Health Care In 2050 - What Will It Look Like?
Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; Health insurance in 2050. Major changes will certainly occur in the next 40 years. But I bet you didnt realize how much health insurance will change for individuals and families. Heres a tongue and cheek peek into the future of our health care system.
Obamacare is a distant memory. Defunded and repealed in 2013, the new national health care system is called Krukcare, named after an ex-major league baseball player that devoted his life to reducing health care cost and providing affordable coverage for all Americans.
Krukcare is backed by a law that requires all US citizens to have an annual comprehensive physical examination until age 50. After age 50, examinations are required every three months. Any individual that refuses to undergo a required physical is forcibly sent to a detention camp in Wyoming for 30 days.
Krukcare provides 95% coverage for all approved major medical claims, unscheduled office visits, preventive expenses and prescriptions. Cosmetic surgery is excluded unless the insured is over 70 years old. Any person under age 70 can qualify for free cosmetic benefits only if they can run a mile under six minutes.
The only major exclusion is treatment for Groats Disease, a debilitating condition that is characterized by silliness, delusions and regressive behavior. It afflicts more than 500 persons every century and there is no known cure.
In the year 2050, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) no longer exist. Instead, a popular option is a Personal Retirement Account (PRA) which allows you to withdraw funds tax-free from the account that finances your retirement. Since the average retirement age is 92, you have plenty of time to pay it back. Medicare has been replaced by Medishare, which starts on the second Tuesday following your 92nd birthday.
Although Blue Cross, Aetna and UnitedHealthcare are still in business, the largest health insurance company is now Green Cross, a non-profit organization that uses no paper products. The typical Green Cross office has only virtual employees, sets their thermostat at 50 degrees and discourages customers from taking showers more than twice per month. Customers that wash their clothes in cold water are given a 25% discount on their personal health insurance rates.
Since hovercraft have replaced cars as the principal mode of transportation, in 2050, you are accessed a 20% surcharge on your health insurance if you drive a car more than twice per week. Hovercraft are safer, more fuel efficient and automatically transport you to your destination by simply pressing a button and waiting for the onboard computer to take you to your destination. Occasionally, however, errors are made and instead of reaching Richmond, you end up in Rome.
Primary care physicians (PCP) are no longer used. Instead, the B2-D4 robot coordinates your medical treatment. The robots are provided free by the health insurers and reportedly cut expenses by more than 40%. By emailing your symptoms to the robot, it will determine your best course of action. Every other Thursday, the robots need routine preventive maintenance and medical treatment is not available on those days.
And finally, in 2050, short-term health insurance is available in increments of hours, instead of months. Thus, if you need coverage for a few hours while you are bungee cord jumping, you may purchase a policy. Rates typically are dependent on your age, current health status, and size of your refrigerator. For example, a healthy 40 year-old male could purchase two hours of catastrophic medical coverage for about 30 cents. Of course, a $ATMP 50 application fee must also be paid.
Energy Sources and Investment are focused across the world
The coalition government in Germany has planned to source around 80% of the electricity needs of the Germany; this will be supplied by itself by 2050.
Norbert Röttgen, the environment minister for Germany declared the recent energy projects are the most challenging one, ATMP acid and the German Cabinet has signed an understanding for the 17 nuclear power plants which will embark on its production from 2022. Rainer Brüderle, the Economics minister for Germany announced that, the nuclear power plants constructed before the year 1980 is permitted for functioning for the forth coming eight year and the recently constructed nuclear power plants will be operated for another 14 years, and by the end of 2036 Germany will withdraw its nuclear energy venture and the nuclear power plant validity is increased and it will produce sufficient carbon for the Germany.
The eleventh World Renewable Energy Conference was held in Abu Dhabi portrayed, the developing nations will be furnished with sustainable energy resources at favorable cost and the developing nations thanked the United Arab Emirates for conducting such a grand programme.
Mohammad Al Bowardi, the Managing Director of Environment Agency and the Secretary General for the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi Emirate in Abu Dhabi declared, the Masdar has provided investments, human resources and energy resources for the developing countries to meet the challenges on the development of sustainable energy.
The World Renewable Energy Conference will be supported by the Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Chair person of the EAD told, the committee will provide assistance for the development of energy without causing any damages to the ecosystem and it will focus on the improvement of the sustainable energy and education. The World Renewable Energy Network from the United Kingdom and EAD has coordinated a conference, the conference will have more than 500 analysts, scientists and researchers from 92 countries will be present at the conference.
The conference was initiated by a speech by the Al Bowardi; he declared that the United Arab Emirates and the Abu Dhabi would wish to emerge as the global leaders for the enhancement of the renewable energy, he also stressed that they conserve the flora and fauna in their country and protect those species from extinction. He told the sustainable development programme is focused on three important categories social development, economic development, and the sustainability of the ecosystem, they are focusing a perfect balance among these three areas.
He mentioned the measures taken the United Arab Emirates are of international standards and they ensured that they use minimum fossil energy sources and preserve the environment.
With Alzheimer's Disease Patients Likely to Triple, Can We Delay Memory and Cognitive Impairment?
Copyright (c) 2013 SharpBrains
According to a new study, the population with Alzheimer's Disease in the US will triple by 2050: from 4.7 millions in 2010 to 13.8 millions. This emphasizes the urgent need for more research to find preventive measures, and for more enlightened public health initiatives and individual lifestyles designed to decrease dementia risks and delay onset of symptoms.
Between 1993 and 2011, researchers followed more than 10,000 individuals 65 and older. Participants were interviewed and assessed for dementia every three years. Age, race and level of education of the participants as well as US death rates, education and population estimates from the US Census Bureau were used in the analysis.
Researchers found that in 2050 the number of people diagnosed with Alzheimer's would likely be 13.8 millions, with 7 millions over the age of 85. This is 3 times the numbers of 2010: 4.7 millions people diagnosed, with 1.8 million over the age of 85. This increase can be explained by the aging Baby Boomer generation. Indeed, the risk of Alzheimer's disease is highest in those over age 85. In 2050, the youngest baby boomers will be 86.
As one of the authors of the study points out, these numbers emphasize the urgent need for more research to find treatments and preventive strategies. Additionally, we need enlightened public health initiatives and individual lifestyle decisions designed to prolong cognitive vitality, delaying the onset of Alzheimer's related symptoms.
The best study so far that looked at what may help prevent Alzheimer's and/ or delay cognitive decline is a 2010 meta-analysis conducted by the NIH. It analyzed the results of 25 review studies and 250 single studies to understand which factors were associated with decreased risks of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline. Only high-quality studies were included in the analysis, which makes its results quite reliable. The analysis looked at several factors and interventions at the same time (the Mediterranean diet, omega-3s, diabetes, drugs, physical exercise, cognitive engagement, etc.), which allowed to compare and evaluate the effects of each.
The NIH analysis identified six factors associated with both Alzheimer's disease and ATMP phosphonate cognitive decline: - Four factors were associated with increased risks: having diabetes, having the APOE e4 gene, smoking and suffering from depression. - Two factors were associated with decreased risks: being physically active and being cognitively active. Of note, the authors of the analysis pointed out that other factors may also be associated with decreased risks, but could not be strongly identified because of the limited available evidence.
In sum, there may be ways to change the numbers and decrease our risks of developing Alzheimer's disease and experiencing cognitive decline. Most of all, we need to exercise more, both our body and brain. This brings a wealth of benefits, including increasing our so-called brain reserve -- that is the number of connections and neurons we have available to make our brain more resilient to damage.
The best regimen in terms of physical activity is to practice aerobic exercise at least 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes. A recent study highlighted that walking at least 5 or 6 miles per week can positively impact brain volume in healthy people (see Erikson et al., 2010) and extend such finding to individuals suffering from cognitive impairment. Aerobic exercise seems to better vascular health by increasing cerebral blood flow. It also helps create and strengthen connections between neurons (hence the increased brain volume or the reduced atrophy), by triggering the increased release of growth factors such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
The best regimen in terms of mental activity is to stimulate the brain through varied and challenging activities. These activities have to be varied because we need to stimulate all brain functions: memory, language but also spatial skills, attention, social skills, etc. They also have to be challenging because it is only through attention, challenge and learning that connections in the brain can be created and strengthened.
Researchers are actively looking for the cause of Alzheimer's disease in the hope to find curative and preventive treatments targeting the underlying pathology. As individuals, our best bet so far to decrease risks of dementia and cognitive decline is to include good amounts of physical exercise and mental challenge in our lifestyle, and to reduce those identified risk factors we have influence over (diabetes, smoking, depression).