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Deductibles. In-network. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Co-payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. HMO. PPO. Exclusive Provider Organization. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. FSA. HRA. EOB. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Baffled? You should be. Who comprehends all this stuff? Certainly not the average business owner. Neither the average worker. Selecting the right healthcare insurance for our business – or for our families – appears to require it requires advanced expertise in medical insurance.

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

According to recent research, typical households spends $27,000 annually on medical coverage (increasing by 6% compared to last year). The average company healthcare expense is projected to surpass $seventeen thousand per employee in 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025.

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

When Will We Truly Examine National Health Insurance?

How soon might 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 proposing government-run medicine. I'm proposing for our current Medicare program – an insurance system – simply expand to include all citizens. The existing system remains intact. How our healthcare providers receive payment changes. Believe me, they'll adapt.

How National Health Insurance Would Work

Universal healthcare coverage would need contributions from workers and companies. In similar programs, a worker earning moderate income pays about 5.3% toward medical coverage. Their employer must contribute about 13.75%.

Does this appear expensive? Unless you compare it to what the typical US resident spends. I know dozens of clients who are routinely paying anywhere from 8% to 15% of their employee wages for medical benefits. Remember that with comprehensive systems, these contributions also cover retirement benefits, sick pay, maternity leave and unemployment benefits along with supporting medical services. When including these expenses compared with what we pay on retirement programs, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits, the gap narrows.

Implementation in the US

For America, a national health premium would increase existing Medicare taxes, a system already established. It ought to be income-adjusted – wealthier individuals would pay more than those earning less. This includes both worker and employer contribution. And, like many federal military, IT, welfare services and infrastructure, the program could be managed to third-party administrators instead of federal agencies.

Advantages for Small Businesses

Universal healthcare coverage would be a huge benefit for entrepreneurs like mine. It would place small companies in equal competition against big corporations that can pay for superior coverage. It would render management much easier (automatic payroll withholding processed similarly to social security and healthcare taxes, instead of individual transactions to benefit firms and coverage administrators).

It would enable simpler to plan expenses annual expenditures, rather than enduring the complex (and fruitless) process of negotiating with major insurers that we must do each year. Because it's simplified, there would exist improved comprehension of coverage by our employees – as opposed to the current system which require them to interpret the complications of existing plans. Additionally there would certainly be less liability for companies as we no longer have access to workers' health histories for purposes of risk assessment and alternative plans.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as capitalist as possible. But I've learned that government play important functions in society, from providing defense to supporting essential systems. Ensuring medical coverage to all through a national insurance system strengthens economic foundations. It represents superior, simpler approach for small businesses which hire the majority of the country's workers and generate half of our GDP. It makes it possible employees to enjoy better health, have better attendance and be more productive.

Considering Challenges

Are there a million considerations I haven't covered? Certainly. Given rising medical expenses we've seen recently, it's evident that the Affordable Care Act is not working effectively. I understand that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where big changes are easier to implement. However extending Medicare for all, despite increased taxation required, would remain a superior and more affordable strategy for not only controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Time for Honest Assessment

As Americans, must reduce national pride. Our healthcare system isn't so great. We rank well below numerous nations in healthcare quality globally, based on major studies. Maybe one positive aspect in this present circumstances could be that we undertake a hard look at ourselves and agree that big changes need to happen.