Australia

I would get private but because of the loading, it’s twice as expensive and not worth it. I had a brain surgery on the public system with the best neurosurgeon and equipment in Adelaide. Two weeks, mostly high dependence and an 12 hour surgery. All I would have got from private is a private room (which would have helped) but it would have cost me thousands of dollars. I paid nothing on the public system, not ever for gym rehab and a home nurse.

I recommend his podcast if you like more of this: 'Dollars and Sense' published by the Australia Institute.
https://pca.st/podcast/9cc37d00-6a4f-013c-9f4c-0acc26574db2

I'm over 31 and make enough to get hit with the Medicare levy surcharge. I don't really want private health insurance but is there something I can get to cut down on how much I'd get stung for the surcharge every financial year?

Eh it can be useful in certain situations. His lordship uses it quite heavily for his glasses, psychology appointments, meds, and we both use it for dental.

Forcing people onto it via punitive tax can piss right off though. And they need to tell private insurers they can't use public infrastructure, the double dipping little fuckholes

US American here private insurance is going to be why the next deadly pandemic will kill all Americans we don't have the infrastructure to help people.