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Out-of-pocket costs. In-network. Non-preferred providers. Concierge medical services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Fixed payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Medical advisors. ACA. HMO. PPO. EPO. Point of Service. High Deductible Health Plan. HSA. FSA. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. EOB. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Small Business Health Options Program. Single coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Baffled? It's understandable. Who comprehends all this stuff? Not the typical business owner. Neither the average employee. Choosing the appropriate medical coverage for companies – or for our families – appears to require it requires advanced expertise in healthcare.

Our Healthcare System Is More Than Complicated, It Is Expensive

According to a recent study, the average family pays $twenty-seven thousand annually on medical coverage (increasing by 6% compared to last year). The average company healthcare expense is expected to exceed $17,000 per employee in 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025.

Now federal operations has ceased functioning because partisan disputes over subsidies that experts say will lead to premium increases up to 100% for numerous US citizens.

When Might We Truly Examine National Health Insurance?

When will we genuinely evaluate universal healthcare coverage here in America? I'm convinced we're getting closer because this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not suggesting national healthcare. I'm advocating that our already existing Medicare program – an insurance system – merely extend 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 Would Work

Universal healthcare coverage would require contributions from employees and employers. In comparable systems, an employee earning average wages must contribute about five point three percent to their healthcare. Their employer must contribute approximately 13.75%.

Does this appear like a lot? Not if you contrast that with what the typical American pays. I can name dozens of clients that are easily contributing anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages for medical benefits. And keep in mind that in comprehensive systems, those payments also cover retirement benefits, sick pay, maternity leave and unemployment benefits in addition to supporting medical services. When including these expenses versus our current spending for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and paid time off, the gap narrows.

Implementation in the US

In the US, universal healthcare funding would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a framework that is already in place. It ought to be means-based – those at higher income levels would pay more than those earning less. There would be both an employee and company payments. Similar to much of federal defense, technology, social programs and infrastructure, the system could be managed by private contractors rather than a government office.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

Universal healthcare coverage represents a huge benefit for entrepreneurs like mine. It would place us on a level playing field with our larger competitors who can afford superior coverage. It would render management significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding remitted like retirement and Medicare taxes, instead of separate payments to insurance companies and coverage administrators).

It would enable simpler for us to budget our yearly costs, instead of enduring the complicated (and ineffective) theater of bargaining with major insurers that we must do each year. Due to simplification, there would be improved comprehension about benefits by our employees – as opposed to existing arrangements which require them to decipher the complications of existing plans. Additionally there would definitely exist reduced responsibility for employers since we wouldn't have access to workers' health histories for purposes of weighing risks and different options.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as capitalist as they get. However I recognize that public institutions play important functions in our lives, from providing defense to funding needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare to all via universal healthcare strengthens economic foundations. It represents superior, easier system for small businesses which hire the majority of the country's workers and fund half of our GDP. It enables for workers to enjoy better health, have better attendance and be more productive.

Addressing Concerns

Are there a million considerations I haven't covered? Of course there are. But with rising medical expenses we've seen recently, it's clear that current healthcare legislation isn't functioning effectively. And I realize that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where big changes can be readily adopted. However extending universal Medicare, even with increased taxation that would be incurred, would remain a superior and more affordable approach for not only managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Need for Honest Assessment

We as Americans, we need to reduce our own arrogance. America's medical care isn't so great. The US places well below many other countries in healthcare quality in the world, according to comprehensive research. Maybe one positive aspect amid present circumstances is that we undertake a hard look at ourselves and agree that big changes need to happen.