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Deductibles. In-network. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Fixed payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Medical advisors. Affordable Care Act. HMO. PPO. EPO. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. FSA. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. EOB. COBRA. SHOP. Individual coverage. Dependent coverage. Premium tax credits.

Confused? It's understandable. Who comprehends all this stuff? Certainly not the average business owner. Nor the typical employee. Choosing the appropriate healthcare insurance for companies – or for our families – seems like it requires advanced expertise in medical insurance.

The Healthcare System Is More Than Complicated, It's Expensive

According to a recent study, typical households spends $twenty-seven thousand each year for their health insurance (up 6% compared to last year). The average employer health insurance cost is projected to exceed $17,000 per employee in 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025.

Now the government is shut down because partisan disputes regarding subsidies which analysts predict will lead to premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Might We Truly Examine National Health Insurance?

How soon might we genuinely evaluate universal healthcare coverage in the United States? I'm convinced we're getting closer because this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not suggesting national healthcare. I'm advocating for our current Medicare program – an established insurance framework – simply expand to include all citizens. The existing system remains intact. How our healthcare providers receive payment changes. Believe me, they will adjust.

How National Health Insurance Would Work

A national health insurance program would need payments from employees and employers. In similar programs, an employee making average wages must contribute about five point three percent toward medical coverage. The company pays about 13.75%.

Does this appear like a lot? Not if you contrast that with what average American pays. I can name multiple clients who are easily contributing anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages for medical benefits. And keep in mind that in comprehensive systems, those payments also cover pension plans, illness coverage, maternity leave and job loss protection in addition to funding healthcare facilities. When you add those costs compared with our current spending on retirement programs, job loss coverage and paid time off, the difference decreases.

Implementation for America

For America, universal healthcare funding would increase our Medicare tax deduction, a system already established. It should be means-based – those at higher income levels would pay more than lower-income earners. This includes both worker and company payments. Similar to much of federal military, technology, social programs and infrastructure, the program should be outsourced to third-party administrators instead of federal agencies.

Benefits for Small Businesses

Universal healthcare coverage would be a huge benefit for small businesses like mine. It would place small companies in equal competition against big corporations that can pay for better plans. It would render management much easier (automatic payroll withholding processed similarly to social security and healthcare taxes, instead of individual transactions to insurance companies and insurance providers).

It would enable simpler to plan expenses our yearly costs, rather than going through the complicated (and fruitless) process of negotiating 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 interpret the complexities of current options. Additionally there would certainly be less liability for employers as we no longer would be privy to workers' health histories for purposes of weighing risks and alternative plans.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as pro-market as possible. But I've learned that public institutions has a significant role in our lives, including national security to supporting essential systems. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone through a national insurance system strengthens our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, easier system for entrepreneurs which hire the majority of American employees and generate half the economic output. It makes it possible for workers to be healthier, come to work more often and be more productive.

Addressing Concerns

Are there a million considerations I'm not addressing? Of course there are. But with all the healthcare cost increases experienced in recent years, it's evident that the Affordable Care Act is not working very well. And I realize that America isn't a small, Scandinavian country where big changes are easier to implement. However extending universal Medicare, even with increased taxation required, would still be a better and less expensive strategy both for controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage to everyone.

Time for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, we need to tone down our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't exceptional. The US places significantly behind numerous nations with the best healthcare in the world, according to major studies. Perhaps a positive aspect amid current situation is that we undertake serious examination at ourselves and agree that big changes are necessary.