🔗 Share this article As a Hardcore Free-Market Advocate, But Universal Medicare Is the Top Solution for American Health System Deductibles. Preferred providers. Non-preferred providers. Concierge medical services. Personal healthcare costs. Co-payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. ACA. Health Maintenance Organization. Preferred Provider Organization. Exclusive Provider Organization. Point of Service. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. FSA. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. EOB. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Dependent coverage. Premium tax credits. Confused? You should be. Who understands all this stuff? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Neither the average employee. Choosing the appropriate medical coverage for our business – or for our families – seems like demands advanced expertise in healthcare. The Healthcare System Isn't Just Complicated, It's Costly Based on a recent study, the average family pays $27,000 annually for their health insurance (up 6% from last year). The average company healthcare expense is expected to exceed $seventeen thousand per employee by 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025. Now federal operations is shut down because partisan disputes over tax credits which analysts predict will lead to a doubling of premiums for millions of Americans. When Will We Truly Examine Universal Healthcare? How soon might we genuinely evaluate a national health insurance program in the United States? I have to believe we're approaching that point because this can't continue. I'm not suggesting national healthcare. I'm proposing that our already existing Medicare system – an established insurance framework – simply expand to include all citizens. The existing system doesn't change. How medical professionals get paid changes. Trust me, they'll adapt. How National Health Insurance Could Function Universal healthcare coverage would require payments from workers and companies. In comparable systems, an employee earning moderate income must contribute about 5.3% toward medical coverage. The company must contribute about thirteen point seventy-five percent. Does this seem like a lot? Not if you compare it to what average American pays. I know dozens of businesses who are routinely paying between 8% to 15% of their employee wages to their healthcare costs. And keep in mind that with comprehensive systems, these contributions also cover pension plans, sick pay, maternity leave and job loss protection in addition to funding healthcare facilities. When including these expenses versus what we pay on retirement programs, job loss coverage and paid time off, the gap narrows. Implementation for America In the US, a national health premium would raise existing Medicare taxes, a framework that is already in place. 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. Similar to much of federal military, technology, welfare services and infrastructure, the program could be managed by private contractors rather than a government office. Benefits for Entrepreneurs A national health insurance program would be a huge benefit for small businesses such as my company. It would put small companies in equal competition with our larger competitors that can pay for superior coverage. It would make administration significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding remitted like retirement and healthcare taxes, rather than separate payments to insurance companies and insurance providers). It would enable it easier for us to budget our yearly costs, instead of enduring the complicated (and fruitless) process of negotiating with the big insurance providers required annually each year. Due to simplification, there would be improved comprehension about benefits by our employees – as opposed to the current system where they have to decipher the complexities of current options. And there would definitely exist reduced responsibility for companies as we no longer have access to our employees' health histories for weighing risks and alternative plans. Capitalist Perspective I'm as pro-market as they get. However I recognize that government has a significant role in our lives, including national security to supporting needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare for everyone through a national insurance system strengthens economic foundations. It's a better, simpler approach for small businesses which hire more than half of the country's workers and generate half of our GDP. It makes it possible employees to enjoy better health, come to work more often and be more productive. Addressing Concerns Exist a million considerations I'm not addressing? Of course there are. Given rising medical expenses experienced recently, it's clear that current healthcare legislation is not working very well. And I realize that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where big changes can be readily adopted. But expanding universal Medicare, even with the additional taxes required, would remain a superior and less expensive approach both for managing medical expenses and ensuring coverage for all citizens. Time for Honest Assessment We as Americans, must tone down our own arrogance. America's medical care isn't so great. We rank well below numerous nations with the best healthcare globally, according to comprehensive research. Perhaps a bright spot amid current situation could be that we take a hard look at ourselves and acknowledge that big changes are necessary.