I'm a Dedicated Free-Market Advocate, Yet Universal Medicare Is the Best Hope for American Health System

Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Out-of-network. Concierge medical services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Co-payment. Co-insurance. Benefit advisers. Insurance brokers. Medical advisors. ACA. HMO. PPO. EPO. POS. HDHP. HSA. Flexible Spending Account. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. EOB. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Confused? You should be. Who comprehends all this stuff? Not the typical entrepreneur. Neither the average employee. Choosing the appropriate healthcare insurance for our business – or for households – appears to require demands a PhD in healthcare.

Our Medical System Isn't Just Complex, It Is Expensive

Based on recent research, typical households pays $27,000 annually on medical coverage (increasing by 6% from last year). Typical employer health insurance cost is expected to exceed $seventeen thousand per employee in 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025.

Now the government has ceased functioning because political disagreements regarding tax credits that experts say could cause premium increases up to 100% for numerous US citizens.

When Will We Seriously Consider Universal Healthcare?

When will we genuinely evaluate a national health insurance program here in America? I'm convinced we're approaching that point since this can't continue.

I'm not proposing government-run medicine. I'm advocating for our current Medicare system – an insurance system – merely extend to cover everyone. The existing system doesn't change. The way medical professionals receive payment would change. Believe me, they will adjust.

The Way National Health Insurance Could Function

A national health insurance program would need contributions from both workers and companies. In similar programs, a worker making moderate income pays approximately 5.3% to their healthcare. The company must contribute about thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this appear like a lot? Not if you contrast it to what average American pays. I know dozens of clients who are easily contributing between 8% to 15% of their employee wages to their healthcare costs. Remember that with inclusive programs, those payments also cover pension plans, sick pay, parental benefits and job loss protection in addition to funding healthcare facilities. When you add those costs versus our current spending on retirement programs, job loss coverage and paid time off, the difference decreases.

Execution in the US

For America, universal healthcare funding would raise existing Medicare taxes, a framework already established. It should be means-based – wealthier individuals would pay more than those earning less. There would be both an employee and company payments. Similar to many our government's military, IT, welfare services and transportation services, the system should be outsourced to third-party administrators instead of a government office.

Benefits for Small Businesses

A national health insurance program would be a significant advantage for entrepreneurs such as my company. It would put small companies in equal competition against big corporations that can pay for superior coverage. It would render management significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding remitted like social security and healthcare taxes, instead of separate payments to insurance companies and coverage administrators).

It would make simpler for us to budget annual expenditures, rather than going through the complicated (and fruitless) process of negotiating with major insurers required annually every year. Due to simplification, there would exist a better understanding about benefits by our employees – as opposed to existing arrangements where they have to decipher the complications of existing plans. Additionally there would certainly be reduced responsibility for companies as we no longer would be privy to workers' health histories for purposes of risk assessment and alternative plans.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as capitalist as possible. However I recognize that public institutions has a significant role in our lives, including national security to funding essential systems. Providing healthcare for everyone via universal healthcare strengthens our economy's infrastructure. It represents superior, simpler approach for small businesses that employ more than half of the country's workers 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 numerous factors I'm not addressing? Of course there are. But with all the healthcare cost increases we've seen recently, it's clear that the Affordable Care Act isn't functioning effectively. And I realize that we're not a compact European nation where big changes are easier to implement. But expanding universal Medicare, despite increased taxation that would be incurred, would remain a better and more affordable strategy for not only controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage to everyone.

Time for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, must reduce national pride. America's medical care isn't so great. We rank well below numerous nations in healthcare quality globally, according to major studies. Maybe one bright spot amid current situation could be that we undertake a hard look in the mirror and agree that major reforms are necessary.