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Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Co-payment. Shared insurance. Benefit advisers. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. HMO. Preferred Provider Organization. Exclusive Provider Organization. Point of Service. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. FSA. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. EOB. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. SHOP. Individual coverage. Dependent coverage. Premium tax credits.

Confused? You should be. Who understands all this stuff? Not the typical entrepreneur. Neither the average employee. Selecting the appropriate medical coverage for companies – or for households – seems like it requires advanced expertise in healthcare.

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

Based on recent research, typical households pays $27,000 annually for their health insurance (increasing by 6% compared to last year). The average employer health insurance cost is expected to exceed $17,000 for each worker by 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025.

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

When Will We Truly Examine Universal Healthcare?

When will we seriously consider universal healthcare coverage here in America? I'm convinced we're getting closer because this can't continue.

I'm not proposing national healthcare. I'm advocating that our already existing Medicare program – an insurance system – merely extend to include all citizens. The existing system doesn't change. How our healthcare providers receive payment would change. Believe me, they will adjust.

The Way National Health Insurance Could Function

Universal healthcare coverage would require payments from both employees and employers. In comparable systems, an employee earning moderate income must contribute about 5.3% to their healthcare. The company pays approximately thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this appear like a lot? Unless you compare it to what average US resident spends. I know multiple clients who are easily contributing between eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages for medical benefits. And keep in mind that with comprehensive systems, those payments also cover pension plans, sick pay, maternity leave and job loss protection in addition to supporting medical services. When you add those costs compared with our current spending on retirement programs, job loss coverage and paid time off, the difference decreases.

Implementation for America

In the US, a national health premium would increase existing Medicare taxes, a framework already established. It should be income-adjusted – wealthier individuals would contribute higher amounts than those earning less. There would be both an employee and employer contribution. And, like many our government's defense, technology, social programs and infrastructure, the system should be outsourced by private contractors instead of a government office.

Benefits for Small Businesses

A national health insurance program would be a significant advantage for entrepreneurs like mine. It would place small companies in equal competition against big corporations who can afford superior coverage. It would render administration significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding processed similarly to social security and Medicare taxes, rather than individual transactions to insurance companies and coverage administrators).

It would enable it easier to plan expenses annual expenditures, instead of enduring the complicated (and ineffective) theater of negotiating with major insurers that we must do every year. Due to simplification, there would exist a better understanding of coverage among workers – as opposed to the current system which require them to decipher the complications of existing plans. And there would definitely exist less liability for companies since we wouldn't have access to our employees' health histories for weighing risks and alternative plans.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as pro-market as possible. But I've learned that public institutions has a significant role in our lives, including national security to supporting essential systems. Providing healthcare for everyone via universal healthcare strengthens our economy's infrastructure. It represents superior, easier system for entrepreneurs which hire more than half of the country's workers and fund half of our GDP. It makes it possible for workers to be healthier, have better attendance and be more productive.

Considering Challenges

Are there 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 current healthcare legislation is not working effectively. And I realize that America isn't a small, Scandinavian country where big changes can be readily adopted. But expanding Medicare for all, even with increased taxation that would be incurred, would still be a superior and more affordable approach both for controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Time for Honest Assessment

As Americans, we need to tone down national pride. Our healthcare system isn't so great. The US places significantly behind many other countries with the best healthcare in the world, based on comprehensive research. Perhaps a positive aspect amid current situation could be that we undertake serious examination at ourselves and agree that big changes need to happen.