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Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Co-payment. Co-insurance. Benefit advisers. Insurance brokers. Medical advisors. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. PPO. Exclusive Provider Organization. POS. HDHP. Health Savings Account. Flexible Spending Account. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. COBRA. SHOP. Individual coverage. Dependent coverage. Premium tax credits.

Confused? It's understandable. Who understands this complex system? Certainly not the average business owner. Nor the typical worker. Selecting the appropriate healthcare insurance for our business – or for our families – seems like demands a PhD in medical insurance.

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

Based on recent research, the average family pays $27,000 annually on medical coverage (increasing by 6% compared to last year). The average employer health insurance cost is projected to surpass $17,000 for each worker in 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025.

Currently the government is shut down due to political disagreements over tax credits which analysts predict will lead to a doubling of premiums for millions of Americans.

When Will We Seriously Consider National Health Insurance?

When will we seriously consider a national health insurance program in the United States? I have to believe we're approaching that point because this can't continue.

I'm not suggesting national healthcare. I'm proposing that our already existing Medicare program – an established insurance framework – simply expand to include all citizens. Our infrastructure remains intact. How medical professionals get paid changes. Trust me, they'll adapt.

How Universal Coverage Could Function

Universal healthcare coverage would need payments from both employees and employers. In comparable systems, a worker making average wages must contribute approximately 5.3% toward medical coverage. The company pays about thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this appear like a lot? Unless you compare it to what the typical American pays. I can name multiple businesses who are routinely paying anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages for medical benefits. And keep in mind that in comprehensive systems, these contributions include pension plans, sick pay, maternity leave and unemployment benefits in addition to funding medical services. When you add these expenses compared with what we pay for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and paid time off, the difference decreases.

Execution in the US

For America, universal healthcare funding would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a framework that is already in place. It should be means-based – those at higher income levels would pay more than those earning less. This includes both worker and company payments. Similar to many federal military, IT, social programs and transportation services, the system should be outsourced by private contractors instead of a government office.

Benefits for Small Businesses

A national health insurance program would be a huge benefit for small businesses such as my company. It would place us on a level playing field with our larger competitors that can pay for superior coverage. It would make administration significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding remitted like social security and Medicare taxes, rather than individual transactions to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would enable simpler to plan expenses our yearly costs, instead of enduring the complicated (and ineffective) process of bargaining with major insurers that we must do each year. Because it's simplified, there would exist a better understanding of coverage by our employees – as opposed to existing arrangements where they have to decipher the complexities of current options. And there would definitely exist reduced responsibility for companies as we no longer would be privy to our employees' health histories for purposes of weighing risks and alternative plans.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as pro-market as they get. However I recognize that government has a significant role in our lives, including national security to supporting essential systems. Ensuring medical coverage to all through a national insurance system strengthens economic foundations. It's a better, easier system for entrepreneurs which hire more than half of American employees and generate half the economic output. It enables for workers to be healthier, come to work more often and be more productive.

Considering Challenges

Are there a million considerations I haven't covered? Certainly. But with rising medical expenses we've seen in recent years, it's clear that current healthcare legislation is not working very well. I understand that we're not a compact European nation where big changes can be readily adopted. But expanding universal Medicare, even with increased taxation that would be incurred, would still be a superior and more affordable strategy for not only managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Need for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, must tone down our own arrogance. America's medical care isn't exceptional. The US places significantly behind many other countries with the best healthcare globally, based on major studies. Maybe one positive aspect amid current situation is that we undertake a hard look in the mirror and acknowledge that major reforms need to happen.