I'm a Hardcore Capitalist, Yet Medicare for All Is the Best Hope for American Health System

Out-of-pocket costs. Preferred providers. Out-of-network. Premium health services. Personal healthcare costs. Co-payment. Shared insurance. Benefit advisers. Coverage agents. Medical advisors. ACA. HMO. Preferred Provider Organization. Exclusive Provider Organization. POS. High Deductible Health Plan. Health Savings Account. Flexible Spending Account. HRA. EOB. COBRA. SHOP. Individual coverage. Family coverage. Insurance subsidies.

Baffled? You should be. Who understands all this stuff? Not the typical business owner. Neither the average worker. Selecting the appropriate healthcare insurance for companies – or for households – seems like it requires a PhD in medical insurance.

Our Medical System Isn't Just Complex, It Is Expensive

According to recent research, the average family pays $twenty-seven thousand each year for their health insurance (increasing by 6% from last year). Typical employer health insurance cost is expected to surpass $seventeen thousand for each worker in 2026, a 9.5% jump from 2025.

Now federal operations is shut down 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 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 for our current Medicare program – an insurance system – simply expand to cover everyone. Our infrastructure doesn't change. How our healthcare providers get paid would change. Trust me, they will adjust.

How Universal Coverage Could Function

Universal healthcare coverage would need payments from both employees and employers. In comparable systems, a worker earning average wages pays about five point three percent toward medical coverage. Their employer pays about 13.75%.

Does this appear expensive? Not if you compare that with what the typical American pays. I know dozens of clients who are routinely paying anywhere from 8% to 15% of their employee wages for medical benefits. And keep in mind that with comprehensive systems, these contributions include pension plans, sick pay, parental benefits and unemployment benefits in addition to supporting medical services. When you add these expenses compared with what we pay for our retirement plans, unemployment insurance and vacation benefits, the difference decreases.

Execution in the US

For America, a national health premium would raise our Medicare tax deduction, a system that is already in place. It should be means-based – those at higher income levels would contribute higher amounts than lower-income earners. There would be both an employee and company payments. And, like many federal military, technology, social programs and infrastructure, the system could be managed to third-party administrators rather than a government office.

Benefits for Small Businesses

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 render management significantly simpler (a payroll deduction processed similarly to retirement and healthcare taxes, rather than separate payments to benefit firms and insurance providers).

It would make it easier to plan expenses our yearly costs, rather than going through the complex (and ineffective) theater of bargaining with the big insurance providers required annually every year. Because it's simplified, there would be a better understanding of coverage among workers – as opposed to existing arrangements which require them to interpret the complexities of current options. And there would definitely exist reduced responsibility for employers since we wouldn't would be privy to workers' medical records for risk assessment and alternative plans.

Capitalist Perspective

I'm as capitalist as they get. But I've learned that government play important functions in society, from providing defense to funding needed infrastructure. Providing healthcare to all via universal healthcare strengthens our economy's infrastructure. It's a better, easier system for entrepreneurs which hire more than half of the country's workers and fund half the economic output. It enables employees to be healthier, have better attendance and be more productive.

Addressing Concerns

Exist a million considerations I haven't covered? Certainly. Given rising medical expenses we've seen in recent years, it's clear that the Affordable Care Act isn't functioning effectively. I understand that we're not a small, Scandinavian country where major reforms can be readily adopted. However extending universal Medicare, even with increased taxation required, would still be a better and less expensive approach for not only controlling healthcare costs and ensuring coverage for all citizens.

Need for Realistic Evaluation

As Americans, must reduce our own arrogance. Our healthcare system isn't exceptional. We rank significantly behind many other countries with the best healthcare globally, according to major studies. Perhaps a bright spot amid current situation is that we undertake serious examination at ourselves and agree that big changes need to happen.