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Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Non-preferred providers. Premium health services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Fixed payment. Shared insurance. Benefit advisers. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. Preferred Provider Organization. EPO. Point of Service. High Deductible Health Plan. HSA. Flexible Spending Account. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. COBRA. SHOP. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Baffled? You should be. Who understands all this stuff? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Neither the average worker. Selecting the right healthcare insurance for companies – or for households – appears to require demands advanced expertise in medical insurance.

The Medical System Isn't Just Complex, It's Expensive

According to a recent study, the average family pays $27,000 each year for their health insurance (up 6% compared to last year). The average employer health insurance cost is expected to surpass $17,000 for each worker in 2026, an increase of 9.5% compared to 2025.

Currently the government has ceased functioning due to partisan disputes over subsidies that experts say will lead to a doubling of premiums for millions of Americans.

When Might We Seriously Consider National Health Insurance?

When will we genuinely evaluate a national health insurance program in the United States? I'm convinced we're approaching that point since this can't continue.

I'm not proposing national healthcare. I'm advocating for our current Medicare program – an established insurance framework – merely extend to include all citizens. The existing system remains intact. How our healthcare providers receive payment changes. Trust me, they will adjust.

The Way National Health Insurance Would Work

A national health insurance program would need payments from workers and companies. In comparable systems, a worker earning moderate income must contribute approximately five point three percent to their healthcare. The company pays about thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this appear like a lot? Unless you contrast it to what average American pays. I know multiple businesses who are easily contributing anywhere from 8% to 15% of payroll costs to their healthcare costs. Remember that in inclusive programs, those payments also cover pension plans, illness coverage, parental benefits and unemployment benefits along with supporting healthcare facilities. When you add those costs compared with our current spending on retirement programs, job loss coverage and vacation benefits, the difference decreases.

Implementation for America

In the US, a national health premium would increase our Medicare tax deduction, a system already established. It should be means-based – wealthier individuals would contribute higher amounts than those earning less. There would be both worker and employer contribution. Similar to much of federal defense, technology, welfare services and infrastructure, the program should be outsourced by private contractors instead of a government office.

Benefits for Entrepreneurs

Universal healthcare coverage would be a significant advantage for small businesses like mine. It would put us on a level playing field against big corporations that can pay for better plans. It would render administration significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding remitted like social security and healthcare taxes, rather than separate payments to insurance companies and insurance providers).

It would enable it easier for us to budget our yearly costs, rather than going through the complicated (and ineffective) theater of bargaining with major insurers that we must do every year. Due to simplification, there would exist a better understanding about benefits among workers – contrasted with the current system which require them to interpret the complications of existing plans. And there would certainly be reduced responsibility for employers as we no longer would be privy to our employees' medical records for risk assessment and different options.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as pro-market as possible. But I've learned that government play important functions in our lives, from providing defense to funding essential systems. Ensuring medical coverage to all through a national insurance system strengthens economic foundations. It's a better, easier system for entrepreneurs which hire the majority of American employees and fund half of our GDP. It enables employees to be healthier, 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 experienced recently, it's evident that the Affordable Care Act is not working very well. And I realize that America isn't a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms are easier to implement. But expanding universal Medicare, even with increased taxation that would be incurred, would still be a better and less expensive strategy for not only managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage to everyone.

Need for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, we need to tone down national pride. Our healthcare system isn't exceptional. The US places well below many other countries in healthcare quality in the world, based on major studies. Maybe one bright spot in this current situation could be that we take a hard look in the mirror and agree that big changes are necessary.