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Baffled? You should be. Who comprehends this complex system? Certainly not the average business owner. Neither the average employee. Choosing the right medical coverage for companies – or for our families – appears to require it requires a PhD in medical insurance.

The Healthcare System Is More Than Complex, It's Costly

According to a recent study, the average family spends $27,000 annually for their health insurance (up 6% from last year). Typical employer health insurance cost is expected to surpass $17,000 for each worker by 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025.

Now the government has ceased functioning because partisan disputes regarding subsidies that experts say will lead to premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Might We Truly Examine National Health Insurance?

How soon might we seriously consider a national health insurance program in the United States? I have to believe 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 established insurance framework – merely extend to include all citizens. The existing system doesn't change. The way our healthcare providers get paid changes. Trust me, they'll adapt.

How National Health Insurance Would Work

Universal healthcare coverage would require payments from workers and companies. In similar programs, an employee earning average wages must contribute about 5.3% toward medical coverage. The company must contribute about thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this seem expensive? Not if you contrast that with what average American pays. I can name dozens of clients that are routinely paying between eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages to their healthcare costs. Remember that in comprehensive systems, those payments also cover retirement benefits, sick pay, maternity leave and job loss protection in addition to funding medical services. When you add those costs compared with what we pay for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and paid time off, the gap narrows.

Implementation in the US

For America, universal healthcare funding would increase existing Medicare taxes, a framework that is already in place. It ought to be income-adjusted – those at higher income levels would pay more than lower-income earners. There would be both an employee and company payments. And, like many federal defense, IT, social programs and transportation services, the system could be managed to third-party administrators instead of a government office.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

A national health insurance program would be a significant advantage for small businesses such as my company. It would place us on a level playing field against big corporations who can afford superior coverage. It would make management much easier (a payroll deduction remitted like retirement and healthcare taxes, instead of separate payments to insurance companies and coverage administrators).

It would enable simpler for us to budget annual expenditures, instead of enduring the complicated (and fruitless) theater of bargaining with major insurers required annually each year. Due to simplification, there would be improved comprehension of coverage among workers – contrasted with the current system which require them to decipher the complications of existing plans. And there would definitely exist reduced responsibility for employers since we wouldn't would be privy to our employees' health histories for risk assessment and different options.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as capitalist as they get. But I've learned that government has a significant role in society, from providing defense to supporting essential systems. Ensuring medical coverage to all via universal healthcare enhances economic foundations. It's a better, easier system for entrepreneurs that employ the majority of American employees and fund half the economic output. It enables employees to enjoy better health, come to work more often and increase productivity.

Addressing Concerns

Are there numerous factors I'm not addressing? Certainly. But with all the healthcare cost increases we've seen in recent years, it's clear that the Affordable Care Act isn't functioning effectively. And I realize that we're not a compact European nation where major reforms can be readily adopted. But expanding Medicare for all, despite increased taxation required, would remain a better and less expensive strategy for not only managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage to everyone.

Time for Realistic Evaluation

As Americans, must tone down our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't so great. The US places well below numerous nations in healthcare quality globally, according to comprehensive research. Perhaps a bright spot in this current situation is that we undertake a hard look at ourselves and agree that major reforms need to happen.