Medical Links: Cash-Only in U.S., Rationing in U.K.

2. GracePoint Healthcare near Nashville offers "modern medicine the old-fashioned way," i.e. "patient-centered" instead of "insurance-driven" with a cash-only, self-pay policy for same-day or next-day appointments, individualized no-rush appointments, and housecalls after hours and on weekends.  Various payment plans are offered, including a basic option for $49 per month and $40 per visit (with most lab fees included), which is about the same monthly cost as a cell phone. Even with one office visit per month, the monthly cost would be about the same as most cable or satellite TV plans.  

3. Meanwhile, the National Health Service (NHS) in the U.K., in an effort to save money, has started to ration access to non-urgent surgery like hip replacement operations by not allowing smokers and overweight patients to get on the waiting list until they go through some "reeducation" training.