Yeah that sounds a lot like American propaganda about the Canadian healthcare system. All of my family has had their surgeries done in Canada, and while there is a needs-based component the wait times aren't ridiculous.

Publicly funded healthcare may not solve all issues, but it removes the perverse incentive to refuse or reduce care quality because you don't have access to insurance or cash. Free market means shit to me if I'm mid-heart attack, I don't have the time to review pamphlets about why ABC hospital has the best care for the low-low price of $4999!