ERD50
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
What is "nicer" coverage? You either need the medical service or you don't. You want everyone to have preventive care, to save cost in the long run. A private hospital room versus a shared room isn't going to be a big cost savings. ....
That's the beauty of a free market - it could be whatever some creative group offers that people decide they want to pay for.
Private versus shared room was just an example, I don't know what the cost delta is. I'm sure there are many others I have not thought of, but that's my point, free markets fill needs/wants, sometimes ones we don't even realize we have until they are offered. Another might be more flexibility of non-time-critical procedures:
A) Mr X, you since you paid extra for the Executive Level Plan, you can schedule your wisdom tooth extraction at any of these offices, at any time that is convenient for you.
B) Mr Y, you are on the basic govt subsidized plan. We will call you 24 hours in advance when we have an opening for your wisdom tooth extraction, be prepared to show up at the appointed time and place.
Or maybe two equally effective procedures exist, but one is more expensive, but can be done in a single visit, the other requires multiple visits. The Executive might choose (and have access to, since he paid extra) the more expensive procedure, because his time is money to him. And on and on.
And if no one wants to pay extra, there is no extra plan - it's a free market, with a govt admin plan as a back-stop. It just opens up options that maybe the govt "one size fits all" might not include.
I guess I don't see how these options add any burden to people who accept the basic voucher (if that is what you are saying).
-ERD50