Preface:

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In nations with socialized healthcare systems, where universal access to basic medical services is ensured, the implementation of new advancements becomes challenging due to the financial constraints faced by the entire system. Conversely, in countries with private health insurance, certain treatments such as cancer care are exorbitantly expensive, making them accessible only to those privileged individuals who possess comprehensive insurance plans. Moreover, in situations where politicians actively strive to remove millions of people from their coverage and insurance companies deny services to individuals with pre-existing conditions, the level of distress reaches an entirely new magnitude. Undoubtedly, the insurance industry must undergo transformation, but it is also destined to evolve. Let us explore what lies ahead for the future of health insurance. Welcome to Barco de Amashco, the channel dedicated to medical education.

The Future of Health Insurance:


Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies such as wearable sensors are poised to revolutionize the education system, while insurance companies are eager to adopt these advancements. The widespread adoption of electronic medical records and the utilization of big data analytics will enable a shift from reactive healthcare to proactive and tailored medical care. This transformation is of utmost significance due to its potential to enhance overall well-being and improve health outcomes.

Why is it Important:

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Due to the risky nature of the health insurance business, insurance companies often struggle to gather sufficient information to make well-informed investments in an individual's future health. While they can obtain basic details such as gender, age, and lifestyle, the absence of comprehensive health parameters raises doubts about the value of the investment. Insurance companies are reluctant to bear the cost of healthcare for individuals who choose to live unhealthy lives. 

However, the advent of digital health has the potential to revolutionize this situation. Firstly, it can serve as a source of motivation for individuals to lead healthier lives. Currently, the insurance market operates in a one-sided manner, where companies do not reward individuals for maintaining good health, and most people do not prioritize their well-being as they should. Instead, they simply pay their premiums and rely on doctors to address any health issues that arise. 

Imagine a scenario where individuals are offered reduced premiums for adopting a healthy lifestyle. OSCAR Health, an American insurance company, is already testing this concept by providing Amazon gift cards as rewards to patients who achieve their daily health goals, as tracked by a Fitbit activity tracker. While this is just a small step, there is immense potential for further advancements. 

Even today, patients have the ability to measure various health parameters such as sleep quality, physical activity, stress levels, and blood pressure in the comfort of their own homes. However, the power of big data extends far beyond these capabilities. Deco Genetics, a company based in Iceland, claims to have collected complete DNA sequences from over 10,000 individuals. Given the close genetic relationships among the Icelandic population, Deco Genetics asserts that it can accurately predict the DNA makeup of nearly all 320,000 citizens of the country, including those who did not participate in the studies. 

What does this mean? According to the CEO, they can identify individuals in the country who are at a high risk of developing deadly cancers. However, due to ethical research guidelines, they are currently unable to warn these individuals. Nevertheless, it is inevitable that these remarkable datasets, encompassing information about our health and lifestyle, will bring about significant changes in the field of healthcare.
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Conclusion:


Is the future filled with promise and optimism? Well, not exactly. It is undeniable that health insurance companies will make use of the vast amount of health data available. The real question is how they will go about doing it. What if these companies only offer insurance to patients if they are granted access to all their data, including information from sleep and fitness trackers, blood pressure and ECG data, and other devices used to monitor overall well-being? What if these companies use this data to increase premiums for high-risk patients? What about genetic conditions that are not related to lifestyle choices? What if insurers take pre-existing conditions to the next level and obtain genetic tests to create personalized plans? This is why regulators must be at the forefront of innovation. They are the only ones who can prevent the creation of a surveillance state where every aspect of our lives is monitored by a "doctor big brother" who influences our personal decisions. They must ensure that no one has control over what we eat, how we exercise, or when we sleep. However, if sharing my fitness tracker data with my health insurance company means enjoying the benefits of a happy life and a fair healthcare system, I am willing to do so. As long as I have full authority over my health data and can choose who to share it with, it is a small price to pay for a more affordable, sustainable, and ultimately effective health insurance system. What are your thoughts on this?
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