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@JWestland
The Dutch system is a strong government controlled mix of minimum mandatory private cover where people on low incomes get the minimum cover fees refunded and high rate private (you can pay for extra cover) and tax funding.
There the discussion of minimum cover VS private is also ongoing, as the high rate private payers don't contribute as much to the minimum cover, which is for all citizens and the pots are running lower. Cover also needs to be adjusted regularly as it's part of the general budget.
It seems to me that private can be an option without necessarily worsening cover, the Dutch waiting lists etc. are way shorter than here.
But private cover can make things needlessly complicated and reform of the NHS by cutting management and empowering local hospitals/trusts etc. to run their own metrics and hiring (because general statistics can be worse than useless, they can harm improvements) etc etc may be a better option than going for a state-controlled private system.
That is assuming we trust the government not to go full USA private on us :/