For the citizen, none. For the insurance companies, they get forced signups.
> Does the lack of a large private insurance market in countries with government-provided health insurance cause lots of inefficiencies and waste?
The US spends the most of any nation on health care. The US is the only western nation with increasing infant and maternal mortality rates.
Actually, that's false. I can assure you that having lived in Canada and having moved to the US because of health care, having options beyond "deal with it" when not getting any sort of care or service is wonderful. Single-payer is great if you are actually getting the care you need. But when it fails, you are left with little to no alternative.
What's worse is that because of the perception that single-payer is so great, people don't really push for real solutions to solve its many problems. People would rather stick their head in the sand and ignore the very real problems, pretending everything is ok.
Until then, we happily live here in the US where we get more services for less than what it would have cost in Canada.
I moved to the US from Canada, thankfully I am pretty healthy and don't need the healthcare system beyond my yearly checkups. The first place I lived had someone who lived down the street who will be paying off a $100k bill until they die because of a heart surgery they had to have. Wonderful system.
On the other hand my father, who still lives in Canada, complained of shortness of breath one Thursday. Called his doctor and was told to go into the emergency room right then. He did, because he didn't have to worry about how much the visit would cost. They found a 90% blockage in his aorta. Was immediately admitted for surgery that occurred Friday. Was free to leave the next week. Total cost, $150.
Ya, US health care system is fucking awesome.
At least the US is having that discussion.