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Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Out-of-network. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Co-payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Medical advisors. ACA. Health Maintenance Organization. Preferred Provider Organization. Exclusive Provider Organization. Point of Service. HDHP. HSA. FSA. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. COBRA. SHOP. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Confused? You should be. Who comprehends all this stuff? Not the typical business owner. Nor the typical employee. Selecting the appropriate medical coverage for our business – or for our families – seems like demands a PhD in medical insurance.

Our Medical System Isn't Just Complex, It Is Expensive

According to a recent study, the average family pays $27,000 annually for their health insurance (up 6% from last year). Typical company healthcare expense is expected to exceed $17,000 for each worker by 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025.

Now the government is shut down due to partisan disputes regarding tax credits that experts say will lead to a doubling of premiums for millions of Americans.

When Might We Truly Examine Universal Healthcare?

When will we genuinely evaluate a national health insurance program in the United States? I'm convinced we're approaching that point because this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not suggesting government-run medicine. I'm advocating for our current Medicare system – an insurance system – merely extend to include all citizens. Our infrastructure doesn't change. The way medical professionals receive payment would change. Believe me, they'll adapt.

How Universal Coverage Would Work

A national health insurance program would need payments from both workers and companies. In similar programs, an employee making average wages pays about five point three percent toward medical coverage. Their employer pays approximately thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this seem expensive? Unless you compare that with what the typical US resident spends. I know dozens of businesses who are routinely paying anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages for medical benefits. And keep in mind that in inclusive programs, those payments include retirement benefits, sick pay, maternity leave and job loss protection in addition to funding medical services. When you add those costs versus what we pay on retirement programs, job loss coverage and paid time off, the gap narrows.

Execution in the US

For America, universal healthcare funding would raise our Medicare tax deduction, 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 employer contribution. Similar to many federal military, IT, welfare services and infrastructure, the program could be managed by private contractors rather than a government office.

Benefits for Small Businesses

Universal healthcare coverage would be a huge benefit for entrepreneurs such as my company. It would put us on a level playing field against big corporations that can pay for superior coverage. It would make management significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding remitted like social security and Medicare taxes, instead of individual transactions to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would make simpler to plan expenses our yearly costs, rather than going through the complicated (and fruitless) theater of negotiating with major insurers that we must do every year. Due to simplification, there would be a better understanding of coverage among workers – as opposed to existing arrangements which require them to interpret the complexities of current options. Additionally there would certainly be less liability for companies as we no longer would be privy to workers' medical records for risk assessment and alternative plans.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as capitalist as they get. But I've learned that public institutions play important functions in our lives, from providing defense to supporting needed infrastructure. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone via universal healthcare enhances economic foundations. It's a better, simpler approach for entrepreneurs that employ more than half of the country's workers and generate half the economic output. It makes it possible employees to be healthier, come to work more often and increase productivity.

Addressing Concerns

Are there a million considerations I'm not addressing? Of course there are. But with all the healthcare cost increases we've seen in recent years, it's clear that current healthcare legislation is not working effectively. I understand that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms are easier to implement. However extending Medicare for all, even with increased taxation required, would remain a superior and more affordable approach for not only controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage to everyone.

Need for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, must reduce our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't so great. We rank well below many other countries with the best healthcare globally, based on major studies. Maybe one positive aspect amid present circumstances could be that we take a hard look in the mirror and agree that big changes are necessary.