The UK also has private providers, there's no need for a public system to completely replace all care - a single payer system is usually a choice alongside private providers (but one which I think the vast majority of people would recognise as better and cheaper care). If you want slightly better outcomes, pay for private insurance/private care (and you'd pay less because single-payer will drive down demand).

Most countries use a variant of single-payer or mandated insurance for good reasons, the US was an exception, not because it has exceptional requirements, but for historical reasons.

https://truecostblog.com/2009/08/09/countries-with-universal...