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Out-of-pocket costs. In-network. Non-preferred providers. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Co-payment. Shared insurance. Benefit advisers. Insurance brokers. Medical advisors. ACA. HMO. PPO. Exclusive Provider Organization. Point of Service. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. FSA. HRA. EOB. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. SHOP. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Premium tax credits.

Baffled? It's understandable. Who comprehends all this stuff? Certainly not the average business owner. Neither the average employee. Choosing the appropriate healthcare insurance for our business – or for households – seems like demands a PhD in medical insurance.

The Healthcare System Isn't Just Complicated, It Is Costly

According to recent research, typical households spends $27,000 each year on medical coverage (increasing by 6% compared to last year). The average company healthcare expense is projected to surpass $17,000 for each worker in 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025.

Currently the government is shut down because partisan disputes over tax credits that experts say could cause a doubling of premiums for millions of Americans.

When Will We Truly Examine National Health Insurance?

How soon might we seriously consider universal healthcare coverage in the United States? 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 cover everyone. Our infrastructure doesn't change. The way medical professionals receive payment changes. Trust me, they will adjust.

How National Health Insurance Would Work

Universal healthcare coverage would require payments from workers and companies. In similar programs, an employee making average wages must contribute about five point three percent to their healthcare. Their employer pays about thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this appear like a lot? Unless you contrast that with what the typical American pays. I can name multiple businesses that are easily contributing anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages for medical benefits. Remember that with comprehensive systems, these contributions also cover retirement benefits, sick pay, maternity leave and unemployment benefits along with supporting healthcare facilities. When you add these expenses versus our current spending on retirement programs, unemployment insurance and paid time off, the gap narrows.

Implementation in the US

For America, universal healthcare funding would raise existing Medicare taxes, a system that is already in place. It ought to be income-adjusted – those at higher income levels would pay more than those earning less. This includes both worker and company payments. Similar to much of our government's military, IT, welfare services and infrastructure, the system could be managed by private contractors rather than federal agencies.

Benefits for Small Businesses

Universal healthcare coverage 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 superior coverage. It would render management much easier (a payroll deduction remitted like social security and Medicare taxes, rather than individual transactions to benefit firms and coverage administrators).

It would enable simpler for us to budget annual expenditures, instead of going through the complex (and ineffective) theater of bargaining with the big insurance providers required annually each year. Due to simplification, there would be improved comprehension about benefits by our employees – as opposed to the current system which require them to decipher the complexities of existing plans. And there would definitely exist less liability for companies as we no longer have access to workers' medical records for purposes of risk assessment and alternative plans.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as capitalist as they get. However I recognize that public institutions has a significant role in our lives, including national security to supporting needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare for everyone via universal healthcare strengthens our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, easier system for entrepreneurs which hire the majority of the country's workers and fund half the economic output. It enables employees to be healthier, come to work more often and increase productivity.

Addressing Concerns

Exist numerous factors I haven't covered? Of course there are. Given rising medical expenses we've seen recently, it's evident that current healthcare legislation is not working very well. And I realize that America isn't a compact European nation where major reforms are easier to implement. But expanding universal Medicare, even with the additional taxes required, would still be a superior and less expensive strategy for not only controlling healthcare costs but providing access for all citizens.

Need for Honest Assessment

We as Americans, we need to tone down national pride. Our healthcare system isn't so great. We rank well below many other countries in healthcare quality globally, according to comprehensive research. Perhaps a bright spot in this current situation is that we undertake serious examination in the mirror and acknowledge that major reforms need to happen.