Yeah, About Health "Care" and Single Payer

A lot of ink and pixels have been spilled over the years touting schemes like "Medicare for All" and Universal Health Care. All seem to rest on the assumption that government-run delivery of health care will be the greatest, most efficient thing since sliced bread.

As we've long chronicled, of course, this is most definitely not the case.

Here's a recent illustration:

"One Sunday in March this year, I woke up at 2am with a grumbling pain in my right groin ... [Dr] Anson told me I had a minute kidney stone stuck in my ureter ... three weeks later, when nature had failed to take its course, [Dr] Anson decided to operate to remove it."

So far, so good. But then you scroll to the end of the article, and there's this little gem:

"The operation costs £2,500 privately, £1,200 or less on the NHS if done as day surgery."

Note that even with "free" health care available, folks willingly pay over twice as much for private services. Why do you think that is?

Here's a clue:

"Think the ER can treat a ureteral stone? All it can do is give you some pain pills. A urologist has no obligation to remove your stone unless you can pay for his/her services ... Private surgery? Now why would you pay twice as much for private surgery when the UK offers universal healthcare?

 All depends on how long you want to wait."

You get what you pay for. At best.

[Hat Tip: Co-Blogger Bob V]