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Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Non-preferred providers. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Co-payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. HMO. PPO. EPO. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. FSA. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Premium tax credits.

Confused? It's understandable. Who understands all this stuff? Not the typical entrepreneur. Nor the typical employee. Selecting the appropriate healthcare insurance for our business – or for households – appears to require demands advanced expertise in medical insurance.

The Medical System Isn't Just Complicated, It Is Expensive

According to a recent study, typical households pays $27,000 annually on medical coverage (increasing by 6% from last year). The average employer health insurance cost is projected to exceed $17,000 per employee in 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025.

Now federal operations is shut down because partisan disputes over subsidies which analysts predict will lead to premium increases up to 100% for numerous US citizens.

When Might We Seriously Consider Universal Healthcare?

When will we seriously consider universal healthcare coverage in the United States? I'm convinced we're getting closer since this can't continue.

I'm not proposing national healthcare. I'm proposing that our already existing Medicare system – an established insurance framework – simply expand to include all citizens. The existing system doesn't change. How our healthcare providers receive payment would change. Trust me, they'll adapt.

How Universal Coverage Could Function

Universal healthcare coverage would require contributions from both workers and companies. In comparable systems, an employee earning moderate income must contribute approximately five point three percent to their healthcare. Their employer must contribute approximately thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this appear expensive? Not if you compare that with what average US resident spends. I can name multiple clients that are easily contributing anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of payroll costs to their healthcare costs. Remember that in comprehensive systems, those payments include retirement benefits, sick pay, parental benefits and job loss protection along with supporting healthcare facilities. When you add those costs compared with what we pay for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and paid time off, the gap narrows.

Implementation for America

For America, universal healthcare funding would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a system that is already in place. It should be means-based – wealthier individuals would contribute higher amounts than those earning less. This includes both worker and employer contribution. Similar to many our government's military, technology, welfare services and transportation services, the system could be managed by private contractors rather than federal agencies.

Benefits for Entrepreneurs

Universal healthcare coverage represents a huge benefit for small businesses like mine. It would place us on a level playing field with our larger competitors who can afford superior coverage. It would make management much easier (a payroll deduction remitted like retirement and healthcare taxes, instead of individual transactions to benefit firms and coverage administrators).

It would make simpler to plan expenses annual expenditures, instead of going through the complicated (and ineffective) process of negotiating with the big insurance providers required annually every year. Due to simplification, there would be a better understanding of coverage among workers – as opposed to existing arrangements where they have to interpret the complications of current options. And there would definitely exist reduced responsibility for employers since we wouldn't have access to our employees' health histories for purposes of weighing risks and different options.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as pro-market as they get. But I've learned that government has a significant role in our lives, from providing defense to supporting essential systems. Providing healthcare for everyone via universal healthcare enhances our economy's infrastructure. It represents superior, simpler approach for entrepreneurs which hire more than half of the country's workers and fund half the economic output. It makes it possible employees to be healthier, come to work more often and be more productive.

Addressing Concerns

Are there a million considerations I'm not addressing? Certainly. But with rising medical expenses we've seen recently, it's evident that the Affordable Care Act is not working effectively. And I realize that America isn't a small, Scandinavian country where big changes can be readily adopted. But expanding universal Medicare, despite the additional taxes that would be incurred, would still be a better and more affordable approach both for controlling healthcare costs but providing access for all citizens.

Time for Honest Assessment

As Americans, we need to tone down national pride. Our healthcare system isn't so great. We rank significantly behind many other countries in healthcare quality in the world, based on comprehensive research. Maybe one bright spot in this current situation could be that we take serious examination in the mirror and acknowledge that big changes need to happen.