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Out-of-pocket costs. In-network. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Co-payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. ACA. HMO. Preferred Provider Organization. Exclusive Provider Organization. Point of Service. High Deductible Health Plan. HSA. FSA. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. EOB. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. SHOP. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Confused? You should be. Who understands all this stuff? Not the typical entrepreneur. Neither the average employee. Selecting the right medical coverage for our business – or for households – seems like demands advanced expertise in healthcare.

The Healthcare System Is More Than Complex, It's Expensive

Based on a recent study, the average family spends $27,000 annually for their health insurance (up 6% from last year). The average company healthcare expense is expected to surpass $seventeen thousand per employee by 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025.

Currently the government is shut down due to political disagreements over tax credits that experts say could cause a doubling of premiums for millions of Americans.

When Will We Seriously Consider National Health Insurance?

When will we seriously consider a national health insurance program in the United States? I have to believe we're getting closer since this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not proposing national healthcare. I'm proposing that our already existing Medicare program – an established insurance framework – merely extend to cover everyone. Our infrastructure remains intact. How our healthcare providers get paid changes. Trust me, they will adjust.

How National Health Insurance Would Work

Universal healthcare coverage would require contributions from both workers and companies. In comparable systems, a worker earning moderate income must contribute about 5.3% to their healthcare. Their employer pays about thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this seem expensive? Not if you compare it to what the typical US resident spends. I know multiple businesses that are easily contributing between eight to fifteen percent of payroll costs for medical benefits. And keep in mind that in comprehensive systems, those payments also cover retirement benefits, sick pay, parental benefits and unemployment benefits in addition to funding medical services. When including these expenses versus our current spending on retirement programs, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits, the difference decreases.

Implementation for America

For America, universal healthcare funding would increase existing Medicare taxes, a framework already established. It ought to be means-based – those at higher income levels would contribute higher amounts than lower-income earners. This includes both an employee and company payments. Similar to much of 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 Small Businesses

A national health insurance program represents a significant advantage for small businesses like mine. It would put us on a level playing field against big corporations that can pay for better plans. It would render management significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding remitted like retirement and Medicare taxes, instead of separate payments to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would enable simpler to plan expenses annual expenditures, rather than enduring the complex (and ineffective) theater of negotiating with major insurers required annually every year. Due to simplification, there would exist a better understanding about benefits by our employees – contrasted with existing arrangements which require them to decipher the complexities of current options. And there would certainly be reduced responsibility for companies since we wouldn't would be privy to our employees' medical records for weighing risks and different options.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as capitalist as they get. But I've learned that public institutions has a significant role in our lives, including national security to funding needed infrastructure. Ensuring medical coverage to all via universal healthcare strengthens our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, easier system for entrepreneurs that employ the majority of the country's workers and generate half of our GDP. It makes it possible employees to be healthier, come to work more often and be more productive.

Addressing Concerns

Are there a million considerations I haven't covered? Of course there are. But with rising medical expenses experienced recently, it's clear that current healthcare legislation isn't functioning very well. And I realize that we're not a compact European nation where major reforms are easier to implement. But expanding Medicare for all, despite the additional taxes required, would remain a better and less expensive approach for not only managing medical expenses but providing access to everyone.

Time for Honest Assessment

We as Americans, must tone down our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't so great. The US places well below numerous nations in healthcare quality globally, according to major studies. Maybe one bright spot amid present circumstances could be that we undertake a hard look at ourselves and acknowledge that major reforms need to happen.