🔗 Share this article

Deductibles. In-network. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Fixed payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. PPO. Exclusive Provider Organization. Point of Service. High Deductible Health Plan. HSA. Flexible Spending Account. HRA. EOB. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Small Business Health Options Program. Single coverage. Dependent coverage. Premium tax credits.

Baffled? It's understandable. Who comprehends all this stuff? Certainly not the average business owner. Neither the average employee. Selecting the right medical coverage for companies – or for our families – appears to require demands a PhD in medical insurance.

Our Healthcare System Isn't Just Complicated, It's Costly

Based on recent research, typical households pays $twenty-seven thousand each year for their health insurance (increasing by 6% compared to last year). The average employer health insurance cost is projected to exceed $17,000 per employee by 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025.

Currently federal operations has ceased functioning because political disagreements over subsidies that experts say could cause premium increases up to 100% for numerous US citizens.

When Will We Seriously Consider National Health Insurance?

How soon might we seriously consider universal healthcare coverage in the United States? I have to believe we're getting closer because this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not suggesting national healthcare. I'm advocating for our current Medicare program – an insurance system – merely extend to cover everyone. Our infrastructure doesn't change. The way our healthcare providers get paid changes. Trust me, they will adjust.

How Universal Coverage Could Function

Universal healthcare coverage would need payments from workers and companies. In comparable systems, an employee making moderate income pays approximately five point three percent to their healthcare. The company pays about 13.75%.

Does this seem like a lot? Not if you contrast it to what the typical US resident spends. I know multiple clients that are routinely paying anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of payroll costs to their healthcare costs. And keep in mind that in inclusive programs, these contributions also cover pension plans, sick pay, maternity leave and job loss protection in addition to funding healthcare facilities. When you add these expenses compared with what we pay for our retirement plans, job loss coverage and vacation benefits, the difference decreases.

Execution for America

For America, universal healthcare funding would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a system already established. It ought to be means-based – those at higher income levels would contribute higher amounts than lower-income earners. This includes both worker and company payments. And, like many our government's defense, technology, social programs and infrastructure, the program could be managed to third-party administrators instead of a government office.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

A national health insurance program represents a significant advantage for entrepreneurs such as my company. It would put small companies in equal competition with our larger competitors who can afford better plans. It would render administration much easier (a payroll deduction remitted like social security and healthcare taxes, rather than separate payments to insurance companies and coverage administrators).

It would enable it easier to plan expenses annual expenditures, instead of going through the complicated (and ineffective) process of negotiating with the big insurance providers that we must do each year. Because it's simplified, there would exist improved comprehension about benefits among workers – contrasted with existing arrangements where they have to decipher the complications of current options. And there would certainly be reduced responsibility for companies as we no longer would be privy to workers' health histories for weighing risks and different options.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as pro-market as possible. But I've learned that government has a significant role in society, from providing defense to supporting needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare for everyone via universal healthcare strengthens our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, simpler approach for entrepreneurs that employ more than half of American employees and generate half of our GDP. It enables for workers to enjoy better health, come to work more often and be more productive.

Addressing Concerns

Are there numerous factors I'm not addressing? Certainly. But with all the healthcare cost increases we've seen in recent years, it's evident that current healthcare legislation is not working effectively. And I realize that America isn't a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms are easier to implement. However extending Medicare for all, even with the additional taxes required, would remain a better and less expensive strategy for not only controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage to everyone.

Need for Honest Assessment

We as Americans, must tone down national pride. America's medical care isn't so great. We rank significantly behind many other countries with the best healthcare globally, according to comprehensive research. Perhaps a bright spot amid current situation could be that we undertake a hard look at ourselves and acknowledge that big changes are necessary.