Anecdote: along with the public health care system in Italy, there's a parallel, private system if you want something a bit fancier, or a bit faster for non-urg

Anecdote: along with the public health care system in Italy, there's a parallel, private system if you want something a bit fancier, or a bit faster for non-urgent things. One of the things that made me laugh was when I went through that to see a local ear-nose-throat doctor. I was able to call and ask for prices on the phone. In other words, along with covering everyone via the public system, Italy's private system is a better functioning market than the US system.