🔗 Share this article As a Dedicated Capitalist, But Universal Medicare Is the Top Solution for US Health System Deductibles. In-network. Non-preferred providers. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Co-payment. Shared insurance. Benefit advisers. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. Preferred Provider Organization. EPO. Point of Service. High Deductible Health Plan. HSA. FSA. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. EOB. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. SHOP. Individual coverage. Dependent coverage. Insurance subsidies. Confused? You should be. Who understands this complex system? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Neither the average employee. Choosing the appropriate medical coverage for companies – or for our families – appears to require demands advanced expertise in medical insurance. The Healthcare System Is More Than Complicated, It Is Expensive According to recent research, typical households spends $27,000 each year for their health insurance (up 6% from last year). The average company healthcare expense is projected to exceed $seventeen thousand per employee by 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025. Now the government is shut down due to partisan disputes regarding subsidies which analysts predict will lead to a doubling of premiums for numerous US citizens. When Will We Truly Examine National Health Insurance? When will we genuinely evaluate a national health insurance program in the United States? I have to believe we're approaching that point since this situation is unsustainable. I'm not proposing government-run medicine. I'm proposing for our current Medicare program – an insurance system – merely extend to include all citizens. Our infrastructure doesn't change. The way our healthcare providers get paid would change. Trust me, they will adjust. How Universal Coverage Could Function Universal healthcare coverage would need contributions from employees and employers. In similar programs, a worker earning average wages pays approximately 5.3% to their healthcare. The company must contribute about 13.75%. Does this seem like a lot? Unless you compare it to what the typical American pays. I know multiple clients that are routinely paying between 8% to 15% of their employee wages for medical benefits. Remember that in inclusive programs, those payments also cover retirement benefits, sick pay, parental benefits and job loss protection along with funding healthcare facilities. When you add those costs compared with what we pay for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and paid time off, the difference decreases. Execution for America In the US, a national health premium would increase our Medicare tax deduction, a system that is already in place. It should be income-adjusted – those at higher income levels would pay more than those earning less. There would be both an employee and company payments. And, like many our government's defense, technology, social programs and infrastructure, the program should be outsourced by private contractors rather than federal agencies. Benefits for Small Businesses A national health insurance program would be a huge benefit for small businesses like mine. It would put small companies in equal competition against big corporations that can pay for better plans. It would render management significantly simpler (a payroll deduction remitted like retirement and Medicare taxes, rather than separate payments to insurance companies and insurance providers). It would enable simpler for us to budget annual expenditures, rather than going through the complex (and fruitless) theater of negotiating with major insurers that we must do every year. Due to simplification, there would be improved comprehension about benefits by our employees – contrasted with existing arrangements which require them to decipher the complexities of existing plans. Additionally there would definitely exist less liability for companies as we no longer have access to our employees' medical records for weighing risks and different options. Free-Market Viewpoint I'm as capitalist as possible. However I recognize that government play important functions in our lives, from providing defense to supporting essential systems. Ensuring medical coverage to all through a national insurance system strengthens our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, easier system for entrepreneurs that employ the majority of the country's workers and generate half of our GDP. It makes it possible for workers to be healthier, come to work more often and increase productivity. Considering Challenges Exist a million considerations I'm not addressing? Certainly. Given rising medical expenses we've seen recently, it's evident that the Affordable Care Act is not working very well. I understand that we're not a compact European nation where big changes can be readily adopted. But expanding Medicare for all, even with increased taxation required, would remain a superior and more affordable strategy both for managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage for all citizens. Time for Honest Assessment As Americans, must reduce our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't so great. We rank significantly behind numerous nations with the best healthcare in the world, according to major studies. Perhaps a bright spot in this present circumstances is that we take a hard look at ourselves and acknowledge that big changes need to happen.