🔗 Share this article

Deductibles. In-network. Non-preferred providers. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Co-payment. Shared insurance. Benefit advisers. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. Preferred Provider Organization. Exclusive Provider Organization. Point of Service. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. Flexible Spending Account. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Premium tax credits.

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

Our Medical System Isn't Just Complicated, It's Costly

According to recent research, the average family pays $27,000 annually for their health insurance (up 6% compared to last year). The average company healthcare expense is expected to exceed $seventeen thousand per employee by 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025.

Now the government is shut down due to partisan disputes over tax credits that experts say could cause premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Might We Seriously Consider National Health Insurance?

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

I'm not proposing national healthcare. I'm proposing that our already existing Medicare program – an established insurance framework – merely extend to cover everyone. Our infrastructure doesn't change. How our healthcare providers receive payment changes. Believe me, they'll adapt.

The Way National Health Insurance Could Function

Universal healthcare coverage would require contributions from both workers and companies. In similar programs, an employee making moderate income pays approximately five point three percent toward medical coverage. Their employer must contribute approximately 13.75%.

Does this appear expensive? Unless you compare that with what the typical American pays. I can name dozens of clients who are routinely paying anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of payroll costs for medical benefits. Remember that with comprehensive systems, those payments include retirement benefits, sick pay, parental benefits and job loss protection in addition to funding medical services. When including these expenses versus our current spending for our retirement plans, job loss coverage and paid time off, the gap narrows.

Execution in the US

For America, universal healthcare funding would raise existing Medicare taxes, a framework that is already in place. It ought to be income-adjusted – those at higher income levels would pay more than those earning less. There would be both an employee and employer contribution. Similar to much of federal defense, IT, welfare services and infrastructure, the program should be outsourced to third-party administrators instead of a government office.

Benefits for Small Businesses

A national health insurance program represents a huge benefit for entrepreneurs like mine. It would put small companies in equal competition against big corporations who can afford better plans. It would make administration much easier (a payroll deduction remitted like retirement and healthcare taxes, rather than individual transactions to benefit firms and coverage administrators).

It would make it easier to plan expenses our yearly costs, instead of going through the complex (and ineffective) theater of negotiating with the big insurance providers that we must do every year. Due to simplification, there would be a better understanding about benefits by our employees – contrasted with the current system where they have to interpret the complications of current options. Additionally there would certainly be less liability for employers since we wouldn't have access to our employees' health histories for 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, from providing defense to funding essential systems. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone through a national insurance system strengthens our economy's infrastructure. It represents superior, simpler approach for entrepreneurs which hire more than half of American employees and generate half of our GDP. It makes it possible employees to enjoy better health, come to work more often and increase productivity.

Addressing Concerns

Are there numerous factors I'm not addressing? Certainly. Given all the healthcare cost increases we've seen recently, it's clear that the Affordable Care Act isn't functioning very well. And I realize that America isn't a compact European nation where major reforms can be readily adopted. But expanding universal Medicare, even with the additional taxes required, would remain a superior and more affordable strategy both for managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Time for Realistic Evaluation

As Americans, must reduce our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't so great. The US places significantly behind many other countries with the best healthcare globally, according to major studies. Perhaps a positive aspect in this current situation is that we take serious examination at ourselves and agree that big changes are necessary.