🔗 Share this article

Deductibles. Preferred providers. Non-preferred providers. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Benefit advisers. Insurance brokers. Medical advisors. ACA. HMO. PPO. Exclusive Provider Organization. Point of Service. HDHP. HSA. FSA. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. COBRA. SHOP. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Premium tax credits.

Baffled? It's understandable. Who comprehends this complex system? Certainly not the average business owner. Neither the average employee. Choosing the right medical coverage for our business – or for households – appears to require demands advanced expertise in medical insurance.

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

According to a recent study, typical households pays $twenty-seven thousand each year for their health insurance (up 6% from last year). The average company healthcare expense is expected to exceed $seventeen thousand per employee by 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025.

Now federal operations is shut down because political disagreements over tax credits which analysts predict could cause premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Will We Truly Examine National Health Insurance?

How soon might we seriously consider universal healthcare coverage here in America? I have to believe we're approaching that point since this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not suggesting national healthcare. I'm proposing for our current Medicare program – an established insurance framework – merely extend to cover everyone. Our infrastructure doesn't change. The way our healthcare providers get paid changes. Believe me, they'll adapt.

The Way National Health Insurance Would Work

A national health insurance program would require payments from workers and companies. In comparable systems, an employee making average wages must contribute about 5.3% toward medical coverage. Their employer pays approximately thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this seem expensive? Not if you contrast it to what the typical American pays. I can name multiple businesses who are routinely paying between 8% to 15% of their employee wages for medical benefits. And keep in mind that with comprehensive systems, those payments include retirement benefits, sick pay, parental benefits and unemployment benefits along with funding medical services. When including those costs versus our current spending for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits, the gap narrows.

Implementation in the US

In the US, a national health premium would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a system that is already in place. It should be income-adjusted – those at higher income levels would pay more than lower-income earners. This includes both worker and company payments. And, like much of our government's military, IT, social programs and infrastructure, the system could be managed to third-party administrators rather than federal agencies.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

A national health insurance program represents a huge benefit for entrepreneurs like mine. It would put small companies in equal competition against big corporations that can pay for better plans. It would render administration significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding processed similarly to social security and healthcare taxes, rather than individual transactions to benefit firms and coverage administrators).

It would make simpler to plan expenses our yearly costs, rather than enduring the complicated (and ineffective) process of negotiating with major insurers required annually each year. Due to simplification, there would exist a better understanding of coverage by our employees – as opposed to existing arrangements which require them to interpret the complexities of existing plans. And there would certainly be reduced responsibility for companies as we no longer would be privy to workers' medical records for purposes of weighing risks and different options.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as pro-market as possible. But I've learned that government has a significant role in society, from providing defense to supporting essential systems. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone via universal healthcare strengthens our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, easier system for small businesses that employ the majority of American employees and fund half the economic output. It makes it possible employees to be healthier, come to work more often and increase productivity.

Addressing Concerns

Exist numerous factors I'm not addressing? Certainly. But with all the healthcare cost increases experienced in recent years, it's clear that the Affordable Care Act is not working effectively. And I realize that we're not a compact European nation where major reforms are easier to implement. But expanding Medicare for all, even with the additional taxes required, would remain a better and less expensive strategy both for managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Time for Honest Assessment

We as Americans, must tone down national pride. Our healthcare system isn't so great. The US places significantly behind many other countries in healthcare quality globally, according to major studies. Perhaps a positive aspect amid current situation could be that we undertake a hard look in the mirror and acknowledge that big changes need to happen.