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Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. 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. EPO. POS. HDHP. Health Savings Account. Flexible Spending Account. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. EOB. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Small Business Health Options Program. Single coverage. Family coverage. Premium tax credits.

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

The Medical System Isn't Just Complicated, It Is Expensive

Based on a recent study, the average family spends $twenty-seven thousand each year for their health insurance (increasing by 6% from last year). Typical employer health insurance cost is projected to exceed $seventeen thousand per employee by 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025.

Currently federal operations is shut down due to partisan disputes over subsidies that experts say could cause a doubling of premiums for numerous US citizens.

When Will We Truly Examine National Health Insurance?

How soon might we genuinely evaluate universal healthcare coverage in the United States? I have to believe we're approaching that point since this can't continue.

I'm not suggesting national healthcare. I'm advocating for our current Medicare system – an insurance system – simply expand to include all citizens. The existing system doesn't change. How our healthcare providers receive payment would change. Believe me, they'll adapt.

How National Health Insurance Would Work

A national health insurance program would need payments from both employees and employers. In comparable systems, an employee earning average wages pays approximately 5.3% toward medical coverage. Their employer pays approximately thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this appear like a lot? Unless you contrast it to what the typical American pays. I know dozens of clients who are routinely paying between 8% to 15% of payroll costs for medical benefits. Remember that in comprehensive systems, those payments also cover retirement benefits, sick pay, maternity leave and unemployment benefits along with supporting medical services. When you add these expenses compared with what we pay on retirement programs, job loss coverage and paid time off, the gap narrows.

Implementation in the US

In the US, a national health premium would increase our Medicare tax deduction, a system already established. It should be means-based – those at higher income levels would pay more than lower-income earners. There would be both worker and employer contribution. And, like many our government's defense, technology, social programs and infrastructure, the program should be outsourced by private contractors instead of a government office.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

A national health insurance program represents a huge benefit for small businesses like mine. It would place small companies in equal competition with our larger competitors that can pay for better plans. It would render management much easier (a payroll deduction remitted like social security and Medicare taxes, rather than individual transactions to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would enable simpler for us to budget our yearly costs, instead of going through the complicated (and ineffective) process of negotiating with the big insurance providers required annually every year. Because it's simplified, there would be improved comprehension of coverage among workers – as opposed to existing arrangements where they have to decipher the complexities of existing plans. And there would definitely exist reduced responsibility for employers as we no longer would be privy to our employees' medical records for purposes of risk assessment and alternative plans.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as capitalist as possible. However I recognize that public institutions play important functions in society, from providing defense to supporting needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare to all through a national insurance system strengthens economic foundations. It's a better, easier system for entrepreneurs which hire the majority of American employees and generate half of our GDP. It enables employees to enjoy better health, come to work more often and increase productivity.

Considering Challenges

Are there numerous factors I haven't covered? Of course there are. But with all the healthcare cost increases we've seen in recent years, it's evident that the Affordable Care Act is not working effectively. And I realize that we're not a compact European nation where major reforms are easier to implement. However extending Medicare for all, even with the additional taxes that would be incurred, would still be a superior and more affordable strategy both for controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Need for Realistic Evaluation

As Americans, must reduce national pride. Our healthcare system isn't so great. We rank significantly behind numerous nations in healthcare quality globally, according to comprehensive research. Perhaps a positive aspect amid current situation is that we take serious examination at ourselves and agree that big changes need to happen.