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Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Non-preferred providers. Concierge medical services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Co-payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Medical advisors. Affordable Care Act. HMO. PPO. Exclusive Provider Organization. Point of Service. HDHP. HSA. FSA. HRA. EOB. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. SHOP. Single coverage. Family coverage. Premium tax credits.

Baffled? It's understandable. Who understands all this stuff? Not the typical entrepreneur. Nor the typical worker. Choosing the right medical coverage for our business – or for households – appears to require demands a PhD in medical insurance.

Our Healthcare System Is More Than Complex, It Is Expensive

Based on a recent study, typical households pays $27,000 annually for their health insurance (up 6% from last year). Typical employer health insurance cost is projected to exceed $17,000 for each worker in 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025.

Currently federal operations has ceased functioning due to partisan disputes regarding tax credits that experts say could cause a doubling of premiums for numerous US citizens.

When Will We Truly Examine Universal Healthcare?

When will we seriously consider a national health insurance program in the United States? I'm convinced we're getting closer because this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not suggesting government-run medicine. I'm proposing for our current Medicare system – an established insurance framework – simply expand to include all citizens. Our infrastructure doesn't change. How medical professionals get paid changes. Trust me, they will adjust.

The Way Universal Coverage Could Function

A national health insurance program would require contributions from both employees and employers. In comparable systems, a worker earning average wages pays approximately 5.3% toward medical coverage. Their employer pays about 13.75%.

Does this appear like a lot? Unless you contrast that with what the typical US resident spends. I know multiple clients that are easily contributing anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages for medical benefits. And keep in mind that in comprehensive systems, these contributions also cover retirement benefits, sick pay, parental benefits and job loss protection in addition to funding medical services. When you add those costs versus our current spending on retirement programs, unemployment insurance and paid time off, the difference decreases.

Execution in the US

In the US, a national health premium would raise existing Medicare taxes, a framework that is already in place. It should be income-adjusted – wealthier individuals would pay more than lower-income earners. There would be both worker and employer contribution. And, like much of federal defense, technology, social programs and infrastructure, the program could be managed to third-party administrators instead of a government office.

Benefits for Small Businesses

Universal healthcare coverage would be a huge benefit for entrepreneurs like mine. It would put small companies in equal competition with our larger competitors that can pay for better plans. It would make administration much easier (a payroll deduction remitted like social security and healthcare taxes, instead of separate payments to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would make it easier to plan expenses our yearly costs, rather than going through the complicated (and ineffective) theater of bargaining with the big insurance providers that we must do each year. Due to simplification, there would exist a better understanding of coverage among workers – contrasted with existing arrangements where they have to decipher the complexities of current options. And there would definitely exist less liability for employers since we wouldn't have access to workers' medical records for purposes of risk assessment and different options.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as pro-market as possible. But I've learned that government has a significant role in our lives, from providing defense to supporting needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare for everyone via universal healthcare enhances economic foundations. It's a better, easier system for small businesses which hire the majority of the country's workers and fund half the economic output. It enables for workers to enjoy better health, have better attendance and be more productive.

Considering Challenges

Exist a million considerations I haven't covered? Of course there are. Given all the healthcare cost increases experienced in recent years, it's evident that the Affordable Care Act is not working effectively. And I realize that America isn't a compact European nation where big changes are easier to implement. However extending universal Medicare, even with the additional taxes that would be incurred, would still be a superior and less expensive strategy for not only managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Need for Realistic Evaluation

As Americans, we need to tone down national pride. America's medical care isn't so great. The US places significantly behind numerous nations with the best healthcare globally, based on comprehensive research. Perhaps a bright spot amid current situation is that we take serious examination in the mirror and agree that major reforms are necessary.