🔗 Share this article I'm a Committed Free-Market Advocate, But Universal Medicare Represents the Optimal Solution for US Healthcare Out-of-pocket costs. In-network. Non-preferred providers. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Co-payment. Co-insurance. Benefit advisers. Coverage agents. Medical advisors. Affordable Care Act. HMO. Preferred Provider Organization. EPO. Point of Service. HDHP. HSA. FSA. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Single coverage. Dependent coverage. Premium tax credits. Baffled? It's understandable. Who understands this complex system? Not the typical entrepreneur. Neither the average worker. Choosing the right healthcare insurance for companies – or for our families – appears to require it requires advanced expertise in medical insurance. The Medical System Is More Than Complex, It's Expensive According to a recent study, typical households spends $27,000 each year on medical coverage (increasing by 6% compared to last year). The average company healthcare expense is projected to exceed $seventeen thousand per employee by 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025. Now federal operations has ceased functioning due to political disagreements regarding subsidies that experts say will lead to premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans. When Might We Seriously Consider National Health Insurance? How soon might we seriously consider universal healthcare coverage here in America? I'm convinced we're approaching that point because this can't continue. I'm not suggesting government-run medicine. I'm proposing for our current Medicare system – an insurance system – merely extend to include all citizens. The existing system doesn't change. How medical professionals get paid changes. Trust me, they will adjust. How Universal Coverage Could Function A national health insurance program would require contributions from employees and employers. In similar programs, a worker earning moderate income pays about 5.3% toward medical coverage. Their employer pays approximately 13.75%. Does this seem like a lot? Not if you compare it to what average US resident spends. I know multiple businesses that are routinely paying anywhere from 8% to 15% of their employee wages for medical benefits. And keep in mind that in inclusive programs, those payments include pension plans, sick pay, parental benefits and unemployment benefits in addition to supporting medical services. When you add these expenses compared with what we pay for our retirement plans, job loss coverage and vacation benefits, the gap narrows. Execution in the US For America, a national health premium would increase our Medicare tax deduction, a system already established. It should be income-adjusted – wealthier individuals would pay more than those earning less. This includes both worker and employer contribution. And, like many our government's defense, technology, social programs and infrastructure, the program should be outsourced to third-party administrators instead of federal agencies. Benefits for Small Businesses A national health insurance program represents a significant advantage for entrepreneurs like mine. It would place us on a level playing field with our larger competitors who can afford better plans. It would render management significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding processed similarly to retirement and Medicare 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 bargaining with the big insurance providers required annually each year. Due to simplification, there would exist a better understanding about benefits by our employees – as opposed to existing arrangements which require them to interpret the complexities of current options. Additionally there would definitely exist reduced responsibility for companies since we wouldn't have access to workers' medical records for purposes of weighing risks and alternative plans. Capitalist Perspective I'm as capitalist as they get. But I've learned that public institutions play important functions in our lives, from providing defense to supporting needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare to all via universal healthcare strengthens our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, easier system for entrepreneurs that employ the majority of the country's workers and generate half of our GDP. It makes it possible employees to be healthier, come to work more often and increase productivity. Considering Challenges Exist a million considerations I haven't covered? Of course there are. But with rising medical expenses we've seen recently, it's evident that the Affordable Care Act is not working very well. And I realize that America isn't a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms are easier to implement. However extending universal Medicare, even with increased taxation that would be incurred, would remain a superior and more affordable approach both for controlling healthcare costs but providing access to everyone. Need for Realistic Evaluation We as Americans, must tone down our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't so great. We rank significantly behind many other countries with the best healthcare globally, according to comprehensive research. Maybe one positive aspect in this current situation could be that we take a hard look in the mirror and agree that major reforms need to happen.