🔗 Share this article As a Committed Free-Market Advocate, But Universal Medicare Represents the Optimal Hope for US Healthcare Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Non-preferred providers. Concierge medical services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Co-payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. ACA. Health Maintenance Organization. PPO. EPO. Point of Service. HDHP. HSA. FSA. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Premium tax credits. Confused? It's understandable. Who comprehends all this stuff? Not the typical entrepreneur. Neither the average worker. Selecting the appropriate healthcare insurance for our business – or for households – appears to require it requires a PhD in healthcare. The Medical System Is More Than Complicated, It's Expensive Based on recent research, typical households spends $27,000 annually on medical coverage (increasing by 6% from last year). Typical company healthcare expense is expected to surpass $seventeen thousand for each worker by 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 a doubling of premiums for numerous US citizens. When Might We Seriously Consider National Health Insurance? When will we genuinely evaluate a national health insurance program in the United States? I have to believe we're getting closer because this can't continue. I'm not proposing government-run medicine. I'm advocating for our current Medicare system – an insurance system – merely extend to cover everyone. The existing system doesn't change. How medical professionals receive payment would change. Believe me, they will adjust. The Way Universal Coverage Could Function Universal healthcare coverage would require payments from workers and companies. In comparable systems, a worker making moderate income pays about five point three percent to their healthcare. Their employer pays approximately thirteen point seventy-five percent. Does this appear expensive? Unless you contrast it to what average US resident spends. I know multiple clients that are easily contributing anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of their employee wages for medical benefits. Remember that in inclusive programs, those payments also cover pension plans, sick pay, 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 vacation benefits, the gap narrows. Execution in the US For America, a national health premium would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a system that is already in place. It should be income-adjusted – those at higher income levels would contribute higher amounts than those earning less. This includes both an employee and company payments. Similar to much of federal defense, IT, social programs and transportation services, the system should be outsourced to third-party administrators rather than a government office. Advantages for Small Businesses Universal healthcare coverage represents a significant advantage for small businesses like mine. It would place us on a level playing field with our larger competitors that can pay for better plans. It would render administration much easier (a payroll deduction remitted like social security and Medicare taxes, instead of individual transactions to benefit firms and coverage administrators). It would make it easier for us to budget annual expenditures, instead of enduring the complicated (and fruitless) process of negotiating with major insurers that we must do every year. Because it's simplified, there would be a better understanding about benefits by our employees – as opposed to the current system which require them to decipher the complications of current options. And there would definitely exist reduced responsibility for employers as we no longer have access to workers' health histories for risk assessment and alternative plans. Capitalist Perspective I'm as capitalist as they get. However I recognize that public institutions play important functions in society, from providing defense to supporting essential systems. Providing healthcare for everyone via universal healthcare enhances economic foundations. It represents superior, simpler approach for small businesses that employ the majority of American employees and generate half of our GDP. It enables employees to enjoy better health, have better attendance and be more productive. Addressing Concerns Exist a million considerations I haven't covered? Of course there are. But with all the healthcare cost increases we've seen in recent years, it's evident that the Affordable Care Act is not working very well. And I realize that we're not a compact European nation where big changes can be readily adopted. However extending universal Medicare, despite increased taxation required, would remain a superior and less expensive approach for not only managing medical expenses but providing access for all citizens. Time for Realistic Evaluation We as Americans, we need to reduce our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't exceptional. We rank significantly behind many other countries with the best healthcare in the world, based on comprehensive research. Maybe one positive aspect amid current situation could be that we take serious examination at ourselves and acknowledge that major reforms need to happen.