Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Out-of-pocket expenses. Fixed payment. Co-insurance. Insurance consultants. Coverage agents. Medical advisors. ACA. HMO. PPO. EPO. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. FSA. HRA. EOB. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. Small Business Health Options Program. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Premium tax credits.
Baffled? It's understandable. Who understands all this stuff? Certainly not the average business owner. Nor the typical worker. Selecting the right medical coverage for companies – or for our families – seems like demands advanced expertise in medical insurance.
According to recent research, the average family pays $twenty-seven thousand annually on medical coverage (up 6% from last year). The average employer health insurance cost is projected to surpass $17,000 for each worker by 2026, a 9.5% jump compared to 2025.
Now federal operations is shut down due to partisan disputes regarding tax credits which analysts predict could cause a doubling of premiums for millions of Americans.
When will we genuinely evaluate universal healthcare coverage in the United States? I'm convinced we're approaching that point because this situation is unsustainable.
I'm not proposing government-run medicine. I'm proposing that our already existing Medicare program – an established insurance framework – merely extend to cover everyone. Our infrastructure doesn't change. The way medical professionals receive payment would change. Believe me, they'll adapt.
A national health insurance program would need payments from both workers and companies. In comparable systems, an employee earning moderate income pays approximately 5.3% to their healthcare. Their employer pays approximately thirteen point seventy-five percent.
Does this seem like a lot? Unless you compare it to what average American pays. I can name dozens of clients who are routinely paying anywhere from 8% to 15% of payroll costs for medical benefits. Remember that in inclusive programs, those payments include retirement benefits, illness coverage, maternity leave and job loss protection along with supporting medical services. When including these expenses versus what we pay on retirement programs, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits, the gap narrows.
For America, universal healthcare funding would increase our Medicare tax deduction, a system that is already in place. It should be means-based – wealthier individuals would pay more than those earning less. This includes both an employee and employer contribution. And, like much of our government's defense, IT, social programs and transportation services, the system could be managed by private contractors rather than federal agencies.
A national health insurance program would be a huge benefit for small businesses such as my company. It would place small companies in equal competition against big corporations that can pay for superior coverage. It would render administration much easier (automatic payroll withholding remitted like social security and Medicare taxes, instead of separate payments to insurance companies and insurance providers).
It would enable it easier to plan expenses our yearly costs, rather than going through the complicated (and ineffective) theater of bargaining with major insurers required annually every year. Because it's simplified, there would exist a better understanding of coverage by our employees – as opposed to existing arrangements where they have to decipher the complexities of existing plans. Additionally there would certainly be less liability for employers as we no longer have access to our employees' health histories for purposes of risk assessment and different options.
I'm as pro-market as possible. But I've learned that public institutions play important functions in society, including national security to supporting essential systems. Ensuring medical coverage for everyone through a national insurance system strengthens our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, easier system for entrepreneurs which hire the majority of American employees and fund half of our GDP. It enables for workers to be healthier, have better attendance and increase productivity.
Exist a million considerations I haven't covered? Certainly. Given rising medical expenses we've seen recently, it's clear that the Affordable Care Act is not working very well. And I realize that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms are easier to implement. However extending universal Medicare, even with the additional taxes that would be incurred, would remain a better and more affordable strategy both for controlling healthcare costs but providing access to everyone.
We as Americans, we need to reduce our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't so great. The US places well below many other countries with the best healthcare globally, based on major studies. Perhaps a bright spot amid present circumstances could be that we undertake a hard look in the mirror and agree that major reforms are necessary.
A seasoned casino enthusiast and gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in slot machine mechanics and strategies.
