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Deductibles. In-network. Out-of-network. Concierge medical services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Co-payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. ACA. Health Maintenance Organization. Preferred Provider Organization. Exclusive Provider Organization. Point of Service. HDHP. HSA. Flexible Spending Account. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Small Business Health Options Program. Single coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Confused? You should be. Who understands all this stuff? Not the typical entrepreneur. Nor the typical employee. Choosing the right medical coverage for companies – or for our families – appears to require it requires advanced expertise in medical insurance.

Our Healthcare System Is More Than Complicated, It's Expensive

Based on recent research, typical households pays $27,000 each year for their health insurance (increasing by 6% from last year). The average company healthcare expense is projected to surpass $seventeen thousand per employee by 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025.

Currently federal operations is shut down due to political disagreements over subsidies that experts say will lead to a doubling of premiums for millions of Americans.

When Will We Truly Examine National Health Insurance?

How soon might we seriously consider a national health insurance program in the United States? I'm convinced we're getting closer because this can't continue.

I'm not proposing national healthcare. I'm proposing that our already existing Medicare system – an established insurance framework – simply expand to include all citizens. The existing system remains intact. How medical professionals get paid would change. Trust me, they will adjust.

The Way Universal Coverage Could Function

A national health insurance program would need contributions from employees and employers. In similar programs, an employee making moderate income pays approximately five point three percent toward medical coverage. Their employer pays approximately 13.75%.

Does this appear like a lot? Not if you compare it to what average American pays. I know multiple clients who are routinely paying between 8% to 15% of payroll costs to their healthcare costs. And keep in mind that with comprehensive systems, these contributions also cover retirement benefits, sick pay, maternity leave and unemployment benefits in addition to supporting healthcare facilities. When including those costs versus our current spending for our retirement plans, job loss coverage and paid time off, the difference decreases.

Implementation in the US

In the US, a national health premium would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a system already established. It should be means-based – wealthier individuals would contribute higher amounts than lower-income earners. This includes both worker and employer contribution. And, like many federal military, technology, social programs and infrastructure, the system should be outsourced to third-party administrators rather than a government office.

Benefits for Entrepreneurs

Universal healthcare coverage represents a huge benefit for small businesses like mine. It would put small companies in equal competition with our larger competitors that can pay for superior coverage. It would make management much easier (automatic payroll withholding remitted like retirement 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 enduring the complicated (and fruitless) process of bargaining with major insurers that we must do every year. Due to simplification, there would exist improved comprehension of coverage among workers – as opposed to existing arrangements which require them to decipher the complications of existing plans. Additionally there would certainly be less liability for companies since we wouldn't have access to our employees' health histories for purposes of weighing risks and alternative plans.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as capitalist as possible. However I recognize that public institutions has a significant role in our lives, including national security to funding essential systems. Ensuring medical coverage to all via universal healthcare enhances economic foundations. It represents superior, easier system for entrepreneurs that employ the majority of the country's workers and generate half the economic output. It enables employees to be healthier, have better attendance and be more productive.

Addressing Concerns

Are there a million considerations I haven't covered? Certainly. Given rising medical expenses experienced recently, it's clear that current healthcare legislation is not working very well. 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 required, would still be a better and less expensive approach both for managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Need for Honest Assessment

We as Americans, we need to tone down our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't so great. The US places significantly behind many other countries in healthcare quality in the world, based on comprehensive research. Perhaps a bright spot in this current situation could be that we take a hard look at ourselves and acknowledge that major reforms are necessary.