🔗 Share this article As a Committed Capitalist, Yet Medicare for All Is the Best Solution for American Healthcare Out-of-pocket costs. In-network. Non-preferred providers. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Insurance brokers. Healthcare consultants. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. PPO. EPO. POS. HDHP. HSA. FSA. HRA. EOB. COBRA. Small Business Health Options Program. Single coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies. Confused? You should be. Who understands this complex system? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Nor the typical worker. Choosing the appropriate medical coverage for companies – or for households – seems like demands a PhD in healthcare. Our Healthcare System Isn't Just Complicated, It's Expensive According to a recent study, typical households pays $twenty-seven thousand annually on medical coverage (increasing by 6% from last year). Typical employer health insurance cost is projected to surpass $17,000 for each worker in 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025. Currently the government has ceased functioning due to political disagreements over tax credits which analysts predict could cause a doubling of premiums for millions of Americans. 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 approaching that point because this situation is unsustainable. I'm not suggesting national healthcare. I'm advocating for our current Medicare program – an established insurance framework – merely extend to include all citizens. Our infrastructure remains intact. How our healthcare providers receive payment changes. Trust me, they will adjust. How National Health Insurance Would Work Universal healthcare coverage would require payments from both workers and companies. In comparable systems, a worker earning average wages must contribute about five point three percent to their healthcare. Their employer pays approximately 13.75%. Does this seem expensive? Unless you contrast that with what the typical US resident spends. I know multiple businesses who are routinely paying anywhere from 8% to 15% of payroll costs for medical benefits. And keep in mind that in comprehensive systems, those payments include pension plans, illness coverage, parental benefits and job loss protection in addition to funding medical services. When including these expenses versus our current spending on retirement programs, job loss coverage and vacation benefits, the difference decreases. Implementation for America For America, a national health premium would raise existing Medicare taxes, a framework that is already in place. It ought to be income-adjusted – wealthier individuals would contribute higher amounts than those earning less. There would be both an employee and company payments. Similar to many federal defense, IT, welfare services and transportation services, the system should be outsourced by private contractors instead of a government office. Advantages for Entrepreneurs A national health insurance program would be a significant advantage for small businesses like mine. It would place us on a level playing field with our larger competitors who can afford superior coverage. It would make administration much easier (automatic payroll withholding remitted like social security and healthcare taxes, rather than separate payments to insurance companies and coverage administrators). It would make it easier for us to budget our yearly costs, instead of going through the complex (and ineffective) process of negotiating with the big insurance providers required annually every year. Due to simplification, there would exist improved comprehension about benefits among workers – contrasted with the current system where they have to interpret the complexities of current options. Additionally there would certainly be less liability for employers since we wouldn't have access to workers' health histories for purposes of weighing risks and alternative plans. Free-Market Viewpoint I'm as pro-market as possible. But I've learned that government has a significant role in society, from providing defense to supporting essential systems. Ensuring medical coverage to all through a national insurance system enhances our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, easier system for entrepreneurs that employ the majority of American employees and generate half of our GDP. It enables employees to enjoy better health, come to work more often and be more productive. Addressing Concerns Exist numerous factors I haven't covered? Of course there are. Given all the healthcare cost increases we've seen in recent years, it's evident 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 Medicare for all, despite the additional taxes that would be incurred, would remain a better and more affordable approach both for controlling healthcare costs but providing access for all citizens. Time for Realistic Evaluation We as Americans, we need to tone down our own arrogance. America's medical care isn't exceptional. The US places well below many other countries with the best healthcare in the world, according to comprehensive research. Maybe one bright spot in this current situation is that we undertake a hard look in the mirror and acknowledge that major reforms are necessary.