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Out-of-pocket costs. In-network. Non-preferred providers. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Benefit advisers. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. ACA. Health Maintenance Organization. PPO. EPO. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. FSA. HRA. EOB. COBRA. SHOP. Single coverage. Family coverage. Premium tax credits.

Confused? You should be. Who comprehends this complex system? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Nor the typical worker. Choosing the appropriate healthcare insurance for companies – or for our families – seems like demands advanced expertise in healthcare.

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

According to a recent study, the average family pays $27,000 annually on medical coverage (up 6% from last year). The average employer health insurance cost is expected to surpass $17,000 per employee in 2026, an increase of 9.5% compared to 2025.

Now federal operations is shut down because partisan disputes over subsidies that experts say could cause a doubling of premiums for millions of Americans.

When Might We Truly Examine Universal Healthcare?

How soon might we genuinely evaluate universal healthcare coverage in the United States? I'm convinced we're getting closer since this can't continue.

I'm not suggesting government-run medicine. I'm advocating for our current Medicare program – an insurance system – simply expand to include all citizens. Our infrastructure remains intact. How our healthcare providers get paid would change. Trust me, they'll adapt.

How Universal Coverage Could Function

A national health insurance program would need payments from both employees and employers. In comparable systems, an employee making average wages pays about 5.3% toward medical coverage. The company pays approximately 13.75%.

Does this seem like a lot? Unless you compare that with what the typical US resident spends. I can name dozens of clients that are routinely paying anywhere from 8% to 15% of payroll costs to their healthcare costs. Remember that in inclusive programs, these contributions include pension plans, illness coverage, parental benefits and job loss protection in addition to funding healthcare facilities. When including those costs versus what we pay for our retirement plans, job loss coverage and paid time off, the difference decreases.

Implementation for America

For America, a national health premium would increase our Medicare tax deduction, a framework already established. It ought to be income-adjusted – those at higher income levels would pay more than lower-income earners. There would be both worker and employer contribution. And, like much of our government's defense, IT, social programs and infrastructure, the system should be outsourced to third-party administrators instead of a government office.

Benefits for Small Businesses

Universal healthcare coverage would be a significant advantage for entrepreneurs like mine. It would put us on a level playing field with our larger competitors who can afford superior coverage. It would render management much easier (automatic payroll withholding remitted like retirement and Medicare taxes, instead of individual transactions to benefit firms and coverage administrators).

It would make it easier to plan expenses our yearly costs, instead of going through the complicated (and fruitless) theater of bargaining with major insurers that we must do every year. Because it's simplified, there would be improved comprehension of coverage among workers – contrasted with existing arrangements where they have to decipher the complications of existing plans. And there would definitely exist reduced responsibility for companies as we no longer have access to our employees' medical records for purposes of weighing risks and different options.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as capitalist as they get. However I recognize that government play important functions in society, including national security to funding essential systems. Providing healthcare to all through a national insurance system enhances our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, simpler approach for small businesses that employ the majority of American employees and fund half the economic output. It enables employees to enjoy better health, have better attendance and increase productivity.

Addressing Concerns

Are there a million considerations I haven't covered? Certainly. Given all the healthcare cost increases experienced recently, it's clear that current healthcare legislation isn't functioning very well. And I realize that America isn't a compact European nation where big changes can be readily adopted. But expanding universal Medicare, despite the additional taxes required, would still be a superior and less expensive strategy both for controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Time for Honest Assessment

We as Americans, we need to reduce national pride. America's medical care isn't so great. The US places significantly behind many other countries in healthcare quality in the world, according to major studies. Perhaps a positive aspect in this present circumstances is that we take serious examination at ourselves and acknowledge that major reforms need to happen.