On average, Americans bribe about $11,000 annually for health care. That’s more than doubled the amount paid in France, widely considered to have one of the best health care methods in all countries of the world. This means that every year, a family of four compensates about $23,000 more for healthcare systems than the same family in France.

Much of this cost is hidden in the form of Medicare taxes and remittances by business for private health insurance. In the end, though, it all comes out of the paychecks of succeeding Americans. It’s a blaze of a levy to pay just for the privilege of being able to say that we allow health care providers to bill anything they crave without authority interference.

Read more: motherjones.com