🔗 Share this article

Deductibles. In-network. Non-preferred providers. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Co-payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. ACA. HMO. PPO. EPO. POS. HDHP. HSA. FSA. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. EOB. COBRA. SHOP. Single coverage. Dependent coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Baffled? It's understandable. Who understands all this stuff? Not the typical entrepreneur. Nor the typical employee. Selecting the appropriate healthcare insurance for companies – or for households – seems like it requires a PhD in medical insurance.

Our Medical System Is More Than Complicated, It Is Costly

According to a recent study, the average family pays $27,000 annually on medical coverage (increasing by 6% from last year). Typical company healthcare expense is projected to surpass $17,000 per employee in 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025.

Now the government has ceased functioning due to political disagreements over tax credits that experts say will lead to premium increases up to 100% for numerous US citizens.

When Might We Truly Examine Universal Healthcare?

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

I'm not proposing national healthcare. I'm advocating that our already existing Medicare system – an established insurance framework – merely extend to include all citizens. The existing system remains intact. How our healthcare providers receive payment would change. Trust me, they'll adapt.

The Way National Health Insurance Could Function

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

Does this appear expensive? Unless you compare that with what the typical US resident spends. I can name multiple businesses that are easily contributing between 8% to 15% of payroll costs to their healthcare costs. Remember that with comprehensive systems, these contributions include pension plans, sick pay, parental benefits and unemployment benefits along with funding healthcare facilities. When including those costs 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 should be means-based – those at higher income levels would pay more than lower-income earners. There would be both an employee and company payments. And, like much of federal military, technology, social programs and transportation services, the system should be outsourced to third-party administrators rather than a government office.

Benefits for Small Businesses

Universal healthcare coverage represents a significant advantage for small businesses like mine. It would put small companies in equal competition against big corporations who can afford superior coverage. It would render management significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding processed similarly to retirement and healthcare taxes, instead of individual transactions to benefit firms and coverage administrators).

It would enable it easier for us to budget annual expenditures, instead of enduring the complicated (and ineffective) theater of negotiating with major insurers that we must do each year. Due to simplification, there would be improved comprehension about benefits among workers – as opposed to existing arrangements which require them to interpret the complexities of current options. And there would certainly be less liability for companies as we no longer would be privy to our employees' medical records for purposes of risk assessment and different options.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as capitalist as possible. But I've learned that government has a significant role in our lives, including national security to supporting needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare to all through a national insurance system enhances economic foundations. It represents superior, easier system for small businesses which hire the majority of the country's workers and generate half the economic output. It enables for workers to enjoy better health, come to work more often and be more productive.

Considering Challenges

Exist numerous factors I'm not addressing? Of course there are. But with all the healthcare cost increases experienced in recent years, it's clear that current healthcare legislation isn't functioning very well. I understand that America isn't a compact European nation where big changes can be readily adopted. However extending universal Medicare, despite the additional taxes that would be incurred, would remain a superior and more affordable approach both for controlling healthcare costs but providing access for all citizens.

Time for Realistic Evaluation

As Americans, must tone down national pride. Our healthcare system isn't so great. The US places well below numerous nations with the best healthcare in the world, based on comprehensive research. Perhaps a positive aspect amid current situation is that we undertake serious examination in the mirror and acknowledge that major reforms are necessary.