Access to NHS care, including knee and hip operations, is being restricted, data from trusts suggest.
The evidence - gathered under the Freedom of Information Act by GP magazine - showed nine in 10 trusts in England were imposing restrictions.
The trend was blamed on cost-cutting by some, leaving the government to say there was no justification for it.
But managers defended the practice, saying there were instances when care had to be prioritised.
The magazine received responses from two-thirds of the 151 trusts about the procedures they considered to be non-urgent.
The most common restriction was on tonsillectomies with 89% of areas imposing restrictions.
This in itself is not that controversial as many argue the NHS is better to concentrate its resources in most cases on other, more serious conditions.
But the research also found evidence of rationing in other areas.
Limits on cataract surgery were in place in 66% of trusts, while over half of areas were rationing weight-loss surgery and hip and knee operations.
Another survey published by Labour found similar patterns, prompting criticism from patient groups.
Clara Eaglen, of the Royal National Institute of Blind People, said: "People should not have to live with a reduced quality of life simply because PCTs are using arbitrary criteria to determine whether they get to keep their sight."
Dr Richard Vautrey, of the British Medical Association, added: "Patients need to be treated fairly and we need consistency.
"The reality is that this is simply a cost-saving exercise."
Health minister Simon Burns described such practices as "unacceptable".
"If local health bodies stop patients from having treatments on the basis of cost alone we will take action against them."
But David Stout, of the NHS Confederation, which represents PCTs, said there was sometimes justifiable reasons for rationing.
He said while arbitrary restrictions should not be put in place, trusts had to prioritise care in the current environment.
