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Deductibles. Preferred providers. Out-of-network. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Medical advisors. ACA. Health Maintenance Organization. Preferred Provider Organization. EPO. Point of Service. High Deductible Health Plan. HSA. Flexible Spending Account. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. Explanation of Benefits. COBRA. SHOP. Single coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Confused? It's understandable. Who comprehends all this stuff? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Neither the average employee. Choosing the appropriate medical coverage for our business – or for households – appears to require it requires advanced expertise in medical insurance.

The Medical System Isn't Just Complex, 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). Typical employer health insurance cost is projected to surpass $seventeen thousand for each worker by 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025.

Currently federal operations is shut down due to political disagreements regarding subsidies that experts say could cause a doubling of premiums for numerous US citizens.

When Will We Seriously Consider National Health Insurance?

How soon might we seriously consider a national health insurance program here in America? I'm convinced we're getting closer because this can't continue.

I'm not suggesting government-run medicine. I'm proposing for our current Medicare system – an established insurance framework – simply expand to include all citizens. Our infrastructure doesn't change. How our healthcare providers get paid changes. Trust me, they will adjust.

The Way National Health Insurance Could Function

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

Does this appear like a lot? Unless you contrast that with what the typical US resident spends. I can name multiple clients that are easily contributing between eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages for medical benefits. And keep in mind that in comprehensive systems, those payments also cover pension plans, illness coverage, maternity leave and job loss protection along with funding healthcare facilities. When you add those costs versus our current spending for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits, the gap narrows.

Execution for America

For America, a national health premium would raise existing Medicare taxes, a system already established. It should be income-adjusted – those at higher income levels would pay more than those earning less. This includes both an employee and company payments. Similar to many our government's defense, IT, welfare services and transportation services, the program could be managed to third-party administrators instead of federal agencies.

Benefits for Entrepreneurs

A national health insurance program represents a significant advantage for small businesses such as my company. It would put small companies in equal competition against big corporations who can afford better plans. It would make management significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding remitted like social security and Medicare taxes, instead of individual transactions to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would make it easier to plan expenses annual expenditures, instead of going through the complex (and ineffective) theater of bargaining with the big insurance providers required annually every year. Due to simplification, there would exist a better understanding about benefits by our employees – contrasted with existing arrangements where they have to decipher the complications of current options. And there would certainly be less liability for companies since we wouldn't would be privy to our employees' health histories for purposes of weighing risks and different options.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as pro-market as possible. But I've learned that government has a significant role in our lives, including national security to supporting needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare for everyone through a national insurance system enhances economic foundations. It represents superior, easier system for small businesses which hire the majority of the country's workers and fund half the economic output. It makes it possible for workers to be healthier, come to work more often and increase productivity.

Addressing Concerns

Are there numerous factors I haven't covered? Of course there are. But with rising medical expenses we've seen recently, it's evident that the Affordable Care Act is not working effectively. I understand that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms can be readily adopted. However extending universal Medicare, despite the additional taxes 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 Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, must reduce our own arrogance. America's medical care isn't so great. The US places well below numerous nations in healthcare quality in the world, according to major studies. Maybe one bright spot in this current situation could be that we undertake a hard look at ourselves and agree that big changes need to happen.