If you need surgery now, you get surgery NOW.
There is absolutely no "rationing of care". That's a complete myth.
My friend and I both needed knee replacements. She was taking opiods for the pain, and could barely walk. but was afraid of the surgery and had been avoiding it. I was fine, but couldn't walk long distances. She received surgery immediately, and I had to wait, but I KNEW I would have to wait so I went to the surgeon early.
My new knee, two weeks in a rehab hospital, and all follow up care, cost me $80 in co-pays on my drug prescriptions when I got home. My annual drug co-pay is $100, and I hadn't used it.