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Deductibles. In-network. Out-of-network. Concierge medical services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Fixed payment. Shared insurance. Benefit advisers. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. HMO. Preferred Provider Organization. EPO. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. FSA. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. EOB. COBRA. SHOP. Single coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Confused? You should be. Who understands this complex system? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Neither the average employee. Selecting the appropriate healthcare insurance for companies – or for households – seems like demands a PhD in healthcare.

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

Based on a recent study, the average family spends $27,000 annually on medical coverage (up 6% from last year). Typical company healthcare expense is expected to surpass $seventeen thousand per employee by 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025.

Now federal operations has ceased functioning due to partisan disputes regarding tax credits that experts say could cause a doubling of premiums for numerous US citizens.

When Might We Truly Examine National Health Insurance?

When will we genuinely evaluate a national health insurance program in the United States? I'm convinced we're getting closer because this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not suggesting national healthcare. I'm proposing for our current Medicare system – an insurance system – merely extend to cover everyone. Our infrastructure remains intact. The way medical professionals get paid changes. Trust me, they will adjust.

How Universal Coverage Could Function

Universal healthcare coverage would need contributions from employees and employers. In similar programs, a worker making average wages pays about 5.3% to their healthcare. Their employer pays approximately thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this appear expensive? Not if you contrast that with what average US resident spends. I can name multiple clients that are easily contributing between eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages to their healthcare costs. And keep in mind that in inclusive programs, these contributions also cover retirement benefits, sick pay, parental benefits and unemployment benefits along with supporting healthcare facilities. When you add those costs compared with what we pay on retirement programs, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits, the difference decreases.

Execution in the US

For America, a national health premium would raise existing Medicare taxes, a framework that is already in place. It should be income-adjusted – wealthier individuals would pay more than lower-income earners. This includes both worker and company payments. And, like much of our government's military, IT, social programs and transportation services, the program should be outsourced to third-party administrators instead of a government office.

Benefits for Small Businesses

A national health insurance program would be a significant advantage for entrepreneurs like mine. It would place 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 social security and Medicare taxes, rather than individual transactions to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would enable it easier for us to budget annual expenditures, rather than enduring the complex (and ineffective) theater of negotiating with the big insurance providers that we must do every year. Because it's simplified, there would be a better understanding about benefits by our employees – contrasted with existing arrangements where they have to decipher the complexities of current options. And there would definitely exist less liability for employers as we no longer have access to workers' health histories for purposes of risk assessment and alternative plans.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as pro-market as they get. However I recognize that government has a significant role in our lives, from providing defense to supporting needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare for everyone through a national insurance system strengthens economic foundations. It's a better, easier system for small businesses which hire the majority of American employees and generate half the economic output. It makes it possible employees to enjoy better health, have better attendance and be more productive.

Addressing Concerns

Are there a million considerations I'm not addressing? Certainly. But with rising medical expenses we've seen recently, it's clear that current healthcare legislation is not working effectively. I understand that America isn't a small, Scandinavian country where big changes are easier to implement. However extending Medicare for all, even with increased taxation that would be incurred, would still be a better and more affordable strategy for not only managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage to everyone.

Time for Honest Assessment

As Americans, must tone down national pride. America's medical care isn't so great. We rank well below many other countries with the best healthcare in the world, according to major studies. Maybe one positive aspect amid current situation could be that we undertake a hard look at ourselves and agree that big changes need to happen.