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Deductibles. In-network. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Co-payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Medical advisors. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. PPO. EPO. Point of Service. HDHP. HSA. Flexible Spending Account. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. EOB. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Confused? You should be. Who understands this complex system? Not the typical business owner. Neither the average worker. Selecting the appropriate medical coverage for our business – or for our families – appears to require demands advanced expertise in medical insurance.

The Medical System Isn't Just Complex, It's Expensive

Based on recent research, the average family pays $twenty-seven thousand each year for their health insurance (increasing by 6% from last year). The average employer health insurance cost is expected to surpass $seventeen thousand per employee by 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025.

Now federal operations has ceased functioning due to political disagreements regarding tax credits that experts say will lead to premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Will We Seriously Consider National Health Insurance?

When will we genuinely evaluate universal healthcare coverage in the United States? I have to believe we're getting closer because this can't continue.

I'm not proposing national healthcare. I'm proposing for our current Medicare program – an insurance system – simply expand to include all citizens. The existing system doesn't change. The way our healthcare providers get paid changes. Believe me, they will adjust.

The Way National Health Insurance Could Function

A national health insurance program would need payments from workers and companies. In comparable systems, an employee earning moderate income pays approximately 5.3% to their healthcare. Their employer must contribute approximately 13.75%.

Does this seem expensive? Not if you contrast it to what the typical US resident spends. I know dozens of clients that are routinely paying between eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages to their healthcare costs. And keep in mind that in inclusive programs, those payments include retirement benefits, illness coverage, parental benefits and unemployment benefits in addition to funding medical services. When including these expenses versus our current spending on retirement programs, job loss coverage and paid time off, the gap narrows.

Execution for America

For America, universal healthcare funding would increase our Medicare tax deduction, a framework that is already in place. It ought to be income-adjusted – those at higher income levels would contribute higher amounts than those earning less. There would be both worker and employer contribution. Similar to much of federal defense, IT, social programs and infrastructure, the program could be managed by private contractors instead of federal agencies.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

Universal healthcare coverage would be a huge benefit for small businesses such as my company. It would put small companies in equal competition with our larger competitors that can pay for superior coverage. It would render administration significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding remitted like social security and healthcare taxes, rather than individual transactions to insurance companies and coverage administrators).

It would make it easier for us to budget annual expenditures, rather than going through the complicated (and ineffective) theater of negotiating with the big insurance providers required annually every year. Because it's simplified, there would exist improved comprehension about benefits by our employees – contrasted with existing arrangements where they have to interpret the complications of current options. Additionally there would certainly be less liability for employers as we no longer have access to our employees' medical records for purposes of weighing risks and different options.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as pro-market as they get. But I've learned that public institutions play important functions in our lives, including national security to supporting needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare to all via universal healthcare enhances economic foundations. It represents superior, simpler approach for entrepreneurs which hire the majority of American employees and generate half the economic output. It enables for workers to be healthier, have better attendance and increase productivity.

Addressing Concerns

Exist numerous factors I haven't covered? Certainly. Given rising medical expenses we've seen recently, it's clear that the Affordable Care Act isn't functioning very well. I understand that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where big changes can be readily adopted. However extending Medicare for all, despite increased taxation that would be incurred, would remain a superior and more affordable strategy both for managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Time for Honest Assessment

We as Americans, we need to reduce our own arrogance. America's medical care isn't so great. We rank well below numerous nations with the best healthcare globally, based on comprehensive research. Perhaps a positive aspect amid current situation could be that we undertake serious examination at ourselves and agree that major reforms need to happen.