🔗 Share this article As a Hardcore Capitalist, But Medicare for All Is the Top Hope for US Healthcare Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Medical advisors. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. PPO. Exclusive Provider Organization. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. HSA. FSA. HRA. EOB. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Single coverage. Dependent coverage. Insurance subsidies. Confused? You should be. Who understands this complex system? Not the typical business owner. Neither the average worker. Choosing the right healthcare insurance for our business – or for households – seems like it requires advanced expertise in healthcare. Our Healthcare System Is More Than Complicated, It's Expensive Based on a recent study, the average family spends $twenty-seven thousand each year on medical coverage (increasing by 6% compared to last year). The average company healthcare expense is projected to surpass $17,000 per employee in 2026, an increase of 9.5% compared to 2025. Now the government has ceased functioning due to partisan disputes over tax credits which analysts predict could cause premium increases up to 100% for numerous US citizens. When Will We Seriously Consider National Health Insurance? How soon might we seriously consider a national health insurance program here in America? I have to believe we're approaching that point since this can't continue. I'm not proposing national healthcare. I'm proposing that our already existing Medicare system – an insurance system – merely extend to include all citizens. The existing system doesn't change. How our healthcare providers get paid changes. Believe me, they'll adapt. How Universal Coverage Could Function A national health insurance program would need payments from both employees and employers. In comparable systems, a worker earning moderate income pays about 5.3% toward medical coverage. The company must contribute about thirteen point seventy-five percent. Does this seem expensive? Not if you contrast that with what the typical US resident spends. I can name dozens of businesses that are routinely paying anywhere from 8% to 15% of their employee wages to their healthcare costs. And keep in mind that in inclusive programs, those payments also cover retirement benefits, sick pay, maternity leave and unemployment benefits along with funding healthcare facilities. When you add these expenses compared with what we pay for our retirement plans, job loss coverage and vacation benefits, the difference decreases. Execution for America In the US, a national health premium would raise existing Medicare taxes, a system that is already in place. It ought to be means-based – wealthier individuals would contribute higher amounts than those earning less. There would be both worker and employer contribution. Similar to many federal defense, IT, welfare services and transportation services, the system could be managed to third-party administrators instead of a government office. Benefits for Small Businesses A national health insurance program represents a huge benefit for small businesses such as my company. It would put us on a level playing field against big corporations that can pay for better plans. It would render administration significantly simpler (a payroll deduction remitted like social security and healthcare taxes, rather than separate payments to benefit firms and insurance providers). It would make simpler to plan expenses annual expenditures, rather than going through the complicated (and ineffective) 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 – contrasted with existing arrangements where they have to decipher the complications of existing plans. And there would definitely exist reduced responsibility for companies as we no longer have access to our employees' medical records for weighing risks and alternative plans. Free-Market Viewpoint I'm as pro-market as they get. But I've learned that public institutions has a significant role in society, from providing defense to supporting needed infrastructure. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone through a national insurance system enhances economic foundations. It represents superior, easier system for entrepreneurs that employ the majority of American employees and generate half the economic output. It enables employees to be healthier, have better attendance and increase productivity. Considering Challenges Exist a million considerations I haven't covered? Of course there are. Given all the healthcare cost increases we've seen recently, it's evident that current healthcare legislation isn't functioning effectively. And I realize that we're not a compact European nation where major reforms can be readily adopted. But expanding universal Medicare, despite increased taxation required, would remain a better and less expensive strategy both for controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage for all citizens. Time for Honest Assessment We as Americans, we need to reduce our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't exceptional. We rank well below many other countries in healthcare quality globally, according to comprehensive research. Perhaps a bright spot in this current situation could be that we take serious examination at ourselves and agree that big changes are necessary.