We don’t have a VAT tax. Free just means you pay with other peoples money while they pay with yours.

The VAT isn't funding the health insurances.

The money for health insurance is taken out of your salary before you even receive it.

> Free just means you pay with other peoples money while they pay with yours.

That doesn't make any sense to me, you contribute by paying your taxes and you benefit when you need it.

> Free just means you pay with other peoples money while they pay with yours.

You've just described insurance

I think that was what the parent was pointing out: it's not a matter of if the surgery costs anything, but of how it is paid for.

It's also how much it costs for the same level of care. The US spends twice as much per head on healthcare as the most costly european countries like Norway. The amount spent on medicare/medicaid alone could fund a system like the NHS for everyone in the US.

For profit healthcare just means doctors have no incentive to cure diseases and just charge for ongoing therapy that treats symptoms instead.

It also works that way for socialized medicine. When doctors are paid per action more actions are taken.

Does any country pay doctors per outcome?

Sure but we pay thousands of dollars in Insurance Premiums, copays, deductible and even then there is no guarantee. I would rather pay a VAT if that can give me peace of mind.

We do have sales tax. And plenty of other taxes. And lots of things that we refer to as “free” that are taxpayer funded.