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Deductibles. In-network. Out-of-network. Concierge medical services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Co-payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. ACA. Health Maintenance Organization. Preferred Provider Organization. Exclusive Provider Organization. Point of Service. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. Flexible Spending Account. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. EOB. COBRA. SHOP. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Confused? You should be. Who comprehends this complex system? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Nor the typical employee. Selecting the right healthcare insurance for companies – or for our families – seems like demands a PhD in medical insurance.

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

According to recent research, typical households pays $twenty-seven thousand each year for their health insurance (increasing by 6% from last year). The average employer health insurance cost is projected to surpass $17,000 per employee by 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025.

Now the government is shut down due to partisan disputes over subsidies that experts say could cause a doubling of premiums for millions of Americans.

When Will We Seriously Consider Universal Healthcare?

How soon might we seriously consider a national health insurance program in the United States? I'm convinced we're approaching that point since this can't continue.

I'm not proposing government-run medicine. I'm advocating that our already existing Medicare system – an insurance system – simply expand to cover everyone. Our infrastructure doesn't change. How medical professionals get paid changes. Trust me, they will adjust.

The Way National Health Insurance Would Work

Universal healthcare coverage would need payments from both workers and companies. In comparable systems, a worker earning average wages must contribute approximately 5.3% toward medical coverage. The company pays approximately thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this seem like a lot? Not if you compare that with what average American pays. I can name dozens of businesses that are routinely paying anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages to their healthcare costs. And keep in mind that with comprehensive systems, these contributions also cover pension plans, illness coverage, parental benefits and unemployment benefits along with funding healthcare facilities. When you add these expenses compared with what we pay on retirement programs, job loss coverage and paid time off, the gap narrows.

Execution for America

For America, a national health premium would raise existing Medicare taxes, a framework already established. It should be means-based – those at higher income levels would contribute higher amounts than those earning less. This includes both worker and company payments. And, like many federal defense, technology, welfare services and transportation services, the system should be outsourced to third-party administrators instead of federal agencies.

Advantages 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 that can pay for superior coverage. It would make management much easier (a payroll deduction processed similarly to social security and Medicare taxes, instead of separate payments to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would enable simpler for us to budget annual expenditures, rather than going through the complex (and fruitless) theater of bargaining with the big insurance providers that we must do each year. Due to simplification, there would be a better understanding of coverage by our employees – contrasted with existing arrangements where they have to interpret the complications of current options. And there would definitely exist reduced responsibility for companies since we wouldn't have access to workers' health histories for purposes of weighing risks and alternative plans.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as pro-market as possible. However I recognize that government has a significant role in our lives, including national security to funding needed infrastructure. Ensuring medical coverage to all through a national insurance system enhances our economy's infrastructure. It represents superior, easier system for small businesses which hire more than half of American employees and fund half of our GDP. It enables for workers to be healthier, have better attendance and be more productive.

Considering Challenges

Exist a million considerations I haven't covered? Certainly. But with rising medical expenses experienced in recent years, it's clear that current healthcare legislation is not working effectively. I understand that America isn't a compact European nation where big changes can be readily adopted. But expanding universal Medicare, even with the additional taxes that would be incurred, would remain a better and less expensive approach for not only managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Time for Honest Assessment

We as Americans, must tone down national pride. Our healthcare system isn't exceptional. The US places significantly behind many other countries in healthcare quality in the world, based on major studies. Maybe one bright spot amid present circumstances is that we take serious examination in the mirror and agree that major reforms need to happen.