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Deductibles. In-network. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Co-payment. Shared insurance. Benefit advisers. Insurance brokers. Medical advisors. ACA. Health Maintenance Organization. Preferred Provider Organization. EPO. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. Flexible Spending Account. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Small Business Health Options Program. Single coverage. Family coverage. Premium tax credits.

Baffled? You should be. Who comprehends all this stuff? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Nor the typical worker. Selecting the right medical coverage for our business – or for households – appears to require demands advanced expertise in healthcare.

Our Healthcare System Is More Than Complex, It's Expensive

According to a recent study, typical households pays $27,000 each year on medical coverage (increasing by 6% from last year). The average employer health insurance cost is projected to surpass $17,000 per employee by 2026, an increase of 9.5% compared to 2025.

Now the government is shut down due to partisan disputes regarding subsidies which analysts predict could cause a doubling of premiums for millions of Americans.

When Might We Seriously Consider Universal Healthcare?

When will we seriously consider universal healthcare coverage here in America? I have to believe we're getting closer because this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not suggesting government-run medicine. I'm proposing that our already existing Medicare program – an established insurance framework – simply expand to cover everyone. Our infrastructure doesn't change. The way our healthcare providers get paid would change. Believe me, they will adjust.

The Way Universal Coverage Could Function

Universal healthcare coverage would need payments from workers and companies. In comparable systems, a worker earning average wages must contribute approximately five point three percent toward medical coverage. Their employer must contribute about 13.75%.

Does this seem like a lot? Not if you contrast it to what average US resident spends. I know multiple clients that are easily contributing anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages for medical benefits. Remember that in inclusive programs, those payments include retirement benefits, illness coverage, parental benefits and job loss protection along with funding medical services. When including these expenses versus our current spending for our retirement plans, job loss coverage and paid time off, the difference decreases.

Execution in the US

In the US, universal healthcare funding would increase existing Medicare taxes, a system already established. It should be income-adjusted – wealthier individuals would pay more than those earning less. This includes both worker and company payments. Similar to many our government's military, technology, social programs and transportation services, the program could be managed to third-party administrators rather than a government office.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

Universal healthcare coverage represents a significant advantage for small businesses like mine. It would put small companies in equal competition with our larger competitors that can pay for superior coverage. It would make administration significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding processed similarly to social security and Medicare taxes, instead of separate payments to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would enable simpler to plan expenses our yearly costs, rather than enduring the complex (and ineffective) process of bargaining with major insurers that we must do every year. Because it's simplified, there would exist a better understanding of coverage among workers – contrasted with existing arrangements where they have to interpret the complexities of existing plans. Additionally there would certainly be reduced responsibility for companies as we no longer have access to workers' medical records for purposes of risk assessment and different options.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as pro-market as they get. But I've learned that public institutions play important functions in our lives, including national security to supporting needed infrastructure. Ensuring medical coverage to all via universal healthcare strengthens our economy's infrastructure. It represents superior, easier system for small businesses that employ the majority of American employees and fund half of our GDP. It makes it possible for workers to enjoy better health, come to work more often and increase productivity.

Addressing Concerns

Are there numerous factors I haven't covered? Certainly. Given all the healthcare cost increases we've seen in recent years, it's clear that current healthcare legislation isn't functioning effectively. I understand that America isn't a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms are easier to implement. But expanding universal Medicare, despite increased taxation required, would remain a superior and more affordable strategy for not only managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage to everyone.

Need for Honest Assessment

We as Americans, must tone down our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't exceptional. We rank significantly behind numerous nations with the best healthcare globally, according to major studies. Perhaps a bright spot in this current situation could be that we undertake a hard look in the mirror and acknowledge that major reforms are necessary.