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Out-of-pocket costs. In-network. Out-of-network. Concierge medical services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Fixed payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. ACA. Health Maintenance Organization. PPO. EPO. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. HSA. FSA. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Small Business Health Options Program. Single coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

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

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

According to a recent study, typical households spends $27,000 annually on medical coverage (increasing by 6% compared to 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.

Currently federal operations has ceased functioning due to partisan disputes over tax credits that experts say will lead to premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Might We Truly Examine National Health Insurance?

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

I'm not proposing government-run medicine. I'm proposing for our current Medicare system – an insurance system – merely extend to cover everyone. The existing system doesn't change. The way medical professionals get paid changes. Believe me, they'll adapt.

The Way Universal Coverage Would Work

A national health insurance program would need contributions from workers and companies. In comparable systems, a worker earning moderate income pays about 5.3% toward medical coverage. Their employer must contribute about 13.75%.

Does this seem expensive? Unless you compare it to what average US resident spends. I can name multiple clients who are routinely paying anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages for medical benefits. And keep in mind that in comprehensive systems, those payments also cover pension plans, sick pay, parental benefits and unemployment benefits in addition to supporting healthcare facilities. When including those costs versus what we pay for our retirement plans, job loss coverage and vacation benefits, the difference decreases.

Execution for America

For America, a national health premium would raise existing Medicare taxes, a system that is already in place. It ought to be means-based – those at higher income levels would pay more than those earning less. This includes both an employee and company payments. And, like much of federal military, IT, social programs and transportation services, the system should be outsourced to third-party administrators instead of federal agencies.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

A national health insurance program represents a huge benefit for small businesses such as my company. It would put small companies in equal competition with our larger competitors that can pay for better plans. It would render management much easier (automatic payroll withholding remitted like retirement and Medicare taxes, instead of separate payments to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would make it easier for us to budget our yearly costs, rather than going through the complex (and ineffective) theater of bargaining with major insurers that we must do every year. Because it's simplified, there would be improved comprehension about benefits by our employees – as opposed to existing arrangements where they have to decipher the complexities of existing plans. And there would certainly be less liability for employers as we no longer would be privy to workers' medical records for weighing risks and different options.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as pro-market as possible. However I recognize that public institutions play important functions in our lives, including national security to funding needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare for everyone through a national insurance system strengthens economic foundations. It represents superior, simpler approach for entrepreneurs which hire more than half of the country's workers and generate half of our GDP. It enables 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 is not working effectively. And I realize that America isn't a compact European nation where major reforms can be readily adopted. But expanding Medicare for all, even with increased taxation that would be incurred, would still be a superior and more affordable approach for not only managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage to everyone.

Need for Honest Assessment

As Americans, must reduce national pride. Our healthcare system isn't exceptional. We rank significantly behind numerous nations with the best healthcare in the world, according to major studies. Perhaps a bright spot in this current situation could be that we undertake serious examination in the mirror and acknowledge that major reforms are necessary.