The US and the UK do actually spend the same percentage of GDP in government taxation on healthcare. It's just that for the same amount of money Americans get t

The US and the UK do actually spend the same percentage of GDP in government taxation on healthcare. It's just that for the same amount of money Americans get treatment for the poor and the elderly, whereas the British get universal coverage. So, relative to the US, the UK coverage of the wider population is actually free. There is no greater sacrifice, or higher level of taxation to pay for the extra coverage. References are quite easy to find, but here's one, from the Telegraph, quoting data from the OECD: http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/edmundconway/100006775/us-government-spends-more-on-health-than-the-nhs/ http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/edmundconway/100006775/...