🔗 Share this article

Out-of-pocket costs. In-network. Non-preferred providers. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Benefit advisers. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. ACA. HMO. Preferred Provider Organization. Exclusive Provider Organization. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. Flexible Spending Account. HRA. EOB. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Dependent coverage. Premium tax credits.

Baffled? You should be. Who understands this complex system? Not the typical entrepreneur. Neither the average worker. Selecting the appropriate medical coverage for companies – or for our families – appears to require it requires advanced expertise in healthcare.

Our Healthcare System Is More Than Complicated, It's Costly

Based on a recent study, the average family spends $27,000 annually for their health insurance (increasing by 6% from last year). The average company healthcare expense is expected to exceed $17,000 per employee by 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025.

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

When Might We Truly Examine Universal Healthcare?

How soon might we seriously consider a national health insurance program here in America? I'm convinced we're approaching that point because this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not proposing government-run medicine. I'm proposing that our already existing Medicare program – an established insurance framework – simply expand to cover everyone. The existing system remains intact. The way our healthcare providers receive payment would change. Believe me, they'll adapt.

How National Health Insurance Could Function

A national health insurance program would require payments from workers and companies. In comparable systems, a worker making moderate income must contribute approximately 5.3% to their healthcare. Their employer pays about thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this seem like a lot? Not if you compare it to what average US resident spends. I know multiple clients who are routinely paying between 8% to 15% of payroll costs to their healthcare costs. And keep in mind that in comprehensive systems, these contributions include pension plans, illness coverage, maternity leave and job loss protection along with funding medical services. When you add these expenses compared with what we pay on retirement programs, job loss coverage and paid time off, the gap narrows.

Implementation for America

In the US, universal healthcare funding would increase our Medicare tax deduction, a framework that is already in place. It should be income-adjusted – those at higher income levels would pay more than those earning less. There would be both an employee and employer contribution. Similar to much of our government's military, IT, social programs and infrastructure, the program could be managed to third-party administrators rather than a government office.

Benefits for Small Businesses

Universal healthcare coverage represents a significant advantage for entrepreneurs such as my company. It would place small companies in equal competition against big corporations who can afford better plans. It would render administration much easier (automatic payroll withholding remitted like social security and Medicare taxes, rather than individual transactions to insurance companies and coverage administrators).

It would make it easier to plan expenses annual expenditures, instead of enduring the complicated (and ineffective) theater of bargaining with the big insurance providers that we must do each year. Due to simplification, there would exist a better understanding of coverage by our employees – contrasted with existing arrangements where they have to interpret the complexities of existing plans. And there would certainly be less liability for companies as we no longer have access to our employees' medical records for risk assessment and alternative plans.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as capitalist as possible. However I recognize that public institutions play important functions in our lives, including national security to supporting needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare to all via universal healthcare enhances our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, easier system for small businesses which hire the majority of American employees and fund half the economic output. It enables for workers to be healthier, come to work more often and increase productivity.

Addressing Concerns

Are there numerous factors I'm not addressing? Certainly. Given all the healthcare cost increases we've seen in recent years, it's clear that the Affordable Care Act isn't functioning very well. And I realize that we're not a compact European nation where major reforms are easier to implement. However extending Medicare for all, 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.

Need for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, must reduce national pride. America's medical care isn't so great. The US places significantly behind many other countries in healthcare quality globally, based on comprehensive research. Perhaps a positive aspect amid present circumstances could be that we undertake a hard look at ourselves and agree that big changes are necessary.