They treat it like a tightly regulated market commodity.

I worked on a government related software project in the Netherlands eight years ago that was to provide a reverse auction site where patients could have hospitals bid on services. Obviously, if providers are bidding on something, it’s not a tightly regulated market commodity. No reason to bid on something f you have no pricing flexibility.

Now, you’re telling me that all got scrapped, and the cost of a particular surgery is exactly the same, whether or not you have it done in Amsterdam, the Hague, or Heerlen?

These discussions usually break down over definitions. If the cost of a procedure, be it cardiac, chemotherapy, a hip replacement, or whatever is (a) set by the government AND (b) is exactly the same wherever you have it done in the country, then you’re right and I’m wrong.

If, however, the individual provider sets the price, not the government, then it’s not a tightly regulated market commodity, by my definition of the term. Although obviously, the use of the subjective term “tightly regulated” can be debated.

Which? There’s some confusion here, it seems, because I was talking about the price of procedures, and you mentioned a price for insurance coverage, which is two entirely different conversations.