🔗 Share this article

Out-of-pocket costs. In-network. Non-preferred providers. Premium health services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. Preferred Provider Organization. EPO. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. FSA. HRA. EOB. COBRA. SHOP. Single coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Confused? You should be. Who understands this complex system? Certainly not the average business owner. Nor the typical employee. Selecting the appropriate medical coverage for companies – or for households – seems like demands a PhD in healthcare.

Our Medical System Is More Than Complex, It Is Expensive

Based on recent research, the average family pays $27,000 annually on medical coverage (increasing by 6% from last year). Typical company healthcare expense is expected to surpass $17,000 per employee by 2026, a 9.5% jump from 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 numerous US citizens.

When Will We Seriously Consider Universal Healthcare?

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

I'm not proposing national healthcare. I'm advocating for our current Medicare system – an established insurance framework – simply expand to include all citizens. The existing system remains intact. The way medical professionals get paid would change. Believe me, they will adjust.

How Universal Coverage Would Work

A national health insurance program would need payments from both workers and companies. In comparable systems, a worker making average wages pays approximately 5.3% toward medical coverage. Their employer must contribute about 13.75%.

Does this appear expensive? Unless you compare it to what average American pays. I can name dozens of businesses who are easily contributing anywhere from 8% to 15% of payroll costs for medical benefits. Remember that in inclusive programs, those payments also cover retirement benefits, sick pay, maternity leave and job loss protection in addition to supporting healthcare facilities. When you add those costs versus what we pay for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits, the difference decreases.

Execution in the US

In the US, universal healthcare funding would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a system that is already in place. It should be income-adjusted – wealthier individuals would pay more than lower-income earners. This includes both an employee and company payments. Similar to many our government's defense, IT, social programs and transportation services, the program should be outsourced to third-party administrators instead of a government office.

Benefits for Entrepreneurs

A national health insurance program would be a significant advantage for entrepreneurs like mine. It would put us on a level playing field against big corporations who can afford superior coverage. It would render management much easier (automatic payroll withholding processed similarly to social security and Medicare taxes, rather than separate payments to insurance companies and coverage administrators).

It would make it easier for us to budget our yearly costs, instead of enduring the complicated (and ineffective) process of bargaining with major insurers that we must do every year. Because it's simplified, there would exist a better understanding of coverage by our employees – contrasted with existing arrangements which require them to interpret the complexities of existing plans. And there would definitely exist less liability for employers since we wouldn't have access to workers' medical records for weighing risks and alternative plans.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as capitalist as they get. However I recognize that government has a significant role in society, from providing defense to supporting needed infrastructure. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone via universal healthcare strengthens economic foundations. It represents superior, simpler approach for entrepreneurs which hire more than half of American employees and fund half the economic output. It enables for workers to enjoy better health, come to work more often and be more productive.

Considering Challenges

Are there a million considerations I'm not addressing? Certainly. But with rising medical expenses we've seen in recent years, it's clear that current healthcare legislation is not working very well. I understand that America isn't a compact European nation where major reforms can be readily adopted. But expanding Medicare for all, despite increased taxation that would be incurred, would still be a better and less expensive strategy both for controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage to everyone.

Need for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, must reduce national pride. Our healthcare system isn't exceptional. We rank significantly behind many other countries in healthcare quality in the world, according to major studies. Perhaps a bright spot in this present circumstances is that we take a hard look in the mirror and agree that big changes need to happen.