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Deductibles. In-network. Out-of-network. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Benefit advisers. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. HMO. Preferred Provider Organization. EPO. POS. HDHP. HSA. FSA. HRA. EOB. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Dependent coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Baffled? It's understandable. Who comprehends all this stuff? Certainly not the average business owner. Nor the typical worker. Choosing the appropriate healthcare insurance for companies – or for households – seems like demands advanced expertise in healthcare.

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

According to recent research, the average family spends $27,000 annually on medical coverage (up 6% compared to last year). Typical employer health insurance cost is expected to exceed $17,000 per employee in 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025.

Currently federal operations is shut down because political disagreements regarding subsidies that experts say could cause premium increases up to 100% for numerous US citizens.

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 since this can't continue.

I'm not suggesting government-run medicine. I'm advocating for our current Medicare program – an established insurance framework – merely extend to cover everyone. The existing system remains intact. The way medical professionals get paid changes. Trust me, they'll adapt.

How National Health Insurance Would Work

Universal healthcare coverage would need payments from workers and companies. In comparable systems, a worker earning moderate income must contribute approximately 5.3% toward medical coverage. Their employer must contribute about thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this seem expensive? Not if you compare that with what average American pays. I know multiple businesses who are routinely paying between 8% to 15% of their employee wages to their healthcare costs. Remember that with inclusive programs, these contributions also cover retirement benefits, illness coverage, maternity leave and unemployment benefits along with supporting healthcare facilities. When you add these expenses versus our current spending for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and paid time off, the gap narrows.

Execution in the US

For America, a national health premium would raise existing Medicare taxes, a system that is already in place. It should be means-based – those at higher income levels would pay more than lower-income earners. There would be both worker and company payments. Similar to many federal military, technology, social programs and infrastructure, the system could be managed by private contractors instead of federal agencies.

Benefits for Entrepreneurs

A national health insurance program represents a huge benefit for entrepreneurs like mine. It would put us on a level playing field with our larger competitors that can pay for better plans. It would render administration much easier (a payroll deduction remitted like retirement and Medicare taxes, rather than individual transactions to benefit firms and coverage administrators).

It would enable it easier for us to budget our yearly costs, rather than going through the complicated (and ineffective) theater of bargaining with the big insurance providers that we must do every year. Due to simplification, there would exist improved comprehension of coverage among workers – contrasted with the current system where they have to interpret the complications of current options. And there would definitely exist less liability for companies as we no longer would be privy to workers' medical records for purposes of weighing risks and different options.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as capitalist as they get. But I've learned that government 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, easier system for entrepreneurs that employ more than half of American employees and fund half of our GDP. It enables employees to enjoy better health, come to work more often and be more productive.

Addressing Concerns

Exist a million considerations I haven't covered? Certainly. But with rising medical expenses we've seen in recent years, it's clear that current healthcare legislation isn't functioning very well. I understand that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where big changes can be readily adopted. But expanding Medicare for all, even with increased taxation that would be incurred, would still be a better and less expensive approach for not only managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage to everyone.

Time for Honest Assessment

We as Americans, we need to tone down national pride. America's medical care isn't so great. We rank well below numerous nations with the best healthcare in the world, based on major studies. Perhaps a positive aspect amid current situation is that we undertake a hard look in the mirror and acknowledge that major reforms need to happen.