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Out-of-pocket costs. In-network. Out-of-network. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Medical advisors. Affordable Care Act. HMO. Preferred Provider Organization. Exclusive Provider Organization. Point of Service. HDHP. HSA. Flexible Spending Account. HRA. EOB. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Small Business Health Options Program. Single coverage. Family coverage. Premium tax credits.

Confused? It's understandable. Who understands all this stuff? Certainly not the average business owner. Nor the typical worker. Selecting the right medical coverage for companies – or for households – seems like it requires a PhD in medical insurance.

The Medical System Is More Than Complex, It Is Expensive

According to a recent study, the average family spends $27,000 annually for their health insurance (up 6% compared to last year). Typical company healthcare expense is projected to surpass $seventeen thousand per employee in 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025.

Currently federal operations has ceased functioning due to partisan disputes regarding subsidies that experts say could cause premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Will We Truly Examine Universal Healthcare?

How soon might 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 suggesting national healthcare. I'm advocating for our current Medicare program – an established insurance framework – simply expand to include all citizens. Our infrastructure remains intact. How medical professionals get paid changes. Believe me, they will adjust.

How National Health Insurance Could Function

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

Does this appear like a lot? Not if you compare it to what average American pays. I can name dozens of clients that are easily contributing between 8% to 15% of payroll costs to their healthcare costs. Remember that in inclusive programs, these contributions include pension plans, illness coverage, maternity leave and unemployment benefits along with supporting healthcare facilities. When including these expenses versus what we pay for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits, the gap narrows.

Implementation for America

In the US, a national health premium would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a system that is already in place. It should be means-based – those at higher income levels would contribute higher amounts than lower-income earners. There would be both worker and company payments. And, like much of federal military, technology, social programs and infrastructure, the program should be outsourced by private contractors instead of a government office.

Benefits for Small Businesses

Universal healthcare coverage would be a huge benefit for small businesses like mine. It would put small companies in equal competition against big corporations that can pay for superior coverage. It would make administration much easier (a payroll deduction processed similarly to retirement and healthcare taxes, rather than individual transactions to insurance companies and insurance providers).

It would make it easier to plan expenses annual expenditures, instead of going through the complex (and ineffective) theater of bargaining with major insurers required annually each year. Because it's simplified, there would be improved comprehension of coverage among workers – contrasted with existing arrangements which require them to interpret the complications of existing plans. Additionally there would definitely exist less liability for employers since we wouldn't would be privy to workers' 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, from providing defense to supporting essential systems. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone through a national insurance system enhances economic foundations. It's a better, easier system for entrepreneurs which hire more than half of the country's workers and fund half of our GDP. It enables for workers to be healthier, come to work more often and increase productivity.

Considering Challenges

Are there numerous factors I haven't covered? Certainly. But with all the healthcare cost increases we've seen recently, it's clear that the Affordable Care Act is not working effectively. And I realize that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where big changes are easier to implement. But expanding universal Medicare, even with the additional taxes that would be incurred, would remain a better and less expensive approach for not only controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Need for Honest Assessment

As Americans, we need to reduce national pride. America's medical care isn't so great. We rank significantly behind many other countries in healthcare quality in the world, based on major studies. Perhaps a bright spot in this current situation could be that we undertake serious examination at ourselves and acknowledge that major reforms need to happen.