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Deductibles. In-network. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Fixed payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. Preferred Provider Organization. Exclusive Provider Organization. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. HSA. Flexible Spending Account. HRA. EOB. COBRA. SHOP. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Baffled? You should be. Who comprehends all this stuff? Not the typical business owner. Neither the average employee. Choosing the appropriate healthcare insurance for our business – or for our families – appears to require it requires advanced expertise in medical insurance.

The Medical System Is More Than Complex, It Is Costly

According to recent research, the average family spends $27,000 each year on medical coverage (increasing by 6% compared to last year). The average company healthcare expense is expected to surpass $seventeen thousand for each worker by 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025.

Now the government is shut down because political disagreements regarding tax credits that experts say could cause premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Will We Seriously Consider Universal Healthcare?

When will we genuinely evaluate universal healthcare coverage in the United States? I'm convinced we're approaching that point because this situation is unsustainable.

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

How Universal Coverage Would Work

Universal healthcare coverage would need contributions from employees and employers. In comparable systems, a worker earning average wages must contribute about 5.3% to their healthcare. The company pays approximately thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this appear expensive? Not if you compare that with what average American pays. I know dozens of businesses that are routinely paying anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages to their healthcare costs. Remember that with inclusive programs, these contributions include pension plans, illness coverage, maternity leave and job loss protection in addition to funding healthcare facilities. When including those costs versus what we pay for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and paid time off, the difference decreases.

Implementation in the US

For America, a national health premium would increase existing Medicare taxes, a system already established. It ought to be means-based – those at higher income levels would contribute higher amounts than lower-income earners. This includes both an employee and company payments. And, like many federal defense, IT, welfare services and transportation services, the system should be outsourced by private contractors instead of a government office.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

Universal healthcare coverage would be a huge benefit for entrepreneurs such as my company. It would place us on a level playing field with our larger competitors that can pay for better plans. It would make management significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding processed similarly to 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, rather than enduring the complicated (and ineffective) process of bargaining with the big insurance providers required annually each year. Due to simplification, there would exist a better understanding about benefits by our employees – contrasted with the current system where they have to decipher the complications of existing plans. Additionally there would certainly be less liability for companies as we no longer would be privy to our employees' medical records for weighing risks and alternative plans.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as pro-market as possible. However I recognize that public institutions has a significant role in our lives, including national security to funding needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare for everyone via universal healthcare enhances our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, simpler approach for entrepreneurs that employ the majority of the country's workers and generate half of our GDP. It makes it possible employees to be healthier, come to work more often and increase productivity.

Addressing Concerns

Are there a million considerations I haven't covered? Of course there are. But with all the healthcare cost increases we've seen recently, it's evident that current healthcare legislation isn't functioning very well. I understand that America isn't a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms are easier to implement. However extending universal Medicare, despite the additional taxes that would be incurred, would remain a superior and less expensive strategy both for controlling healthcare costs but providing access for all citizens.

Need for Honest Assessment

We as Americans, must reduce our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't so great. The US places significantly behind many other countries in healthcare quality globally, according to comprehensive research. Perhaps a positive aspect in this present circumstances is that we take a hard look in the mirror and acknowledge that big changes are necessary.