🔗 Share this article As a Dedicated Free-Market Advocate, But Medicare for All Is the Optimal Solution for US Healthcare Deductibles. In-network. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Benefit advisers. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. PPO. EPO. Point of Service. HDHP. Health Savings Account. FSA. HRA. EOB. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. SHOP. Single coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies. Confused? You should be. Who understands this complex system? Not the typical business owner. Nor the typical employee. Selecting the right healthcare insurance for our business – or for households – appears to require demands advanced expertise in healthcare. Our Medical System Isn't Just Complex, It Is Costly According to recent research, the average family pays $27,000 each year for their health insurance (increasing by 6% from last year). The average company healthcare expense is projected to exceed $seventeen thousand per employee by 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025. Now federal operations has ceased functioning due to partisan disputes regarding subsidies which analysts predict could cause a doubling of premiums for numerous US citizens. When Will We Seriously Consider Universal Healthcare? How soon might we seriously consider a national health insurance program here in America? I'm convinced we're getting closer since this can't continue. I'm not suggesting government-run medicine. I'm advocating that our already existing Medicare program – an insurance system – merely extend to include all citizens. Our infrastructure doesn't change. How medical professionals receive payment changes. Believe me, they will adjust. The Way Universal Coverage Would Work A national health insurance program would need contributions from both workers and companies. In similar programs, a worker earning average wages pays about 5.3% toward medical coverage. Their employer must contribute approximately 13.75%. Does this seem expensive? Unless you contrast it to what average American pays. I know multiple clients who are easily contributing between eight to fifteen percent of payroll costs for medical benefits. Remember that with inclusive programs, these contributions include retirement benefits, sick pay, maternity leave and unemployment benefits in addition to supporting medical services. When you add those costs compared with what we pay for our retirement plans, 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 already established. It should be means-based – wealthier individuals would pay more than lower-income earners. This includes both worker and employer contribution. Similar to many federal defense, technology, welfare services and infrastructure, the system should be outsourced to third-party administrators instead of a government office. Benefits for Entrepreneurs A national health insurance program represents a huge benefit for entrepreneurs such as my company. It would put us on a level playing field with our larger competitors who can afford superior coverage. It would render management 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, instead of enduring the complex (and ineffective) theater of bargaining with the big insurance providers required annually each year. Because it's simplified, there would be a better understanding about benefits among workers – contrasted with existing arrangements where they have to interpret the complications of existing plans. And there would certainly be reduced responsibility for companies as we no longer would be privy to our employees' health histories for purposes of risk assessment and alternative plans. Capitalist Perspective I'm as capitalist as they get. However I recognize that government play important functions in society, including national security to funding needed infrastructure. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone via universal healthcare enhances economic foundations. It's a better, simpler approach for entrepreneurs that employ more than half of American employees and fund half of our GDP. It makes it possible for workers to enjoy better health, come to work more often and be more productive. Considering Challenges Exist a million considerations I'm not addressing? Of course there are. Given rising medical expenses experienced in recent years, it's evident 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. However extending Medicare for all, even with the additional taxes required, would still be a better and more affordable strategy for not only managing medical expenses but providing access to everyone. Time for Honest Assessment We as Americans, must reduce our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't exceptional. The US places significantly behind numerous nations in healthcare quality globally, based on comprehensive research. Maybe one bright spot in this present circumstances is that we undertake a hard look in the mirror and acknowledge that big changes are necessary.