The advantage of the single-payer model is this: if some clinic decides to mark-up one patient's treatment by 4,453%, the single payer can not only refuse to pa

The advantage of the single-payer model is this: if some clinic decides to mark-up one patient's treatment by 4,453%, the single payer can not only refuse to pay for that treatment, but also refuse to pay all other treatments performed at that clinic. This keeps the cost for treatment in a much more reasonable range, since the health care budget is debated and scrutinised as part of government spending. The Australian model is that health care providers can charge what they like, but Medicare only pays a predetermined amount for every kind of treatment. Providers are free to charge more, but have to capture the difference as a 'copay' or by billing the patient's private health insurance.