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Deductibles. In-network. Non-preferred providers. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. Preferred Provider Organization. EPO. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. HSA. Flexible Spending Account. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. COBRA. SHOP. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Baffled? It's understandable. Who comprehends all this stuff? Not the typical entrepreneur. Neither the average employee. Choosing the right medical coverage for our business – or for households – seems like it requires advanced expertise in medical insurance.

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

According to a recent study, the average family spends $27,000 each year for their health insurance (up 6% from last year). Typical employer health insurance cost is expected to exceed $seventeen thousand per employee in 2026, an increase of 9.5% compared to 2025.

Currently the government is shut down due to political disagreements regarding subsidies which analysts predict could cause a doubling of premiums for numerous US citizens.

When Might We Truly Examine Universal Healthcare?

When will we genuinely evaluate universal healthcare coverage in the United States? I'm convinced we're approaching that point since this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not proposing government-run medicine. I'm proposing that our already existing Medicare program – an established insurance framework – merely extend to cover everyone. Our infrastructure remains intact. The way medical professionals get paid changes. Trust me, they will adjust.

How Universal Coverage Could Function

Universal healthcare coverage would require payments from workers and companies. In similar programs, a worker earning average wages pays about 5.3% to their healthcare. Their employer must contribute approximately 13.75%.

Does this seem like a lot? Unless you compare it to what the typical US resident spends. I know multiple businesses who are easily contributing between eight to fifteen percent of payroll costs to their healthcare costs. And keep in mind that with comprehensive systems, these contributions include retirement benefits, illness coverage, maternity leave and job loss protection in addition to supporting medical services. When including those costs versus what we pay for our retirement plans, job loss coverage and paid time off, the gap narrows.

Implementation in the US

For America, a national health premium would increase existing Medicare taxes, a system already established. It should be means-based – those at higher income levels would contribute higher amounts than lower-income earners. There would be both an employee and employer contribution. Similar to much of federal military, IT, social programs and transportation services, the program could be managed by private contractors instead of federal agencies.

Advantages for Small Businesses

Universal healthcare coverage 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 superior coverage. It would make management much easier (automatic payroll withholding remitted like social security and Medicare taxes, instead of separate payments to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would make simpler for us to budget annual expenditures, rather than going through the complicated (and ineffective) theater of bargaining with the big insurance providers that we must do every year. Because it's simplified, there would exist a better understanding of coverage among workers – as opposed to the current system where they have to interpret the complications of current options. Additionally there would certainly be reduced responsibility for employers since we wouldn't have access to our employees' health histories for weighing risks and different options.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as capitalist as they get. But I've learned that government has a significant role in our lives, including national security to funding needed infrastructure. Ensuring medical coverage to all through a national insurance system strengthens economic foundations. It represents superior, simpler approach for small businesses that employ the majority of the country's workers and generate half the economic output. It makes it possible employees to enjoy better health, have better attendance and be more productive.

Considering Challenges

Exist a million considerations I haven't covered? Of course there are. Given all the healthcare cost increases we've seen in recent years, it's evident that the Affordable Care Act isn't functioning effectively. And I realize that we're not a compact European nation where major reforms are easier to implement. However extending universal Medicare, despite increased taxation that would be incurred, would still be a better and less expensive strategy for not only controlling healthcare costs but providing access to everyone.

Time for Honest Assessment

We as Americans, we need to tone down our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't so great. We rank well below numerous nations in healthcare quality in the world, based on major studies. Maybe one positive aspect amid present circumstances could be that we take a hard look at ourselves and agree that big changes are necessary.