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Deductibles. Preferred providers. Non-preferred providers. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Medical advisors. ACA. Health Maintenance Organization. Preferred Provider Organization. Exclusive Provider Organization. POS. HDHP. HSA. FSA. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. EOB. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Dependent coverage. Premium tax credits.

Baffled? It's understandable. Who understands all this stuff? Certainly not the average business owner. Neither the average employee. Choosing the right 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's Expensive

According to a recent study, the average family pays $27,000 each year for their health insurance (increasing by 6% compared to last year). The average employer health insurance cost is expected to exceed $seventeen thousand per employee by 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025.

Currently the government has ceased functioning due to partisan disputes over subsidies that experts say could cause a doubling of premiums for millions of Americans.

When Might We Seriously Consider Universal Healthcare?

How soon might we seriously consider a national health insurance program in the United States? I'm convinced we're getting closer since this can't continue.

I'm not suggesting government-run medicine. I'm proposing for our current Medicare program – an established insurance framework – merely extend to cover everyone. The existing system doesn't change. How medical professionals get paid would change. Believe me, they will adjust.

The Way National Health Insurance Could Function

A national health insurance program would require contributions from both employees and employers. In similar programs, an employee earning average wages must contribute approximately 5.3% toward medical coverage. The company pays approximately 13.75%.

Does this seem expensive? Unless you contrast it to what average American pays. I can name multiple businesses who are routinely paying between 8% to 15% of payroll costs for medical benefits. Remember that with inclusive programs, those payments also cover pension plans, sick pay, maternity leave and unemployment benefits in addition to funding medical services. When including these expenses compared with our current spending on retirement programs, unemployment insurance and paid time off, the difference decreases.

Implementation for America

For America, a national health premium would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a framework already established. It ought to be income-adjusted – wealthier individuals would contribute higher amounts than lower-income earners. This includes both an employee and company payments. And, like many federal defense, IT, social programs and infrastructure, the system should be outsourced by private contractors instead of federal agencies.

Advantages for Small Businesses

Universal healthcare coverage would be a huge benefit for small businesses such as my company. It would put small companies in equal competition with our larger competitors who can afford better plans. It would render management much easier (automatic payroll withholding processed similarly to retirement and healthcare taxes, instead of 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 fruitless) theater of bargaining with the big insurance providers required annually each year. Due to simplification, there would exist a better understanding of coverage by our employees – as opposed to existing arrangements which require them to interpret the complications of existing plans. And there would certainly be less liability for employers as we no longer would be privy to our employees' health histories for weighing risks and different options.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as capitalist as possible. However I recognize that government play important functions in our lives, from providing defense to supporting needed infrastructure. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone through a national insurance system enhances our economy's infrastructure. It represents superior, easier system for entrepreneurs that employ the majority of American employees and generate half the economic output. It makes it possible for workers to enjoy better health, 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 we've seen in recent years, it's evident that the Affordable Care Act isn't functioning very well. And I realize that America isn't a small, Scandinavian country where big changes can be readily adopted. However extending universal Medicare, even with the additional taxes required, would still be a superior and less expensive strategy both for controlling healthcare costs but providing access to everyone.

Time for Honest Assessment

As Americans, we need to tone down national pride. Our healthcare system isn't so great. We rank well below numerous nations in healthcare quality globally, according to major studies. Perhaps a positive aspect in this present circumstances is that we take a hard look at ourselves and acknowledge that big changes need to happen.