We are inefficient spenders

Reader comment on: Our Scandinavian-Scale Safety Net

Submitted by ben (United States), May 17, 2010 11:09

I would imagine that the reason for this finding is the healthcare system. We spend more money per capita and get worse results than European countries. The money Denmark saves on health costs because they are single payer can be plowed into paid maternity leave, or reduced tuition for college.

Our safety net can be full of holes and still be the most expensive. These two ideas are not mutually exclusive. This finding tells us that perhaps the government should be playing a greater role in healthcare. Our largely private system did not drive down prices or increase public health outcomes, it just made us waste a lot of money on compliance officers and over-treatment of medical conditions.

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