21 Hats Podcast The Healthcare Dilemma: Protect Employees? Or the Business?
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Dec 9, 2025 
David C. Barnett, a Canadian business broker, shares insights on the complexities of healthcare with Paul Downs, a CEO facing soaring insurance premiums, and Sarah Segal, a PR agency owner. They delve into the challenges of rising health insurance costs, with Paul bracing for hefty increases. David contrasts Canada’s universal system with U.S. volatility, while Paul emphasizes responsible employer-paid coverage. They also discuss the intricacies of business exits, revealing the importance of owning a business over merely selling it and the significance of client diversification for sustainability.
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Tradeoffs Of Universal Coverage
- Universal healthcare simplifies planning because employers don't face renewal price shocks.
- It also restricts choice and can cause waits and service tradeoffs.
Prioritize Coverage For Lower‑Paid Staff
- Prioritize covering lower-paid workers fully if you can afford it to provide real security.
- Share costs progressively so higher-paid staff contribute more and lower-paid employees keep coverage.
Coverage Saved An Employee's Daughter
- Paul recounted an employee whose daughter had stage-four cancer and who received full company coverage.
- That coverage enabled access to required care the family otherwise couldn't afford.