Deductibles. Preferred providers. Non-preferred providers. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Co-payment. Co-insurance. Benefit advisers. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. Preferred Provider Organization. EPO. Point of Service. HDHP. Health Savings Account. Flexible Spending Account. Health Reimbursement Arrangement. Explanation of Benefits. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Single coverage. Dependent coverage. Premium tax credits.
Baffled? You should be. Who comprehends all this stuff? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Nor the typical worker. Choosing the appropriate healthcare insurance for companies – or for households – appears to require it requires a PhD in medical insurance.
Based on a recent study, typical households pays $twenty-seven thousand each year for their health insurance (up 6% from last year). Typical company healthcare expense is projected to surpass $seventeen thousand for each worker by 2026, an increase of 9.5% compared to 2025.
Currently the government is shut down due to political disagreements regarding tax credits which analysts predict will lead to a doubling of premiums for numerous US citizens.
When will we seriously consider a national health insurance program here in America? I have to believe we're approaching that point because this situation is unsustainable.
I'm not proposing national healthcare. I'm proposing that our already existing Medicare system – an established insurance framework – simply expand to cover everyone. Our infrastructure remains intact. The way medical professionals receive payment would change. Trust me, they'll adapt.
Universal healthcare coverage would require payments from both employees and employers. In similar programs, a worker making average wages pays about five point three percent toward medical coverage. Their employer pays about thirteen point seventy-five percent.
Does this seem like a lot? Not if you compare it to what the typical American pays. I can name dozens of clients that are routinely paying between 8% to 15% of their employee wages to their healthcare costs. And keep in mind that in comprehensive systems, those payments include retirement benefits, illness coverage, maternity leave and unemployment benefits in addition to supporting healthcare facilities. When including those costs compared with what we pay for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits, the difference decreases.
In the US, universal healthcare funding would increase existing Medicare taxes, a system already established. It ought to be income-adjusted – those at higher income levels would contribute higher amounts than lower-income earners. This includes both worker and company payments. Similar to much of federal military, IT, social programs and transportation services, the system should be outsourced by private contractors instead of a government office.
Universal healthcare coverage would be a huge benefit for small businesses such as my company. It would place small companies in equal competition with our larger competitors that can pay for better plans. It would render management much easier (a payroll deduction remitted like retirement and Medicare taxes, rather than separate payments to benefit firms and coverage administrators).
It would enable it easier to plan expenses annual expenditures, rather than going through the complex (and fruitless) theater of negotiating with the big insurance providers that we must do each year. Due to simplification, there would exist improved comprehension about benefits among workers – as opposed to the current system which require them to interpret the complications of current options. And there would definitely exist less liability for companies as we no longer have access to our employees' health histories for purposes of risk assessment and alternative plans.
I'm as pro-market as they get. But I've learned that public institutions has a significant role in society, including national security to funding essential systems. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone via universal healthcare enhances our economy's infrastructure. It represents superior, easier system 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 be healthier, come to work more often and increase productivity.
Are there numerous factors I haven't covered? Certainly. Given all the healthcare cost increases we've seen recently, it's clear that current healthcare legislation isn't functioning effectively. And I realize that America isn't a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms are easier to implement. However extending Medicare for all, even with increased taxation required, would still be a superior and more affordable approach for not only managing medical expenses but providing access to everyone.
As Americans, must reduce our own arrogance. America's medical care isn't exceptional. The US places significantly behind numerous nations in healthcare quality globally, based on major studies. Maybe one bright spot amid current situation is that we undertake a hard look in the mirror and agree that major reforms need to happen.
Elara is a seasoned writer and digital storyteller with a passion for exploring diverse literary genres and empowering others through words.
