🔗 Share this article As a Hardcore Free-Market Advocate, Yet Medicare for All Represents the Top Solution for American Health System Out-of-pocket costs. In-network. Non-preferred providers. Premium health services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Benefit advisers. Insurance brokers. Medical advisors. Affordable Care Act. HMO. Preferred Provider Organization. Exclusive Provider Organization. Point of Service. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. FSA. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Small Business Health Options Program. Single coverage. Dependent coverage. Insurance subsidies. Baffled? It's understandable. Who understands this complex system? Certainly not the average entrepreneur. Nor the typical worker. Selecting the right medical coverage for our business – or for our families – seems like demands a PhD in medical insurance. The Healthcare System Is More Than Complicated, It Is Expensive According to recent research, the average family pays $27,000 each year on medical coverage (increasing by 6% from last year). The average company healthcare expense is expected to exceed $17,000 per employee in 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025. Now the government is shut down because partisan disputes over subsidies that experts say could cause a doubling of premiums for millions of Americans. When Might We Seriously Consider Universal Healthcare? How soon might we genuinely evaluate a national health insurance program here in America? I'm convinced we're approaching that point because this can't continue. I'm not suggesting national healthcare. I'm advocating for our current Medicare system – an established insurance framework – simply expand to cover everyone. The existing system remains intact. How our healthcare providers receive payment changes. Believe me, they'll adapt. How Universal Coverage Would Work A national health insurance program would require payments from both workers and companies. In similar programs, a worker making moderate income must contribute approximately 5.3% to their healthcare. The company pays approximately 13.75%. Does this seem like a lot? Unless you compare that with what the typical American pays. I know multiple clients who are easily contributing between 8% to 15% of payroll costs to their healthcare costs. Remember that in inclusive programs, these contributions also cover retirement benefits, sick pay, maternity leave and job loss protection in addition to supporting healthcare facilities. When including these expenses versus what we pay for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and paid time off, the gap narrows. Execution in the US In the US, universal healthcare funding would increase our Medicare tax deduction, a system already established. It should be income-adjusted – wealthier individuals would contribute higher amounts than those earning less. This includes both worker and employer contribution. And, like many federal defense, IT, welfare services and transportation services, the system could be managed to third-party administrators rather than federal agencies. Advantages for Small Businesses Universal healthcare coverage represents a significant advantage for entrepreneurs like mine. It would put us on a level playing field against big corporations that can pay for superior coverage. It would make management much easier (a payroll deduction remitted like social security and Medicare taxes, rather than separate payments to benefit firms and coverage administrators). It would make it easier for us to budget annual expenditures, rather than enduring the complicated (and fruitless) process of bargaining with major insurers required annually each year. Due to simplification, there would exist a better understanding of coverage by our employees – as opposed to the current system which require them to decipher the complexities of existing plans. And there would definitely exist reduced responsibility for employers as we no longer would be privy to workers' medical records for purposes of risk assessment and alternative plans. Free-Market Viewpoint I'm as capitalist as they get. However I recognize that public institutions has a significant role in society, from providing defense to funding essential systems. Ensuring medical coverage to all via universal healthcare enhances our economy's infrastructure. It represents superior, simpler approach for small businesses which hire more than half of the country's workers and generate half of our GDP. It enables for workers to enjoy better health, have better attendance and be more productive. Addressing Concerns 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 America isn't a compact European nation where major reforms are easier to implement. But expanding universal Medicare, despite increased taxation that would be incurred, would remain a superior and less expensive approach both for controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage for all citizens. Need for Honest Assessment We as Americans, must tone down our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't exceptional. We rank well below numerous nations in healthcare quality in the world, according to comprehensive research. Maybe one bright spot in this present circumstances could be that we undertake serious examination at ourselves and acknowledge that big changes need to happen.