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Confused? You should be. Who understands this complex system? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Nor the typical employee. Choosing the appropriate healthcare insurance for companies – or for our families – seems like demands advanced expertise in medical insurance.

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

According to a recent study, typical households pays $27,000 each year for their health insurance (increasing by 6% compared to last year). The average employer health insurance cost is expected to surpass $17,000 for each worker in 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025.

Currently the government has ceased functioning because partisan disputes regarding tax credits which analysts predict could cause premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Might We Truly Examine National Health Insurance?

How soon might we genuinely evaluate universal healthcare coverage here in America? I'm convinced we're approaching that point since this can't continue.

I'm not suggesting government-run medicine. I'm proposing that our already existing Medicare system – an insurance system – simply expand to include all citizens. Our infrastructure remains intact. How our healthcare providers get paid would change. Trust me, they will adjust.

How National Health Insurance Could Function

A national health insurance program would require contributions from workers and companies. In comparable systems, an employee making moderate income pays approximately 5.3% toward medical coverage. Their employer must contribute about 13.75%.

Does this seem like a lot? Not if you contrast that with what the typical American pays. I know dozens of clients who are easily contributing between 8% to 15% of their employee wages to their healthcare costs. Remember that with comprehensive systems, those payments also cover retirement benefits, illness coverage, parental benefits and unemployment benefits in addition to funding healthcare facilities. When you add those costs versus what we pay for our retirement plans, job loss coverage and paid time off, the gap narrows.

Implementation for America

For America, a national health premium would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a framework already established. It ought to be means-based – those at higher income levels would pay more than those earning less. There would be both an employee and employer contribution. And, like much of federal military, IT, social programs and transportation services, the system could be managed by private contractors instead of a government office.

Benefits for Entrepreneurs

A national health insurance program represents a huge benefit for entrepreneurs like mine. It would place small companies in equal competition with our larger competitors who can afford better plans. It would render management much easier (a payroll deduction processed similarly to retirement and Medicare taxes, rather than separate payments to benefit firms and coverage administrators).

It would make it easier for us to budget annual expenditures, rather than enduring the complex (and ineffective) process of negotiating with major insurers required annually each year. Due to simplification, there would be a better understanding of coverage among workers – as opposed to the current system where they have to interpret the complexities of existing plans. Additionally there would definitely exist reduced responsibility for employers as we no longer have access to workers' health histories for purposes of risk assessment and alternative plans.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as pro-market as possible. However I recognize that government play important functions in society, including national security to supporting needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare to all via universal healthcare enhances 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 enables for workers to be healthier, come to work more often and increase productivity.

Considering Challenges

Exist numerous factors I haven't covered? Of course there are. But with all the healthcare cost increases we've seen recently, it's clear that current healthcare legislation is not working effectively. And I realize that America isn't a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms are easier to implement. But expanding Medicare for all, even with increased taxation required, would still be a better and less expensive strategy both for managing medical expenses but providing access to everyone.

Need for Honest Assessment

We as Americans, we need to tone down our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't exceptional. The US places well below many other countries with the best healthcare globally, based on major studies. Perhaps a bright spot amid present circumstances is that we undertake serious examination at ourselves and agree that big changes need to happen.