Deductibles. In-network. Non-preferred providers. Premium health services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Co-payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Healthcare consultants. ACA. HMO. Preferred Provider Organization. Exclusive Provider Organization. POS. HDHP. Health Savings Account. Flexible Spending Account. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. EOB. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Single coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.
Confused? You should be. Who comprehends this complex system? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Nor the typical worker. Choosing the appropriate healthcare insurance for our business – or for our families – seems like it requires advanced expertise in medical insurance.
Based on a recent study, typical households spends $twenty-seven thousand each year on medical coverage (increasing by 6% from last year). Typical employer health insurance cost is expected to exceed $seventeen thousand per employee in 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025.
Currently federal operations is shut down due to political disagreements regarding tax credits that experts say will lead to premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.
When will we genuinely evaluate universal healthcare coverage here in America? I have to believe we're getting closer since this can't continue.
I'm not proposing national healthcare. I'm proposing for our current Medicare program – an insurance system – merely extend to cover everyone. Our infrastructure remains intact. How medical professionals get paid would change. Believe me, they'll adapt.
A national health insurance program would need contributions from both workers and companies. In comparable systems, a worker earning average wages pays approximately 5.3% toward medical coverage. Their employer must contribute approximately 13.75%.
Does this seem like a lot? Unless you contrast that with what the typical US resident spends. I can name dozens of businesses who are easily contributing anywhere from eight to fifteen percent of payroll costs to their healthcare costs. Remember that in comprehensive systems, these contributions include pension plans, sick pay, parental benefits and unemployment benefits in addition to supporting medical services. When you add these expenses compared with our current spending for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits, the gap narrows.
For America, universal healthcare funding would increase our Medicare tax deduction, a framework already established. It should be income-adjusted – those at higher income levels would pay more than lower-income earners. There would be both an employee and company payments. And, like much of federal military, technology, social programs and infrastructure, the system could be managed by private contractors rather than federal agencies.
Universal healthcare coverage would be 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 make administration significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding processed similarly to retirement and healthcare taxes, rather than individual transactions to benefit firms and insurance providers).
It would make simpler for us to budget annual expenditures, instead of going through the complicated (and ineffective) theater of bargaining with major insurers that we must do every year. Due to simplification, there would exist a better understanding of coverage by our employees – contrasted with existing arrangements where they have to interpret the complexities of current options. And there would certainly be less liability for companies since we wouldn't would be privy to our employees' medical records for weighing risks and alternative plans.
I'm as pro-market as they get. However I recognize that public institutions has a significant role in our lives, including national security to supporting essential systems. Providing healthcare to all through a national insurance system strengthens economic foundations. It represents superior, simpler approach for entrepreneurs which hire the majority of the country's workers and fund half the economic output. It enables employees to enjoy better health, come to work more often and be more productive.
Are there a million considerations I'm not addressing? Of course there are. Given all the healthcare cost increases we've seen in recent years, it's clear that the Affordable Care Act is not working effectively. I understand that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms can be readily adopted. But expanding universal Medicare, despite increased taxation required, would still be a superior and less expensive strategy for not only controlling healthcare costs but providing access for all citizens.
As Americans, we need to reduce national pride. America's medical care isn't exceptional. We rank well below many other countries with the best healthcare globally, based on comprehensive research. Maybe one bright spot amid current situation could be that we undertake a hard look in the mirror and agree that major reforms need to happen.
A passionate textile artist and community organizer who loves inspiring others through creative sewing projects.
