🔗 Share this article As a Dedicated Capitalist, But Medicare for All Is the Best Hope for US Health System Deductibles. Preferred providers. Non-preferred providers. Premium health services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Fixed payment. Shared insurance. Benefit advisers. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. ACA. HMO. PPO. EPO. Point of Service. HDHP. HSA. Flexible Spending Account. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. Explanation of Benefits. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Dependent coverage. Insurance subsidies. Confused? It's understandable. Who understands this complex system? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Nor the typical employee. Choosing the appropriate medical coverage for our business – or for households – appears to require demands a PhD in healthcare. The Healthcare System Is More Than Complicated, It Is Expensive According to a recent study, the average family spends $twenty-seven thousand annually on medical coverage (up 6% compared to last year). The average employer health insurance cost is projected to surpass $17,000 per employee in 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025. Currently federal operations is shut down due to political disagreements over subsidies that experts say will lead to premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans. When Might We Truly Examine 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 situation is unsustainable. I'm not proposing national healthcare. I'm proposing for our current Medicare program – an insurance system – merely extend to cover everyone. The existing system doesn't change. How our healthcare providers receive payment changes. Believe me, they will adjust. The Way Universal Coverage Would Work Universal healthcare coverage would require payments from employees and employers. In comparable systems, an employee making average wages pays about 5.3% to their healthcare. The company must contribute approximately 13.75%. Does this seem like a lot? Not if you contrast it to what average US resident spends. I can name multiple clients who are routinely paying anywhere from 8% to 15% of their employee wages for medical benefits. Remember that in inclusive programs, those payments include retirement benefits, illness coverage, parental benefits and unemployment benefits in addition to funding healthcare facilities. When including those costs compared with our current spending for our retirement plans, job loss coverage and vacation benefits, the difference decreases. Execution in the US In the US, a national health premium would increase existing Medicare taxes, a framework already established. It should be income-adjusted – wealthier individuals would pay more than those earning less. There would be both an employee and company payments. Similar to much of federal defense, IT, social programs and transportation services, the system could be managed by private contractors instead of federal agencies. Advantages for Entrepreneurs A national health insurance program would be a huge benefit for entrepreneurs such as my company. It would place us on a level playing field against big corporations that can pay for better plans. It would make management much easier (a payroll deduction remitted like retirement and healthcare taxes, instead of separate payments to benefit firms and insurance providers). It would make it easier to plan expenses annual expenditures, instead of going through the complex (and fruitless) theater of negotiating with the big insurance providers that we must do every year. Because it's simplified, there would be improved comprehension of coverage by our employees – contrasted with the current system where they have to interpret the complexities of existing plans. Additionally there would definitely exist less liability for employers as we no longer have access to our employees' medical records for weighing risks and alternative plans. Capitalist Perspective I'm as capitalist as they get. However I recognize that public institutions has a significant role in society, including national security to supporting essential systems. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone via universal healthcare enhances our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, easier system for entrepreneurs which hire more than half of American employees and fund half the economic output. It makes it possible for workers to be healthier, have better attendance and increase productivity. Considering Challenges Are there numerous factors I'm not addressing? Of course there are. But with all the healthcare cost increases we've seen recently, it's evident that the Affordable Care Act is not working very well. And I realize that we're not a compact European nation where big changes can be readily adopted. However extending Medicare for all, despite the additional taxes that would be incurred, would remain a better and less expensive approach both for controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage for all citizens. Time for Realistic Evaluation As Americans, we need to tone down our own arrogance. America's medical care isn't exceptional. We rank significantly behind numerous nations in healthcare quality globally, according to comprehensive research. Maybe one bright spot in this current situation could be that we take a hard look at ourselves and agree that major reforms need to happen.