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Deductibles. In-network. Out-of-network. Concierge medical services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. HMO. Preferred Provider Organization. EPO. Point of Service. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. Flexible Spending Account. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. Explanation of Benefits. COBRA. SHOP. Single coverage. Dependent coverage. Premium tax credits.

Baffled? It's understandable. Who comprehends all this stuff? Certainly not the average business owner. Nor the typical employee. Choosing the right healthcare insurance for our business – or for our families – seems like it requires a PhD in healthcare.

The Healthcare System Isn't Just Complex, It's Costly

According to recent research, typical households pays $twenty-seven thousand annually on medical coverage (increasing by 6% from last year). Typical employer health insurance cost is expected to exceed $17,000 per employee by 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025.

Currently the government has ceased functioning because political disagreements regarding subsidies that experts say could cause a doubling of premiums for numerous US citizens.

When Might We Seriously Consider National Health Insurance?

How soon might we genuinely evaluate 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 national healthcare. I'm advocating for our current Medicare program – an insurance system – merely extend to cover everyone. Our infrastructure remains intact. The way our healthcare providers get paid would change. Trust me, they will adjust.

How Universal Coverage Would Work

Universal healthcare coverage would need payments from employees and employers. In comparable systems, a worker making average wages must contribute about 5.3% toward medical coverage. The company pays about 13.75%.

Does this seem expensive? Unless you contrast it to what the typical US resident spends. I know multiple clients that are easily contributing between 8% to 15% of their employee wages to their healthcare costs. And keep in mind that in comprehensive systems, those payments also cover retirement benefits, sick pay, parental benefits and job loss protection in addition to funding healthcare facilities. When you add those costs compared with what we pay on retirement programs, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits, the gap narrows.

Execution for America

In the US, a national health premium would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a system that is already in place. It ought to be means-based – wealthier individuals would pay more than those earning less. This includes both an employee and company payments. Similar to many our government's military, IT, welfare services and transportation services, the system could be managed to third-party administrators instead of federal agencies.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

A national health insurance program represents a huge benefit for entrepreneurs like mine. It would place us on a level playing field against big corporations who can afford better plans. It would make administration significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding processed similarly to social security and healthcare taxes, rather than individual transactions to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would enable it easier for us to budget annual expenditures, instead of enduring the complex (and ineffective) process of negotiating with the big insurance providers that we must do every year. Because it's simplified, there would exist improved comprehension of coverage among workers – contrasted with existing arrangements which require them 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 different options.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as capitalist as they get. However I recognize that government play important functions in our lives, from providing defense to funding needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare for everyone through a national insurance system enhances our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, easier system for entrepreneurs that employ more than half of the country's workers and generate half of our GDP. It enables for workers to be healthier, come to work more often and increase productivity.

Considering Challenges

Exist numerous factors I'm not addressing? Of course there are. Given all the healthcare cost increases experienced recently, it's clear that current healthcare legislation is not working very well. And I realize that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms can be readily adopted. However extending Medicare for all, even with increased taxation required, would remain a superior and less expensive approach both for controlling healthcare costs but providing access for all citizens.

Need for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, must reduce our own arrogance. America's medical care isn't so great. The US places significantly behind many other countries in healthcare quality globally, according to major studies. Perhaps a positive aspect amid current situation could be that we undertake a hard look at ourselves and agree that big changes are necessary.