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Deductibles. In-network. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. ACA. Health Maintenance Organization. PPO. Exclusive Provider Organization. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. HSA. Flexible Spending Account. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. Explanation of Benefits. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Single coverage. Family coverage. Premium tax credits.

Confused? It's understandable. Who comprehends this complex system? Not the typical entrepreneur. Nor the typical worker. Selecting the appropriate healthcare insurance for companies – or for our families – appears to require demands a PhD in medical insurance.

The Healthcare System Isn't Just Complicated, It's Costly

According to a recent study, the average family pays $twenty-seven thousand each year for their health insurance (up 6% from last year). Typical employer health insurance cost is expected to exceed $seventeen thousand for each worker by 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025.

Now the government is shut down because political disagreements over subsidies that experts say could cause premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Might We Seriously Consider Universal Healthcare?

When will we seriously consider a national health insurance program here in America? I have to believe we're getting closer because this can't continue.

I'm not suggesting government-run medicine. I'm advocating for our current Medicare program – an established insurance framework – simply expand to cover everyone. Our infrastructure remains intact. The way medical professionals get paid changes. Believe me, they'll adapt.

How National Health Insurance Could Function

A national health insurance program would need contributions from both employees and employers. In comparable systems, a worker earning moderate income pays approximately 5.3% toward medical coverage. Their employer must contribute approximately thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this appear expensive? Unless you contrast that with what average American pays. I know dozens of businesses who are routinely paying between 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 job loss protection in addition to funding healthcare facilities. When you add these expenses versus what we pay on retirement programs, job loss coverage and paid time off, the difference decreases.

Execution for America

For America, a national health premium would increase existing Medicare taxes, a framework already established. It should be means-based – those at higher income levels would contribute higher amounts than those earning less. There would be both an employee and employer contribution. Similar to many federal defense, IT, welfare services and infrastructure, the system should be outsourced by private contractors instead of a government office.

Benefits for Entrepreneurs

Universal healthcare coverage represents a significant advantage 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 management much easier (a payroll deduction processed similarly to retirement and Medicare taxes, rather than individual transactions to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would make simpler for us to budget annual expenditures, instead of enduring the complicated (and ineffective) theater of bargaining with the big insurance providers that we must do each year. Because it's simplified, there would exist a better understanding of coverage among workers – as opposed to the current system where they have to decipher the complications of current options. And there would certainly be less liability for employers as we no longer have access to workers' health histories for risk assessment and different options.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as capitalist as they get. However I recognize that public institutions play important functions in society, from providing defense to supporting essential systems. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone via universal healthcare enhances our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, easier system for small businesses which hire the majority of American employees and fund half the economic output. It makes it possible for workers to enjoy better health, come to work more often and increase productivity.

Considering Challenges

Exist a million considerations I haven't covered? Of course there are. But with all the healthcare cost increases we've seen in recent years, it's clear that the Affordable Care Act is not working very well. And I realize that America isn't a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms are easier to implement. However extending universal Medicare, despite increased taxation that would be incurred, would still be a better and less expensive approach for not only controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage to everyone.

Need for Honest Assessment

We as Americans, we need to reduce our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't exceptional. The US places significantly behind many other countries with the best healthcare in the world, based on major studies. Maybe one bright spot in this present circumstances could be that we undertake serious examination at ourselves and agree that major reforms need to happen.