...with taxation there is a real and perceived cost to the customer - at least there is to me ;-)
I'm not sure what you're actually proposing that changes that. Pay your insurance and then it's free (until, possibly, you have a major, urgent procedure and your premium rockets, inhibiting you from taking it out again and thus taking you out of the system (and/or onto "social funding").
I don't disagree that the NHS might need some method of controlling access/costs, but I'm far from convinced that moving the burden onto insurance is going to achieve that equably.
(I also have little doubt that, if insurance is proposed as an answer, the UK being what it is it won't end up with it being a "mutual" arrangement; the market will be involved and want to make money).
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