🔗 Share this article I'm a Dedicated Capitalist, Yet Universal Medicare Is the Top Hope for American Health System Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Out-of-network. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Benefit advisers. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. Preferred Provider Organization. EPO. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. HSA. Flexible Spending Account. HRA. EOB. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. SHOP. Individual coverage. Dependent coverage. Insurance subsidies. Baffled? It's understandable. Who understands all this stuff? Not the typical business owner. Neither the average employee. Selecting the right healthcare insurance for companies – or for our families – appears to require it requires advanced expertise in medical insurance. Our Medical System Is More Than Complicated, It's Expensive Based on a recent study, the average family spends $27,000 annually on medical coverage (increasing by 6% from last year). The average employer health insurance cost is expected to surpass $17,000 for each worker by 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025. Now the government is shut down due to political disagreements regarding tax credits that experts say will lead to a doubling of premiums for millions of Americans. When Will We Truly Examine National Health Insurance? How soon might we seriously consider universal healthcare coverage in the United States? I have to believe we're approaching that point because this situation is unsustainable. I'm not suggesting government-run medicine. I'm advocating for our current Medicare program – an established insurance framework – simply expand to include all citizens. The existing system doesn't change. The way our healthcare providers get paid changes. Believe me, they will adjust. How National Health Insurance Would Work A national health insurance program would need contributions from employees and employers. In similar programs, a worker earning moderate income pays about 5.3% toward medical coverage. The company pays approximately thirteen point seventy-five percent. Does this seem like a lot? Not if you contrast it to what the typical US resident spends. I can name multiple clients that are easily contributing between eight to fifteen percent of payroll costs for medical benefits. And keep in mind that with comprehensive systems, these contributions include pension plans, illness coverage, maternity leave and job loss protection in addition to funding healthcare facilities. When you add those costs compared with our current spending for our retirement plans, job loss coverage and vacation benefits, the difference decreases. Implementation in the US In the US, universal healthcare funding would increase existing Medicare taxes, a system already established. It should be means-based – those at higher income levels would contribute higher amounts than those earning less. This includes both worker and company payments. And, like much of federal defense, IT, welfare services and infrastructure, the program could be managed to third-party administrators rather than federal agencies. Benefits for Small Businesses A national health insurance program would be a significant advantage for small businesses like mine. It would put small companies in equal competition with our larger competitors that can pay for better plans. It would make management significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding remitted like retirement and healthcare taxes, instead of individual transactions to insurance companies and insurance providers). It would enable simpler to plan expenses our yearly costs, rather than enduring the complicated (and fruitless) theater of bargaining with the big insurance providers required annually each year. Because it's simplified, there would exist a better understanding of coverage among workers – as opposed to the current system where they have to decipher the complexities of current options. Additionally there would certainly be less liability for employers as we no longer would be privy to workers' medical records for purposes of risk assessment and different options. Free-Market Viewpoint I'm as capitalist as possible. However I recognize that government has a significant role in society, from providing defense to supporting needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare to all through a national insurance system enhances our economy's infrastructure. It represents superior, easier system for small businesses which hire the majority of American employees and generate half the economic output. It enables for workers to be healthier, come to work more often and be more productive. Considering Challenges Exist numerous factors I haven't covered? Certainly. Given rising medical expenses experienced in recent years, it's clear that the Affordable Care Act is not working effectively. I understand that America isn't a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms can be readily adopted. However extending Medicare for all, despite increased taxation that would be incurred, would remain a better and more affordable approach for not only managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage to everyone. Time for Realistic Evaluation We as Americans, must tone down our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't exceptional. We rank significantly behind many other countries in healthcare quality in the world, according to comprehensive research. Maybe one bright spot amid present circumstances is that we take serious examination in the mirror and acknowledge that major reforms need to happen.