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Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Benefit advisers. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. ACA. HMO. Preferred Provider Organization. EPO. Point of Service. High Deductible Health Plan. HSA. Flexible Spending Account. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. Explanation of Benefits. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Small Business Health Options Program. Single coverage. Dependent coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Confused? It's understandable. Who comprehends all this stuff? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Nor the typical worker. Choosing the appropriate healthcare insurance for our business – or for households – appears to require demands advanced expertise in medical insurance.

Our Healthcare System Isn't Just Complicated, It's Costly

According to recent research, the average family spends $twenty-seven thousand annually for their health insurance (increasing by 6% from last year). Typical company healthcare expense is projected to exceed $17,000 per employee by 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025.

Currently the government has ceased functioning because partisan disputes over tax credits which analysts predict could cause premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Might We Seriously Consider National Health Insurance?

How soon might we genuinely evaluate a national health insurance program here in America? I have to believe we're getting closer because this can't continue.

I'm not suggesting national healthcare. I'm advocating for our current Medicare system – an established insurance framework – merely extend to include all citizens. Our infrastructure remains intact. The way medical professionals get paid changes. Believe me, they'll adapt.

The Way National Health Insurance Could Function

Universal healthcare coverage would require contributions from workers and companies. In comparable systems, a worker earning moderate income pays about 5.3% to their healthcare. The company pays about thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this appear expensive? Unless you contrast that with what average US resident spends. I can name dozens of clients who are routinely paying anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages to their healthcare costs. Remember that in inclusive programs, those payments include retirement benefits, sick pay, maternity leave and job loss protection along with supporting healthcare facilities. When including those costs versus our current spending on retirement programs, job loss coverage and vacation benefits, the gap narrows.

Execution for America

For America, a national health premium would increase existing Medicare taxes, a system that is already in place. It should be means-based – those at higher income levels would contribute higher amounts than lower-income earners. There would be both worker and employer contribution. Similar to many federal defense, IT, social programs and infrastructure, the program could be managed by private contractors rather than a government office.

Benefits for Small Businesses

A national health insurance program would be a significant advantage for small businesses like mine. It would put us on a level playing field with our larger competitors who can afford superior coverage. It would make management much easier (automatic payroll withholding remitted like retirement and healthcare taxes, instead of individual transactions to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would enable simpler to plan expenses annual expenditures, rather than going through the complicated (and ineffective) process of negotiating with major insurers required annually every year. Due to simplification, there would be a better understanding of coverage by our employees – as opposed to the current system which require them to decipher the complications of existing plans. And there would definitely exist reduced responsibility for companies since we wouldn't have access to workers' health histories for risk assessment and different options.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as capitalist as they get. But I've learned that public institutions play important functions in society, including national security to supporting essential systems. Ensuring medical coverage to all through a national insurance system enhances economic foundations. It's a better, easier system for small businesses that employ the majority of American employees and generate half of our GDP. It enables employees to be healthier, come to work more often and increase productivity.

Considering Challenges

Are there a million considerations I'm not addressing? Certainly. Given rising medical expenses experienced recently, it's clear that the Affordable Care Act isn't functioning effectively. And I realize that America isn't a compact European nation where major reforms are easier to implement. However extending Medicare for all, even with increased taxation required, would still be a superior and less expensive strategy both for managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Time for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, we need to tone down our own arrogance. America's medical care isn't exceptional. We rank significantly behind numerous nations in healthcare quality globally, according to major studies. Maybe one positive aspect amid current situation could be that we take a hard look at ourselves and acknowledge that major reforms are necessary.