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Baffled? You should be. Who understands this complex system? Not the typical entrepreneur. Neither the average employee. Selecting the right medical coverage for companies – or for our families – appears to require demands advanced expertise in medical insurance.

The Healthcare System Isn't Just Complicated, It Is Costly

According to a recent study, typical households spends $twenty-seven thousand annually on medical coverage (up 6% from last year). The average employer health insurance cost is projected to exceed $17,000 for each worker in 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025.

Currently the government has ceased functioning because political disagreements regarding subsidies that experts say will lead to premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Will We Seriously Consider National Health Insurance?

How soon might we seriously consider a national health insurance program in the United States? I have to believe we're approaching that point since this situation is unsustainable.

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. Believe me, they will adjust.

How Universal Coverage Would Work

A national health insurance program would need payments from employees and employers. In similar programs, an employee earning moderate income must contribute about 5.3% toward medical coverage. The company pays approximately thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this seem like a lot? Not if you compare that with what average American pays. I know multiple businesses that are routinely paying between 8% to 15% of their employee wages to their healthcare costs. And keep in mind that with inclusive programs, these contributions also cover retirement benefits, sick pay, parental benefits and job loss protection in addition to funding medical services. When including these expenses compared with what we pay on retirement programs, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits, the difference decreases.

Implementation for America

In the US, universal healthcare funding would raise existing Medicare taxes, a system that is already in place. It ought to be means-based – wealthier individuals would pay more than those earning less. There would be both an employee and company payments. And, like much of federal military, IT, social programs and transportation services, the program should be outsourced to third-party administrators rather than federal agencies.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

A national health insurance program would be a significant advantage for small businesses such as my company. It would place small companies in equal competition with our larger competitors who can afford better plans. It would make management significantly simpler (a payroll deduction remitted like social security and healthcare taxes, rather than individual transactions to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would make simpler for us to budget our yearly costs, instead of going through the complex (and ineffective) theater of bargaining with major insurers that we must do each year. Due to simplification, there would be a better understanding about benefits among workers – contrasted with the current system where they have to decipher the complexities of current options. Additionally there would definitely exist less liability for employers since we wouldn't have access to workers' medical records for purposes of weighing risks and different options.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as pro-market as possible. However I recognize that public institutions play important functions in society, from providing defense to funding needed infrastructure. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone through a national insurance system strengthens economic foundations. It's a better, easier system for small businesses which hire more than half of American employees and fund half the economic output. It enables for workers to be healthier, have better attendance and be more productive.

Considering Challenges

Exist numerous factors I haven't covered? Of course there are. But with rising medical expenses experienced recently, it's clear that current healthcare legislation is not working very well. I understand that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms can be readily adopted. But expanding universal Medicare, even with increased taxation that would be incurred, would remain a superior and less expensive strategy both for managing medical expenses but providing access for all citizens.

Time for Realistic Evaluation

As Americans, we need to reduce national pride. America's medical care isn't so great. The US places well below many other countries in healthcare quality in the world, according to major studies. Maybe one positive aspect in this current situation is that we undertake serious examination at ourselves and agree that big changes need to happen.