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Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Non-preferred providers. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Benefit advisers. Insurance brokers. Medical advisors. ACA. HMO. PPO. EPO. Point of Service. High Deductible Health Plan. HSA. Flexible Spending Account. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. EOB. COBRA. SHOP. Single coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Baffled? It's understandable. Who understands this complex system? Not the typical entrepreneur. Neither the average employee. Selecting the right healthcare insurance for companies – or for our families – seems like demands a PhD in healthcare.

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

According to recent research, the average family spends $27,000 annually for their health insurance (increasing by 6% from last year). The average employer health insurance cost is expected to exceed $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 which analysts predict could cause a doubling of premiums for millions of Americans.

When Will We Truly Examine National Health Insurance?

When will we genuinely evaluate universal healthcare coverage in the United States? I have to believe we're approaching that point since this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not proposing national healthcare. I'm advocating that our already existing Medicare system – an established insurance framework – simply expand to include all citizens. The existing system remains intact. How medical professionals receive payment would change. Believe me, they will adjust.

How National Health Insurance Would Work

A national health insurance program would need payments from employees and employers. In comparable systems, a worker making average wages pays approximately 5.3% to their healthcare. The company must contribute about thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this seem expensive? Unless you contrast that with what average US resident spends. I know multiple businesses who are easily contributing anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of payroll costs for medical benefits. And keep in mind that with comprehensive systems, those payments also cover pension plans, sick pay, parental benefits and unemployment benefits along with funding healthcare facilities. When including those costs versus what we pay for our retirement plans, job loss coverage and vacation benefits, the difference decreases.

Execution for America

In the US, universal healthcare funding would increase existing Medicare taxes, a system that is already in place. It ought to be income-adjusted – wealthier individuals would contribute higher amounts than lower-income earners. There would be both worker and company payments. Similar to many our government's military, IT, welfare services and infrastructure, the program could be managed to third-party administrators instead of a government office.

Advantages for Small Businesses

A national health insurance program represents a huge benefit for entrepreneurs like mine. It would put us on a level playing field against big corporations that can pay for superior coverage. It would make administration much easier (automatic payroll withholding processed similarly to retirement and Medicare taxes, rather than individual transactions to insurance companies and insurance providers).

It would enable simpler for us to budget our yearly costs, rather than enduring the complex (and fruitless) theater of bargaining with the big insurance providers that we must do every year. Due to simplification, there would exist a better understanding about benefits by our employees – as opposed to existing arrangements where they have to decipher the complexities of existing plans. Additionally there would definitely exist reduced responsibility for companies as we no longer have access to our employees' health histories for risk assessment and different options.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as capitalist as possible. But I've learned that public institutions play important functions in society, including national security to funding needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare to all via universal healthcare strengthens our economy's infrastructure. It represents superior, simpler approach for small businesses which hire the majority of the country's workers and generate half of our GDP. It makes it possible employees to be healthier, have better attendance and be more productive.

Addressing Concerns

Are there numerous factors I haven't covered? Of course there are. But with all the healthcare cost increases experienced in recent years, it's evident that current healthcare legislation isn't functioning effectively. I understand that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where big changes can be readily adopted. But expanding universal Medicare, even with the additional taxes required, would still be a superior and more affordable strategy both for managing medical expenses but providing access to everyone.

Need for Honest Assessment

As Americans, must tone down national pride. America's medical care isn't exceptional. We rank well below numerous nations with the best healthcare in the world, based on major studies. Maybe one positive aspect in this current situation is that we take serious examination at ourselves and acknowledge that big changes need to happen.