It is hard to imagine a "Waiting List" for hip replacement surgery....I could have been in...and out....of surgery within three days had I the nerve to give the go ahead.
The delay was in getting the Veterans Administration (VA) authorization which took about two weeks....due to the sloth like pace of the bureaucracy within the VA.
Cost to me....Zero.
The VA paid for all medications, the surgery, hospital, and physical therapy.
The VA back charged much of it to the government run Medicare system which I am entitled to due to my age.
I purchase a Supplemental Coverage Insurance that covers the 20% shortfall of the payments built into the Medicare Insurance program which means my only cost are the monthly premiums for the Medicare Insurance and the Supplemental Coverage..