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Deductibles. In-network. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. ACA. Health Maintenance Organization. PPO. Exclusive Provider Organization. Point of Service. HDHP. Health Savings Account. Flexible Spending Account. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. Explanation of Benefits. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Baffled? It's understandable. Who comprehends all this stuff? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Neither the average worker. Choosing the right healthcare insurance for companies – or for households – appears to require demands advanced expertise in medical insurance.

The Healthcare System Is More Than Complicated, It Is Expensive

Based on a recent study, typical households pays $27,000 each year for their health insurance (up 6% compared to last year). Typical employer health insurance cost is expected to exceed $seventeen thousand for each worker in 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025.

Now the government has ceased functioning because partisan disputes over tax credits that experts say could cause a doubling of premiums for millions of Americans.

When Might We Seriously Consider National Health Insurance?

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

I'm not proposing government-run medicine. I'm advocating for our current Medicare program – an established insurance framework – simply expand to include all citizens. The existing system remains intact. How medical professionals receive payment changes. Trust me, they will adjust.

The Way Universal Coverage Would Work

A national health insurance program would need contributions from workers and companies. In similar programs, an employee making average wages pays about five point three percent toward medical coverage. Their employer must contribute about 13.75%.

Does this seem expensive? Not if you contrast it to what the typical American pays. I can name dozens of clients that are easily contributing anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of payroll costs for medical benefits. And keep in mind that in inclusive programs, these contributions also cover retirement benefits, sick pay, maternity leave and job loss protection along with funding healthcare facilities. When you add those costs compared with 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 already established. It should be income-adjusted – wealthier individuals would contribute higher amounts than those earning less. This includes both worker and company payments. Similar to much of federal military, technology, welfare services and infrastructure, the program could be managed to third-party administrators rather than a government office.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

Universal healthcare coverage would be a huge benefit for entrepreneurs such as my company. It would put small companies in equal competition against big corporations that can pay for better plans. It would render administration much easier (a payroll deduction remitted like retirement and healthcare taxes, rather than individual transactions to benefit firms and coverage administrators).

It would make simpler to plan expenses our yearly costs, instead of enduring the complicated (and ineffective) process of bargaining with the big insurance providers that we must do each year. Due to simplification, there would be improved comprehension of coverage among workers – as opposed to existing arrangements which require them to decipher the complications of current options. Additionally there would definitely exist less liability for companies since we wouldn't would be privy to workers' medical records for purposes of weighing risks and different options.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as capitalist as they get. However I recognize that government has a significant role in society, including national security to funding needed infrastructure. Ensuring medical coverage to all through a national insurance system strengthens economic foundations. It's a better, easier system for entrepreneurs which hire the majority of the country's workers and fund half the economic output. It makes it possible for workers 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 in recent years, it's clear that current healthcare legislation isn't functioning effectively. I understand that America isn't 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 still be a better and more affordable approach both for controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Need for Honest Assessment

As Americans, must tone down our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't exceptional. The US places well below many other countries with the best healthcare globally, based on comprehensive research. Perhaps a bright spot amid current situation could be that we take a hard look at ourselves and acknowledge that major reforms are necessary.