated, It Is Costly

Based on a recent study, typical households spends $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 by 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025.

Now the government is shut down due to partisan disputes over tax credits that experts say will lead to premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Will We Truly Examine National Health Insurance?

How soon might we genuinely evaluate a national health insurance program in the United States? I'm convinced we're approaching that point because this can't continue.

I'm not proposing national healthcare. I'm advocating for our current Medicare system – an insurance system – merely extend to cover everyone. Our infrastructure doesn't change. How medical professionals receive payment changes. Believe me, they will adjust.

How Universal Coverage Could Function

A national health insurance program would need contributions from workers and companies. In similar programs, a worker making average wages pays approximately five point three percent toward medical coverage. The company must contribute approximately 13.75%.

Does this seem expensive? Not if you contrast it to what average US resident spends. I know multiple clients that are easily contributing between eight to fifteen percent of payroll costs for medical benefits. Remember that in inclusive programs, those payments include pension plans, illness coverage, parental benefits and job loss protection along with funding medical services. When you add those costs versus our current spending on retirement programs, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits, the difference decreases.

Implementation in the US

In the US, a national health premium would raise existing Medicare taxes, a framework already established. It should be income-adjusted – those at higher income levels would contribute higher amounts than lower-income earners. There would be both an employee and employer contribution. And, like much of our government's defense, IT, welfare services and transportation services, the program should be outsourced to third-party administrators instead of federal agencies.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

A national health insurance program would be a significant advantage for entrepreneurs such as my company. It would place small companies in equal competition against big corporations that can pay for better plans. It would render management significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding remitted like retirement and healthcare taxes, rather than separate payments to benefit firms and coverage administrators).

It would make simpler to plan expenses our yearly costs, rather than going through the complex (and fruitless) theater of bargaining with the big insurance providers required annually every year. Due to simplification, there would exist improved comprehension of coverage among workers – contrasted with the current system which require them to decipher the complications of existing plans. And there would certainly be less liability for employers as we no longer have access to workers' medical records for weighing risks and different options.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as pro-market as possible. However I recognize that public institutions play important functions in society, from providing defense to funding needed infrastructure. Ensuring medical coverage to all via universal healthcare enhances our economy's infrastructure. It represents superior, simpler approach for small businesses that employ the majority of American employees and fund half of our GDP. It makes it possible employees to be healthier, come to work more often and increase productivity.

Considering Challenges

Are there a million considerations I'm not addressing? Certainly. Given all the healthcare cost increases we've seen recently, it's clear that current healthcare legislation is not working effectively. And I realize that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms are easier to implement. But expanding universal Medicare, even with increased taxation that would be incurred, would remain a better and less expensive strategy both for managing medical expenses but providing access for all citizens.

Need for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, we need to reduce national pride. America's medical care isn't exceptional. The US places well below numerous nations in healthcare quality in the world, according to comprehensive research. Maybe one positive aspect in this current situation is that we undertake a hard look at ourselves and acknowledge that major reforms need to happen.