🔗 Share this article As a Dedicated Capitalist, But Medicare for All Is the Optimal Solution for American Healthcare Out-of-pocket costs. In-network. Non-preferred providers. Concierge medical services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Co-payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Medical advisors. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. PPO. EPO. POS. HDHP. Health Savings Account. Flexible Spending Account. HRA. EOB. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies. Confused? You should be. Who understands this complex system? Not the typical business owner. Neither the average worker. Selecting the right medical coverage for companies – or for our families – appears to require demands a PhD in healthcare. The Healthcare System Isn't Just Complicated, It Is Costly Based on recent research, typical households pays $27,000 each year on medical coverage (increasing by 6% compared to last year). The average company healthcare expense is projected to surpass $seventeen thousand per employee in 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025. Now the government has ceased functioning due to political disagreements regarding subsidies which analysts predict could cause a doubling of premiums for numerous US citizens. When Might We Truly Examine Universal Healthcare? When will we genuinely evaluate a national health insurance program here in America? I'm convinced we're getting closer since this situation is unsustainable. I'm not suggesting government-run medicine. I'm proposing that our already existing Medicare program – an insurance system – simply expand to include all citizens. The existing system remains intact. The way medical professionals receive payment changes. Believe me, they will adjust. How National Health Insurance Would Work A national health insurance program would need payments from both workers and companies. In similar programs, a worker making average wages pays approximately 5.3% toward medical coverage. Their employer pays approximately 13.75%. Does this seem expensive? Unless you contrast it to what average American pays. I can name dozens of clients that are routinely paying anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of payroll costs to their healthcare costs. Remember that with comprehensive systems, those payments include retirement benefits, sick pay, parental benefits and job loss protection along with supporting healthcare facilities. When you add these expenses compared with our current spending on retirement programs, unemployment insurance and paid time off, the difference decreases. Execution in the US For America, a national health premium would increase our Medicare tax deduction, a framework that is already in place. It should be means-based – those at higher income levels would contribute higher amounts than those earning less. This includes both an employee and company payments. And, like many federal military, IT, social programs and infrastructure, the program should be outsourced to third-party administrators instead of a government office. Benefits for Entrepreneurs Universal healthcare coverage represents a huge benefit for small businesses like mine. It would place us on a level playing field against big corporations that can pay for better plans. It would render administration significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding remitted like retirement and healthcare taxes, rather than individual transactions to insurance companies and coverage administrators). It would make simpler for us to budget our yearly costs, rather than enduring the complex (and ineffective) process of bargaining with major insurers that we must do each year. Due to simplification, there would be a better understanding about benefits by our employees – contrasted with existing arrangements which require them to interpret the complications of existing plans. Additionally there would certainly be reduced responsibility for employers as we no longer would be privy to workers' medical records for purposes of weighing risks and alternative plans. Free-Market Viewpoint I'm as capitalist as they get. But I've learned that public institutions play important functions in society, including national security to funding essential systems. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone through a national insurance system strengthens our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, easier system for small businesses which hire the majority of the country's workers and generate half the economic output. 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 rising medical expenses experienced in recent years, it's clear that the Affordable Care Act isn't functioning effectively. And I realize that America isn't a small, Scandinavian country where big changes are easier to implement. However extending universal Medicare, despite the additional taxes required, would still be a superior and more affordable strategy both for controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage for all citizens. Time for Realistic Evaluation We as Americans, we need to 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 comprehensive research. Maybe one bright spot in this current situation is that we undertake a hard look at ourselves and agree that big changes are necessary.