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Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Co-payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Medical advisors. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. Preferred Provider Organization. Exclusive Provider Organization. POS. HDHP. Health Savings Account. Flexible Spending Account. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Confused? It's understandable. Who comprehends this complex system? Certainly not the average business owner. Neither the average employee. Selecting the appropriate healthcare insurance for our business – or for households – seems like demands a PhD in medical insurance.

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

According to a recent study, typical households spends $twenty-seven thousand annually for their health insurance (increasing by 6% from last year). The average company healthcare expense is expected to exceed $seventeen thousand for each worker in 2026, an increase of 9.5% compared to 2025.

Now the government is shut down due to political disagreements over subsidies that experts say could cause premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Might We Truly Examine Universal Healthcare?

When will we genuinely evaluate a national health insurance program here in America? I'm convinced we're approaching that point because this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not proposing national healthcare. I'm proposing for our current Medicare system – an established insurance framework – simply expand to include all citizens. Our infrastructure doesn't change. The way medical professionals receive payment would change. Trust me, they will adjust.

The Way Universal Coverage Could Function

Universal healthcare coverage would require payments from both workers and companies. In comparable systems, an employee earning moderate income pays about 5.3% to their healthcare. The company pays approximately 13.75%.

Does this appear expensive? Unless you compare it to what the typical American pays. I know multiple businesses that are easily contributing between eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages to their healthcare costs. Remember that in inclusive programs, those payments include pension plans, sick pay, parental benefits and unemployment benefits in addition to supporting medical services. When you add those costs compared with our current spending on retirement programs, job loss coverage and vacation benefits, the difference decreases.

Implementation for America

For America, universal healthcare funding would raise existing Medicare taxes, a framework that is already in place. It should be means-based – wealthier individuals would contribute higher amounts than those earning less. This includes both worker and employer contribution. And, like many federal defense, IT, social programs and transportation services, the program could be managed to third-party administrators rather than a government office.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

A national health insurance program represents a significant advantage for entrepreneurs like mine. It would place us on a level playing field against big corporations that can pay for superior coverage. It would render administration much easier (automatic payroll withholding remitted like retirement and healthcare taxes, instead of individual transactions to insurance companies and coverage administrators).

It would enable simpler for us to budget our yearly costs, instead of going through the complex (and ineffective) theater of bargaining with major insurers required annually every year. Because it's simplified, there would be a better understanding about benefits among workers – contrasted with the current system where they have to interpret the complications of current options. Additionally there would certainly be reduced responsibility for companies since we wouldn't have access to workers' medical records for purposes of weighing risks and alternative plans.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as pro-market as they get. But I've learned that government play important functions in our lives, including national security to supporting needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare to all via universal healthcare strengthens our economy's infrastructure. It represents superior, simpler approach for entrepreneurs which hire more than half of the country's workers and generate half of our GDP. It makes it possible for workers to enjoy better health, come to work more often and increase productivity.

Considering Challenges

Exist a million considerations I haven't covered? Certainly. But with all the healthcare cost increases we've seen recently, it's clear that current healthcare legislation isn't functioning effectively. And I realize that America isn't a compact European nation where big changes 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 approach for not only managing medical expenses but providing access to everyone.

Need for Realistic Evaluation

As Americans, we need to reduce national pride. America's medical care isn't so great. We rank significantly behind many other countries in healthcare quality in the world, based on major studies. Perhaps a bright spot in this present circumstances is that we take serious examination in the mirror and acknowledge that big changes are necessary.