Public pressure appears to have caused Medicare to reverse their recent position concerning the rationing of a new surgical procedure costing sixty thousand dollars per patient.[An estimated two million Medicare recipients need this surgery for a Lung Disease called Emphysema-caused by inhaling Asbestos,tobacco products, etc.]

New technical procedure can be so expensive, at some future date, Medicare will be forced to make choices as to who may or may not be eligible.

The British National Health Service [NHS] has been dealing with this for years. They have special committees [often referred to as "God Squads"] who decide "who gets what". A painful reality when national health care funds are limited.

How do they break the news?
They may say, "We didn't say you couldn't have it, We said , We can't afford to pay for it"

In England, a patient can turn to the private sector of Health care and pay for the procedure. As a Two-tier System, private care and health Insurance are allowed, even encouraged.

Canada has the "Single Payer System" which discourages private care.
The patient may be forced to seek help in another country, often in the USA.