🔗 Share this article

Deductibles. Preferred providers. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. Preferred Provider Organization. EPO. Point of Service. HDHP. Health Savings Account. FSA. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. EOB. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Dependent coverage. Premium tax credits.

Confused? You should be. Who understands this complex system? Certainly not the average business owner. Nor the typical worker. Choosing the appropriate medical coverage for companies – or for households – seems like it requires advanced expertise in healthcare.

The Healthcare System Is More Than Complex, It Is Expensive

Based on a recent study, the average family spends $27,000 annually on medical coverage (increasing by 6% from last year). The average company healthcare expense is projected to exceed $seventeen thousand per employee by 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025.

Currently federal operations has ceased functioning because political disagreements regarding subsidies which analysts predict could cause a doubling of premiums for numerous US citizens.

When Might We Truly Examine National Health Insurance?

When will we genuinely evaluate universal healthcare coverage in the United States? I'm convinced we're approaching that point because this can't continue.

I'm not proposing national healthcare. I'm advocating that our already existing Medicare system – an insurance system – simply expand to include all citizens. Our infrastructure remains intact. The way medical professionals receive payment would change. Trust me, they will adjust.

The Way Universal Coverage Would Work

Universal healthcare coverage would require payments from employees and employers. In comparable systems, a worker making average wages must contribute about five point three percent to their healthcare. Their employer pays approximately thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this seem like a lot? Not if you contrast that with what the typical US resident spends. I know multiple clients that are easily contributing between eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages for medical benefits. And keep in mind that in inclusive programs, those payments include retirement benefits, illness coverage, maternity leave and unemployment benefits in addition to funding medical services. When you add those costs versus what we pay on retirement programs, job loss coverage and paid time off, the difference decreases.

Implementation in the US

For America, universal healthcare funding would raise existing Medicare taxes, a framework already established. It should be income-adjusted – wealthier individuals would contribute higher amounts than lower-income earners. There would be both worker and employer contribution. Similar to much of federal military, technology, social programs and infrastructure, the system should be outsourced by private contractors rather than a government office.

Benefits for Small Businesses

Universal healthcare coverage represents a huge benefit for small businesses such as my company. It would place us on a level playing field against big corporations that can pay for superior coverage. It would make administration significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding processed similarly to social security and healthcare taxes, rather than separate payments to benefit firms and coverage administrators).

It would make it easier to plan expenses our yearly costs, instead of 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 among workers – as opposed to existing arrangements where they have to interpret the complexities of existing plans. And there would certainly be less liability for companies since we wouldn't have access to our employees' medical records for risk assessment and alternative plans.

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 needed infrastructure. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone through a national insurance system strengthens our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, simpler approach for entrepreneurs that employ the majority of the country's workers and fund half of our GDP. It enables employees to be healthier, have better attendance and increase productivity.

Addressing Concerns

Are there numerous factors I haven't covered? Certainly. But with all the healthcare cost increases we've seen in recent years, it's evident that the Affordable Care Act is not working very well. And I realize that America isn't a small, Scandinavian country where big changes can be readily adopted. But expanding Medicare for all, even with increased taxation that would be incurred, would remain a superior and more affordable strategy both for managing medical expenses but providing access for all citizens.

Time for Honest Assessment

As Americans, we need to reduce national pride. Our healthcare system isn't so great. We rank significantly behind many other countries in healthcare quality globally, according to comprehensive research. Perhaps a bright spot in this present circumstances is that we take serious examination in the mirror and acknowledge that major reforms need to happen.