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6 things other governments provide that Americans still have to pay for by Hillary Hoffower on Sep 20, 2018, 12:54 PM Advertisement
 - The American government pays for a lot of things, but it doesn't cover everything other governments do.
- Americans still need to pay for things like healthcare, college, and daycare out of their own pockets.
- However, just because other governments pay for these benefits doesn't necessarily mean they're free — these countries often have higher tax rates, so taxpayer money can still fund benefits in the long run.
The American government spends money on a lot of things — national defense, veterans' benefits, income security, natural resources, energy, and environmental protection, to name a few. But there are a few things the government doesn't cover that's left to American citizens to pay, like healthcare and college tuition — all things that are paid for by the government in some other countries around the world. Quite a few of these expenditures, such as maternity leave and daycare, are highly beneficial for parents. However, it's worth noting that even in many of these countries, especially those in Europe, such social benefits aren't necessarily "free." These countries often have higher tax rates, giving the government more money to use on said benefits. Here, six things Americans are paying for that citizens in other countries aren't. DON'T MISS: How much the average American millennial, Gen Xer, and baby boomer spends each year on groceries SEE ALSO: I've been traveling the world for 6 months, and these are the apps I can't live without College  In the US, college tuition has more than doubled since the 1980s — and students are racking up an average of $17,126 in loans to pay for their school tuition as a result. Many European countries, including Germany, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland offer free college to citizens, However, the government pays for tuition with taxpayer money, so "free" is a relative cost. Europe traditionally has higher taxes than the US, enabling countries to offer additional social services, Business Insider's Abby Jackson previously reported.
Healthcare  The US is the only wealthy, industrialized country that doesn't have universal healthcare. Some say this model gives people more options, allowing them to pick the right plan for them, while others argue that government-funded healthcare reduces cost and offers a stronger social safety net, according to Business Insider's Chris Weller. "Life is much easier when your healthcare is covered without thinking about it," a resident of Finland, which has single-payer healthcare, told Weller. "I have lived many years in a country where people have to choose whether they have or don't have coverage for their health. Single-payer health care is easy and fair, providing basic security for all people regarding their health."
Vacation  In America, businesses voluntarily provide paid vacation leave. Without a national paid leave policy, nearly 25% of US workers go without time off, according to the Boston Globe, citing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If they want to go on vacation, they have to give up a day's salary worth to do so. In fact, the US is the only advanced economy without a paid vacation policy, reports the Boston Globe, citing the World Policy Analysis Center at the University of California Los Angeles. Only 13 countries are in the same boat. Most offer universal paid vacation policies — in the UK, employees receive about 28 days of paid leave, and in Denmark, workers get 25 days of paid annual leave.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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