The Cost of Medical Miracles (2057 on Discovery Channel)

[Mythsaje]

I watched the first part of a three-hour thing (had to pause for the Dresden files), but I'm recording the second two.

The first part was called "The Body" and it was about the medical advances they see coming along in the next fifty years. Some of them are truly astounding.

But what concerned both my wife and I was the 24 hour monitoring by the insurance companies...where something like drinking alcohol can instantly raise your premiums. They estimate that 25% of one's income might go toward paying for medical insurance, but, on the other hand, they'll be capable of performing "medical miracles."

If you're uninsured, you're screwed. If you're well-insured, you could survive nearly anything, and nearly any injury (up to and including paralyzation). The technology to do all this is pretty damn astounding, and well within the realm of possibility. It was all very reasonable.

If nothing else, the show made it even more clear to us that there was NO way we could allow the insurance companies to gain any more power than they already have. Universal, single-payer healthcare is a MUST. Unless we are all guaranteed the same level of care, things are only going to get worse from here.

People need to watch this, and realize what it might mean. The damn thing gave me chills to watch.

[Solon]

1. I was going to start a thread on this...

By the way, I thought it amusing that they Mentioned it would cost 25% of your income for the premiums, many of the working poor NOW already pay that much, and still have huge deducts and shit.

Also, I believe that if things were EXACTLY as 2057 says they will turn out, we would face an outright revolution.

[Mythsaje]

2. We damn well SHOULD be looking at revolution

if they did turn out that way.

That whole medical monitoring thing made me twitchy as hell.

[Solon]

3. I don't mind the medical monitoring for MEDICAL purposes...

But to use it as a COST saving measure for insurance companies is just an abuse of the system that shouldn't be allowed, by law.

The medical monitoring equipment being integrated into clothes should be the limit, first, it allows choice, second it allows protection for those who need it. Imagine infants wearing such clothing, you could eliminate SIDS, along with catastrophic problems with grownups, accidents, heart attacks, strokes, etc. Great technology, but it needs to be used CORRECTLY, so that the rights of people aren't infringed.

[and-justice-for-all]

4. I have yet to watch, but I did record it for later....

...But I don't see why we need insurance companies in the future, we need universal health care and not 24 hour surveillance. A society based on "whats good for one is good for the many", rather then "if you cant afford then die" sort of attitude. Money will have become irrelevant, which it will and the mentality of society will either realize what it takes to carry on or it will just fade away and go the way of all the other past inhabitants of this Earth.

However, if thats what it will take in order to have a healthy society and win battles over major illness, then I will conform to that. Progress can not be stopped, it will no heel to religion and its ilk..it will leave them behind and carry onward. In the future, there is no religion and that is the most aspiring thing about the future...I cant wait.