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Deductibles. Preferred providers. Non-preferred providers. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Benefit advisers. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. ACA. Health Maintenance Organization. PPO. EPO. Point of Service. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. Flexible Spending Account. HRA. EOB. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Dependent coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Confused? It's understandable. Who comprehends all this stuff? Certainly not the average business owner. Nor the typical employee. Selecting the right healthcare insurance for our business – or for households – seems like demands advanced expertise in medical insurance.

Our Healthcare System Isn't Just Complicated, It Is Expensive

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

Currently federal operations is shut down due to political disagreements regarding subsidies that experts say will lead to premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Will We Truly Examine Universal Healthcare?

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

I'm not suggesting government-run medicine. I'm proposing for our current Medicare system – an insurance system – simply expand to cover everyone. The existing system remains intact. The way medical professionals get paid changes. Trust me, they will adjust.

The Way Universal Coverage Could Function

Universal healthcare coverage would need contributions from workers and companies. In similar programs, an employee earning average wages must contribute about 5.3% toward medical coverage. The company pays approximately thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this appear expensive? Unless you contrast that with what the typical American pays. I can name multiple businesses who are routinely paying anywhere from 8% to 15% of their employee wages for medical benefits. And keep in mind that with inclusive programs, these contributions include retirement benefits, illness coverage, parental benefits and job loss protection in addition to supporting healthcare facilities. When you add those costs versus our current spending for our retirement plans, job loss coverage and paid time off, the gap narrows.

Execution for America

In the US, universal healthcare funding would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a framework already established. It should be means-based – wealthier individuals would contribute higher amounts than lower-income earners. This includes both an employee and company payments. And, like much of federal military, IT, social programs and transportation services, the system could be managed to third-party administrators instead of federal agencies.

Benefits for Small Businesses

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

It would make simpler for us to budget annual expenditures, instead of enduring the complicated (and ineffective) process of bargaining with the big insurance providers that we must do every year. Due to simplification, there would exist improved comprehension about benefits among workers – contrasted with the current system where they have to decipher the complications of current options. Additionally there would certainly be less liability for companies as we no longer would be privy to workers' health histories for weighing risks and different options.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as capitalist as they get. But I've learned that public institutions play important functions in society, from providing defense to funding essential systems. Providing healthcare for everyone via universal healthcare enhances our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, simpler approach for entrepreneurs which hire the majority of American employees and generate half the economic output. It enables employees to enjoy better health, have better attendance and increase productivity.

Addressing Concerns

Are there numerous factors I'm not addressing? Of course there are. But with all the healthcare cost increases we've seen in recent years, it's clear that the Affordable Care Act isn't functioning effectively. I understand that we're not a compact European nation where big changes can be readily adopted. But expanding universal Medicare, despite increased taxation required, would still be a superior and more affordable approach both for controlling healthcare costs but providing access for all citizens.

Time for Honest Assessment

We as Americans, we need to tone down national pride. Our healthcare system isn't exceptional. We rank well below many other countries with the best healthcare in the world, based on major studies. Perhaps a positive aspect amid present circumstances could be that we undertake serious examination in the mirror and agree that major reforms are necessary.