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Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Benefit advisers. Insurance brokers. Medical advisors. ACA. Health Maintenance Organization. Preferred Provider Organization. Exclusive Provider Organization. Point of Service. HDHP. Health Savings Account. FSA. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. SHOP. Individual coverage. Dependent coverage. Insurance subsidies.

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

Our Healthcare System Isn't Just Complex, It's Expensive

Based on a recent study, typical households 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 exceed $17,000 per employee in 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025.

Currently the government is shut down because political disagreements over tax credits that experts say could cause premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Might We Truly Examine National Health Insurance?

How soon might we genuinely evaluate universal healthcare coverage here in America? I'm convinced we're getting closer because this can't continue.

I'm not proposing government-run medicine. I'm proposing for our current Medicare system – an insurance system – merely extend to cover everyone. The existing system doesn't change. How our healthcare providers get paid would change. Trust me, they'll adapt.

How National Health Insurance Would Work

A national health insurance program would require payments from workers and companies. In comparable systems, a worker earning moderate income pays about 5.3% toward medical coverage. The company pays about 13.75%.

Does this appear expensive? Unless you compare that with what the typical US resident spends. I know multiple clients who are routinely paying anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of payroll costs for medical benefits. Remember that in comprehensive systems, these contributions also cover pension plans, illness coverage, maternity leave and unemployment benefits in addition to funding healthcare facilities. When you add those costs versus our current spending on retirement programs, job loss coverage and paid time off, the gap narrows.

Implementation for America

In the US, a national health premium would increase our Medicare tax deduction, a system already established. It should be income-adjusted – wealthier individuals would pay more than those earning less. There would be both an employee and company payments. Similar to many federal military, IT, welfare services and transportation services, the system could be managed to third-party administrators instead of a government office.

Benefits for Entrepreneurs

Universal healthcare coverage would be a significant advantage for small businesses such as my company. It would place us on a level playing field with our larger competitors who can afford superior coverage. It would render administration significantly simpler (a payroll deduction remitted like retirement and Medicare taxes, instead of individual transactions to benefit firms and coverage administrators).

It would enable it easier to plan expenses annual expenditures, instead of enduring the complex (and ineffective) theater of negotiating with major insurers that we must do each year. Due to simplification, there would exist improved comprehension about benefits by our employees – contrasted with existing arrangements where they have to decipher the complexities of existing plans. And there would definitely exist reduced responsibility for companies as we no longer have access to workers' health histories for purposes of risk assessment and alternative plans.

Capitalist Perspective

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 for everyone via universal healthcare enhances economic foundations. It's a better, simpler approach for small businesses which hire more than half of American employees and fund half of our GDP. It enables employees to be healthier, have better attendance and be more productive.

Considering Challenges

Are there numerous factors I haven't covered? Of course there are. Given all the healthcare cost increases experienced recently, it's clear that current healthcare legislation isn't functioning effectively. I understand that we're not a compact European nation where big changes can be readily adopted. But expanding universal Medicare, even with the additional taxes that would be incurred, would still be a better and less expensive approach for not only controlling healthcare costs but providing access to everyone.

Need for Honest Assessment

We as Americans, we need to tone down our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't exceptional. The US places significantly behind numerous nations in healthcare quality in the world, according to major studies. Maybe one bright spot amid current situation could be that we undertake serious examination at ourselves and agree that major reforms need to happen.