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Out-of-pocket costs. In-network. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Co-payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Medical advisors. Affordable Care Act. HMO. Preferred Provider Organization. EPO. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. FSA. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. EOB. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Single coverage. Dependent coverage. Premium tax credits.

Baffled? It's understandable. Who understands this complex system? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Nor the typical employee. Selecting the right healthcare insurance for companies – or for households – appears to require demands advanced expertise in healthcare.

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

Based on a recent study, the average family pays $twenty-seven thousand annually for their health insurance (up 6% compared to last year). The average employer health insurance cost is expected to exceed $seventeen thousand for each worker in 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025.

Now federal operations is shut down due to political disagreements over tax credits that experts say will lead to premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Might We Seriously Consider Universal Healthcare?

When will we genuinely evaluate a national health insurance program in the United States? I have to believe we're getting closer since this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not suggesting national healthcare. I'm advocating that our already existing Medicare program – an insurance system – simply expand to cover everyone. The existing system doesn't change. How our healthcare providers get paid would change. Trust me, they'll adapt.

The Way Universal Coverage Would Work

Universal healthcare coverage would need payments from workers and companies. In comparable systems, an employee earning average wages pays about five point three percent toward medical coverage. Their employer pays approximately 13.75%.

Does this seem expensive? Unless you contrast that with what the typical US resident spends. I can name dozens of businesses that are routinely paying anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of payroll costs for medical benefits. Remember that in comprehensive systems, those payments also cover retirement benefits, illness coverage, parental benefits and unemployment benefits along with supporting healthcare facilities. When you add these expenses versus our current spending on retirement programs, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits, the gap narrows.

Execution in the US

For America, universal healthcare funding would raise existing Medicare taxes, a framework already established. It ought to be income-adjusted – wealthier individuals would contribute higher amounts than those earning less. There would be both worker and employer contribution. Similar to much of federal defense, technology, welfare services and infrastructure, the system should be outsourced by private contractors instead of federal agencies.

Benefits for Entrepreneurs

A national health insurance program would be a significant advantage for entrepreneurs like mine. It would put small companies in equal competition with our larger competitors who can afford superior coverage. It would make administration significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding processed similarly to social security and healthcare taxes, rather than individual transactions to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would enable it easier 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 each year. Because it's simplified, there would be a better understanding about benefits by our employees – contrasted with the current system which require them to decipher the complexities of existing plans. Additionally there would certainly be less liability for employers as we no longer would be privy to our employees' medical records for weighing risks and alternative plans.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as pro-market as possible. But I've learned that public institutions play important functions in society, including national security to funding needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare for everyone via universal healthcare strengthens economic foundations. It's a better, simpler approach for entrepreneurs that employ more than half of American employees and generate half of our GDP. It enables employees to be healthier, come to work more often and be more productive.

Addressing Concerns

Are there a million considerations I'm not addressing? Of course there are. But with rising medical expenses we've seen recently, it's clear that current healthcare legislation is not working very well. And I realize that America isn't a small, Scandinavian country where big changes can be readily adopted. However extending universal Medicare, despite the additional taxes that would be incurred, would still be a better and less expensive approach both for controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Need for Realistic Evaluation

As Americans, we need to reduce national pride. Our healthcare system isn't so great. The US places significantly behind many other countries in healthcare quality in the world, according to comprehensive research. Maybe one bright spot amid current situation could be that we take a hard look at ourselves and acknowledge that big changes need to happen.