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Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Non-preferred providers. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Co-payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. ACA. Health Maintenance Organization. PPO. Exclusive Provider Organization. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. FSA. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. EOB. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Small Business Health Options Program. Single coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Baffled? It's understandable. Who understands all this stuff? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Neither the average worker. Selecting the right medical coverage for our business – or for households – seems like demands a PhD in healthcare.

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

Based on recent research, the average family spends $twenty-seven thousand annually for their health insurance (up 6% from last year). The average company healthcare expense is expected to surpass $17,000 per employee by 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025.

Now federal operations is shut down because partisan disputes over tax credits that experts say will lead to a doubling of premiums for numerous US citizens.

When Will We Seriously Consider 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 suggesting national healthcare. I'm advocating that our already existing Medicare system – an insurance system – simply expand to cover everyone. The existing system remains intact. How medical professionals get paid changes. Believe me, they will adjust.

How National Health Insurance Could Function

Universal healthcare coverage would need payments from both workers and companies. In similar programs, a worker earning moderate income pays about 5.3% to their healthcare. The company must contribute about 13.75%.

Does this appear expensive? Not if you contrast that with what average US resident spends. I know multiple clients who are routinely paying between eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages to their healthcare costs. And keep in mind that with comprehensive systems, these contributions include retirement benefits, illness coverage, parental benefits and job loss protection in addition to funding medical services. When you add these expenses versus what we pay on retirement programs, job loss coverage and paid time off, the difference decreases.

Implementation for America

In the US, universal healthcare funding would raise existing Medicare taxes, a system already established. It ought to be means-based – wealthier individuals would contribute higher amounts than lower-income earners. This includes both an employee and company payments. And, like many our government's defense, technology, welfare services and infrastructure, the program could be managed by private contractors instead of federal agencies.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

A national health insurance program represents a significant advantage for entrepreneurs such as my company. It would put us on a level playing field with our larger competitors who can afford superior coverage. It would render administration significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding processed similarly to retirement and healthcare taxes, rather than separate payments to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would enable it easier to plan expenses our yearly costs, rather than going through the complex (and ineffective) theater of negotiating with major insurers that we must do each year. Because it's simplified, there would exist improved comprehension about benefits among workers – as opposed to the current system which require them to interpret the complexities of existing plans. Additionally there would definitely exist less liability for employers as we no longer have access to workers' health histories for weighing risks and different options.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as capitalist as they get. However I recognize that government play important functions in society, including national security to funding needed infrastructure. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone through a national insurance system enhances economic foundations. It represents superior, simpler approach for small businesses that employ more than half of American employees and fund half of our GDP. It enables employees to be healthier, have better attendance and increase productivity.

Addressing Concerns

Exist a million considerations I haven't covered? Certainly. Given all the healthcare cost increases experienced in recent years, it's evident that the Affordable Care Act is not working very well. And I realize that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where big changes are easier to implement. But expanding universal Medicare, even with increased taxation required, would remain a better and more affordable approach both for controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage to everyone.

Need for Honest Assessment

As Americans, we need to reduce our own arrogance. America's medical care isn't exceptional. We rank significantly behind many other countries with the best healthcare in the world, based on major studies. Perhaps a positive aspect in this present circumstances could be that we undertake a hard look at ourselves and agree that big changes need to happen.