As a Committed Free-Market Advocate, Yet Medicare for All Represents the Top Hope for American Healthcare

Deductibles. Preferred providers. Non-preferred providers. Premium health services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Co-payment. Shared insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Medical advisors. Affordable Care Act. Health Maintenance Organization. PPO. Exclusive Provider Organization. Point of Service. High Deductible Health Plan. HSA. Flexible Spending Account. HRA. Explanation of Benefits. COBRA. SHOP. Single coverage. Family coverage. Premium tax credits.

Baffled? It's understandable. Who comprehends all this stuff? Not the typical business owner. Nor the typical employee. Selecting the right medical coverage for companies – or for households – seems like it requires a PhD in healthcare.

The Medical System Is More Than Complicated, It Is Costly

According to recent research, typical households pays $twenty-seven thousand each year on medical coverage (up 6% from last year). Typical company healthcare expense is projected to exceed $seventeen thousand per employee by 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025.

Currently the government is shut down due to political disagreements regarding tax credits which analysts predict could cause premium increases up to 100% for millions of Americans.

When Might We Seriously Consider National Health Insurance?

How soon might we genuinely evaluate a national health insurance program in the United States? I'm convinced we're approaching that point since this situation is unsustainable.

I'm not suggesting government-run medicine. I'm proposing that our already existing Medicare system – an established insurance framework – simply expand to include all citizens. The existing system doesn't change. How medical professionals receive payment would change. Trust me, they'll adapt.

How Universal Coverage Would Work

A national health insurance program would need contributions from both employees and employers. In comparable systems, an employee making average wages pays approximately five point three percent toward medical coverage. Their employer pays about thirteen point seventy-five percent.

Does this appear like a lot? Not if you contrast it to what average American pays. I know multiple businesses who are routinely paying between eight to fifteen percent of payroll costs to their healthcare costs. And keep in mind that in comprehensive systems, these contributions also cover pension plans, sick pay, maternity leave and job loss protection along with supporting healthcare facilities. When you add these expenses compared with what we pay on retirement programs, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits, the difference decreases.

Implementation for America

For America, universal healthcare funding would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a framework already established. It should be means-based – those at higher income levels would pay more than lower-income earners. There would be both worker and employer contribution. Similar to much of federal military, IT, welfare services and infrastructure, the program should be outsourced by private contractors rather than federal agencies.

Advantages for Entrepreneurs

Universal healthcare coverage represents a huge benefit for small businesses like mine. It would put small companies in equal competition against big corporations who can afford superior coverage. It would make management significantly simpler (automatic payroll withholding processed similarly to social security and Medicare taxes, rather than separate payments to insurance companies and insurance providers).

It would enable it easier for us to budget our yearly costs, instead of going through the complex (and ineffective) process of bargaining with the big insurance providers that we must do each year. Because it's simplified, there would exist a better understanding of coverage by our employees – as opposed to the current system which require them to interpret the complications of current options. And there would certainly be less liability for companies as we no longer would be privy to workers' health histories for purposes of weighing risks and different options.

Free-Market Viewpoint

I'm as pro-market as possible. But I've learned that government play important functions in society, from providing defense to funding needed infrastructure. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone via universal healthcare strengthens our economy's infrastructure. It represents superior, easier system for small businesses which hire more than half of the country's workers and generate half the economic output. It enables employees to enjoy better health, have better attendance and be more productive.

Considering Challenges

Are there numerous factors I haven't covered? Of course there are. Given rising medical expenses we've seen recently, it's clear that the Affordable Care Act isn't functioning effectively. And I realize that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms can be readily adopted. But expanding universal Medicare, despite increased taxation required, would still be a superior and more affordable approach for not only controlling healthcare costs but providing access to everyone.

Time for Realistic Evaluation

We as Americans, must reduce national pride. America's medical care isn't so great. The US places significantly behind many other countries with the best healthcare in the world, based on comprehensive research. Perhaps a bright spot in this present circumstances could be that we take a hard look in the mirror and acknowledge that big changes are necessary.