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Deductibles. Preferred providers. Non-preferred providers. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Benefit advisers. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. HMO. Preferred Provider Organization. EPO. Point of Service. High Deductible Health Plan. HSA. Flexible Spending Account. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. EOB. COBRA. SHOP. Single coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Baffled? It's understandable. Who comprehends this complex system? Certainly not the average business owner. Neither the average employee. Selecting the right healthcare insurance for our business – or for our families – appears to require demands advanced expertise in healthcare.

Our Healthcare System Isn't Just Complex, It Is Costly

According to a recent study, the average family pays $27,000 annually for their health insurance (increasing by 6% compared to last year). Typical company healthcare expense is expected to surpass $17,000 per employee by 2026, an increase of 9.5% compared to 2025.

Currently the government has ceased functioning due to political disagreements over tax credits which analysts predict will lead to a doubling of premiums for millions of Americans.

When Will We Truly Examine National Health Insurance?

When will we seriously consider universal healthcare coverage here in America? I have to believe we're approaching that point because this can't continue.

I'm not proposing government-run medicine. I'm advocating for our current Medicare program – an established insurance framework – merely extend to cover everyone. The existing system remains intact. How medical professionals receive payment would change. Believe me, they will adjust.

How Universal Coverage Would Work

A national health insurance program would require payments from employees and employers. In comparable systems, a worker making moderate income pays approximately five point three percent toward medical coverage. Their employer must contribute approximately thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this appear like a lot? Unless you contrast that with what average US resident spends. I know multiple clients who are easily contributing between eight to fifteen percent of payroll costs to their healthcare costs. Remember that with comprehensive systems, those payments include pension plans, sick pay, parental benefits and unemployment benefits along with supporting healthcare facilities. When including those costs versus our current spending for our retirement plans, job loss coverage and paid time off, the gap narrows.

Implementation for America

For America, universal healthcare funding would raise existing Medicare taxes, a framework that is already in place. It should be income-adjusted – those at higher income levels would contribute higher amounts than those earning less. There would be both an employee and company payments. Similar to much of our government's defense, IT, social programs and transportation services, the system should be outsourced to third-party administrators instead of a government office.

Benefits for Small Businesses

Universal healthcare coverage represents a significant advantage for small businesses such as my company. It would put us on a level playing field with our larger competitors who can afford better plans. It would render management much easier (a payroll deduction remitted like retirement and Medicare taxes, instead of separate payments to insurance companies and insurance providers).

It would enable simpler to plan expenses our yearly costs, instead of enduring the complex (and ineffective) process of negotiating with the big insurance providers that we must do every year. Due to simplification, there would be improved comprehension about benefits among workers – contrasted with the current system where they have to interpret the complications of existing plans. And there would certainly be less liability for employers as we no longer have access to workers' health histories for weighing risks and alternative plans.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as capitalist as they get. However I recognize that government play important functions in society, including national security to supporting essential systems. Providing healthcare to all through a national insurance system enhances economic foundations. It represents superior, simpler approach for entrepreneurs that employ more than half of the country's workers and fund half the economic output. It enables for workers to enjoy better health, come to work more often and be more productive.

Addressing Concerns

Exist numerous factors I haven't covered? Certainly. But with rising medical expenses we've seen in recent years, it's clear that current healthcare legislation isn't functioning very well. I understand that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where big changes are easier to implement. However extending Medicare for all, even with increased taxation required, would remain a better and more affordable strategy for not only controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage to everyone.

Time for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, we need to reduce national pride. America's medical care isn't so great. We rank significantly behind many other countries in healthcare quality in the world, according to comprehensive research. Perhaps a positive aspect in this present circumstances could be that we undertake serious examination at ourselves and acknowledge that big changes are necessary.