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Deductibles. Preferred providers. Non-preferred providers. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Shared insurance. Benefit advisers. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. ACA. Health Maintenance Organization. PPO. Exclusive Provider Organization. POS. HDHP. HSA. Flexible Spending Account. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. EOB. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Single coverage. Family coverage. Premium tax credits.

Confused? You should be. Who comprehends this complex system? Certainly not the average business owner. Nor the typical worker. Selecting the appropriate healthcare insurance for our business – or for our families – appears to require it requires advanced expertise in medical insurance.

The Medical System Isn't Just Complicated, It's Expensive

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

Now the government has ceased functioning due to political disagreements 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 genuinely evaluate a national health insurance program in the United States? I have to believe we're approaching that point because this can't continue.

I'm not suggesting government-run medicine. I'm advocating for our current Medicare system – an insurance system – merely extend to include all citizens. The existing system doesn't change. How our healthcare providers get paid changes. Believe me, they'll adapt.

How National Health Insurance Would Work

Universal healthcare coverage would need payments from workers and companies. In similar programs, a worker making moderate income must contribute approximately 5.3% toward medical coverage. Their employer must contribute about thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this appear expensive? Unless you compare that with what average American pays. I know dozens of businesses who are routinely paying anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages to their healthcare costs. Remember that with inclusive programs, these contributions also cover pension plans, illness coverage, maternity leave and unemployment benefits along with funding healthcare facilities. When including those costs compared with what we pay for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and paid time off, the difference decreases.

Implementation for America

For America, universal healthcare funding would increase our Medicare tax deduction, a framework already established. It should be means-based – those at higher income levels would contribute higher amounts than those earning less. This includes both an employee and company payments. Similar to many our government's military, technology, welfare services and transportation services, the system should be outsourced by private contractors instead of a government office.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

Universal healthcare coverage represents a huge benefit for small businesses like mine. It would put us on a level playing field with our larger competitors who can afford superior coverage. It would make management much easier (automatic payroll withholding remitted like retirement and Medicare taxes, rather than separate payments to benefit firms and coverage administrators).

It would make it easier for us to budget annual expenditures, rather than enduring the complicated (and ineffective) process of bargaining with major insurers required annually 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 interpret the complications of existing plans. Additionally there would definitely exist reduced responsibility for employers since we wouldn't would be privy to our employees' health histories for weighing risks and different options.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as pro-market as possible. However I recognize that government play important functions in society, from providing defense to supporting needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare for everyone via universal healthcare enhances our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, simpler approach for entrepreneurs that employ the majority of the country's workers and fund half of our GDP. It enables employees to enjoy better health, have better attendance and be more productive.

Considering Challenges

Are there a million considerations I'm not addressing? Certainly. Given all the healthcare cost increases experienced recently, it's evident that current healthcare legislation isn't functioning effectively. I understand that America isn't a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms can be readily adopted. But expanding Medicare for all, even with increased taxation required, would still be a better and less expensive approach both for controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage to everyone.

Need for Honest Assessment

As Americans, must reduce national pride. America's medical care isn't exceptional. We rank well below many other countries with the best healthcare globally, based on major studies. Perhaps a positive aspect in this present circumstances is that we take serious examination at ourselves and acknowledge that major reforms need to happen.