[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":459},["ShallowReactive",2],{"slug-the-future-of-health-insurance-preparing-for-dr-big-brother":3},{"post":4,"relatedPosts":206,"relatedBooks":362},{"id":5,"date":6,"date_gmt":7,"guid":8,"modified":10,"modified_gmt":11,"slug":12,"status":13,"type":14,"link":15,"title":16,"content":18,"excerpt":21,"author":23,"featured_media":24,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":26,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":29,"categories":30,"tags":35,"project_category":55,"contact_email_category":60,"yst_prominent_words":61,"class_list":76,"better_featured_image":110,"acf":142,"yoast_meta":151,"_links":153},13003,"2023-04-06T10:00:00","2023-04-06T08:00:00",{"rendered":9},"http:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?p=13003","2023-04-06T09:11:40","2023-04-06T07:11:40","the-future-of-health-insurance-preparing-for-dr-big-brother","publish","post","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-future-of-health-insurance-preparing-for-dr-big-brother",{"rendered":17},"5 Insights About The Future Of Health Insurance In The Digital Health Age",{"rendered":19,"protected":20},"\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The global health insurance market has been experiencing a declining growth rate in recent years; from 9% in 2014-2015 to 6-7% in subsequent years. The \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.forbes.com\u002Fsites\u002Freenitadas\u002F2019\u002F02\u002F04\u002Fthe-top-five-digital-health-technologies-in-2019\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forbes report\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that pointed this out also attributes this decline partly to the low adoption of digital solutions in this sector. But those very same solutions can \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ftechnologies-change-health-insurance-innovative-ventures\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">transform the market\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Already with futuristic technologies like clinical-grade personal health sensors, at-home genome sequencing kits and artificial intelligence, healthcare is receiving a much-needed overhaul that democratises access to quality care. The health insurance industry could also ride on those same waves of disruption to make the market relevant again in the digital health age.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But as these solutions make the landscape more data-focused, new issues about privacy and whether the new insurance systems the technologies help create will be used to discriminate against patients. We contemplate these aspects and more in this article exploring the influence of digital health on health insurance.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Healthcare is becoming globalised and so is health insurance\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital health \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">enables healthcare to be \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fdigital-health-makes-healthcare-globalised\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">truly globalised\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, allowing patients to have access to quality digital health services wherever they are (save for some shipping restrictions), even if the companies behind those services are headquartered in different countries or continents. Take for example U.K.-based Atlas Biomed. It ships its \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fatlas-biomed-microbiome-test-review\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">at-home microbiome testing kits\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to patients in other countries. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The same is possible with whole \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fi-got-my-whole-genome-sequenced-heres-what-i-learned\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">genome sequencing kits\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from Dante Labs in Italy or Fitbit, headquartered in the U.S., and its \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fthe-last-monarch-of-the-fitbit-dynasty-the-fitbit-versa-2-review\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fitness trackers\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Patients can adopt these devices and services and bring the data to their physician, even if the service would otherwise not be available through a local company.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002F195_tmf-01.png\" alt=\"Cross-border healthcare: medicine delivery to patient care\" class=\"wp-image-29589\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002F195_tmf-01.png 1920w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002F195_tmf-01-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002F195_tmf-01-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002F195_tmf-01-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002F195_tmf-01-2048x1152.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Health insurance is also following a similar path. Global health insurance coverage is particularly enticing for those traveling regularly for work or digital nomads working on the go. Cigna, IMG, and GeoBlue are \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.expatden.com\u002Fglobal\u002Fdigital-nomad-health-insurance\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">some of the many providers\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of such globalised access to health insurance; and some even offer modular packages and home country coverage to best suit patients’ needs. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With more competition in the field, packages could become more interesting for payers who could find even better options from those international insurance companies than what they can find locally. This could further incentivise local competitors to innovate in this space.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. The divide between socialised medicine and private insurance\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Differences in the quality of care available can also be seen between and within types of national healthcare services. Countries with a socialised medical system provide basic healthcare access to everyone, but the cost to maintain such a system leaves little resources to invest in and adopt expensive medical innovations. They would also prove challenging to roll out nationwide as the system as a whole cannot afford them in all institutions. This results in, for example, having a patient checked by an oncologist within days, but that patient won’t receive precision treatment.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In countries with a private insurance system, patients are in a better position to have access to cutting-edge technologies; that is, as long as they are wealthy enough as only the privileged ones with good insurance plans can afford them. Such financial disparities can thus lead to biological consequences. For instance, in such a system, someone wealthy enough can live longer than someone who isn’t as they can purchase a \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F3d-bioprinting-overview\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bioprinted liver tissue\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to “fix” their malfunctioning liver and prolong their lifespan. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If not properly regulated, digital health technologies will only widen such divides.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cb>3. Health insurance is extremely data-based\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Health insurance can prove to be a risky business. Investing blindly into people knowing only a few details about their lives and lifestyles might not prove profitable to make fully-informed decisions. Companies can obtain some rudimentary details of patients such as their gender, age and some basic lifestyle details; but without quantifiable and measurable health parameters, the value of the investment remains questionable. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As such, more data could help them make better decisions and this is possible with new technologies like personal health sensors. Some insurance companies already saw the potential in such approaches and put them into practice.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FWearables.png\" alt=\"future of cardiology\" class=\"wp-image-23303\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FWearables.png 1920w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FWearables-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FWearables-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FWearables-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F03\u002FWearables-512x288.png 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Insurance firm \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hioscar.com\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oscar Health\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> famously incentivised healthy lifestyle by rewarding U.S. customers with \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ftechnologies-change-health-insurance-innovative-ventures\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amazon gift cards\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for achieving their daily goals as measured by Fitbit wearables. In Germany, at least six health insurance\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.frontiers.health\u002Finterview-with-fredrik-debong\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> companies reimburse\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> mySugr’s digital diabetes solution, which includes an app connected to blood glucose monitors for easier management of patients’ condition; and this covers 15 million lives. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2019, the German parliament even \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hlregulation.com\u002F2019\u002F11\u002F15\u002Fdigital-health-solutions-to-become-reimbursable-in-germany-milestone-for-patients-and-providers\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">passed a new law\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that covers reimbursement of digital health solutions for patients in statutory health insurance, which nearly 90% of the population is insured by. Such measures can promote the adoption of digital health technologies to assist patients with taking better care of their health with personalised metrics.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cb>4. The choice between privacy or Dr. Big Brother\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With such access to personal health metrics, it’s not a question of if insurance companies will use them but how they will use them. The more health data they have on you, the better investments they can make, thus they can provide more appropriate care. For instance, if someone’s genome test indicates a high risk for breast cancer, an insurance company can subsidise more regular mammograms. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The other side of the coin is that this approach leads to a leakage of your privacy and lifestyle choices so that insurance companies can modify your plans and benefits accordingly. They will inevitably not want to pay for the health coverage of those who never take care of their health. For example, if a patient with a high risk of breast cancer is also found to be a heavy smoker, this will \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ajmc.com\u002Fview\u002Fstudy-links-smoking-to-increased-risk-of-breast-cancer#:~:text=A%20study%20published%20in%20Breast,family%20history%20of%20the%20disease.\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">increase their chances\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of developing the condition. The insurance company would be more cautious about offering coverage to such a patient and might even charge more premiums.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a dystopian scenario, companies will mandate that patients provide access to all of their health data, including those from their personal sensors from smartwatches to sleep monitors. Only then will they decide whether to provide insurance, change patients’ premiums or notify them about changing it based on lifestyle choices. The creation of such a “Dr. Big Brother” should be kept at bay by regulators while striving to keep a balance between maintaining a level of privacy and providing quality and personalised care.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cb>5. AI in insurance\u003C\u002Fb>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We’ve discussed \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fa-i-in-healthcare-insights-from-the-new-e-book\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI’s potential\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in healthcare at length and, even though you might think it’s far-fetched, the technology also has its uses in health insurance. In particular, it can be used to improve health insurance companies’ performance. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003Cfigure class=\"aligncenter\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F214_tmf-01-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-30807\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F214_tmf-01-1.png 1920w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F214_tmf-01-1-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F214_tmf-01-1-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F214_tmf-01-1-1536x864.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fhealthcare.mckinsey.com\u002Fartificial-intelligence-health-insurance-smart-claims-management-self-learning-software\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">McKinsey report\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, one in ten insurance claims is incorrect and the health insurer can challenge the claim’s amount. However, identifying those claims can be difficult since \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">as many as \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.certifi.com\u002Fblog\u002Fai-use-cases-in-health-insurance\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">70% of claims\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are flagged as being unusual for review by administrative staff. Such laborious and repetitive tasks can be handled by smart algorithms to filter out the claims for staff review.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.infinx.com\u002Finternational\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Infinx\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">’s AI-driven software enables such streamlining of workflows in revenue cycle management for healthcare providers. Similarly, Certifi’s premium billing and payment solution processes are streamlined with \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.certifi.com\u002Fblog\u002Fai-use-cases-in-health-insurance\u002F\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the help of an AI.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Total privacy or equal healthcare?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh1>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today’s healthcare is financially unsustainable; patients don’t have access to the latest innovations and doctors are struggling to provide decent care with the equipment they have. We must upgrade health insurance systems to motivate each of us to live better by making use of emerging technologies. As more and more people turn to wearable sensors to help them live healthier lives, this is starting to happen.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Already some research shows that \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.healthcareitnews.com\u002Fnews\u002Finsurance-company-pushes-new-ecosystem-digital-healthcare\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">55% of patients\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are willing\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to share their personal data obtained through tech devices with insurers. That’s how insurance companies can tap into individual health data and turn their risky business into a profitable one while providing quality and personalised care to payers. With such an approach, those \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">health insurance companies that make use of digital health solutions and offer a globalised service will be the ones to thrive in the near future.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Chr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\u002F>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With such developments, we need to avoid the creation of a Dr. Big Brother who watches our every movement, has access to minute details of our lives and thus impacts our personal decisions. We must at all costs avoid a scenario where someone would control what we eat, when we exercise and when we lie down to sleep. \u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003Cstrong>Policy must thus ensure with some regulatory oversight that insurance companies don’t get uncomfortably close to our data about our personal health choices. In a controlled landscape, the option to share one’s health tracker data with their health insurer to promote a healthy lifestyle while having access to personalised care would be a healthy balance.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Csection id=\"main-section\">\n\u003Cdiv class=\"container mt-4\">\n\u003Cdiv class=\"article-body \">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>Written by Dr. Bertalan Meskó & Dr. Pranavsingh Dhunnoo\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003C\u002Fsection>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\">\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dr. Bertalan Mesko, PhD, the Director of The Medical Futurist Institute, launched The Medical Futurist to help individuals, companies, and governments understand how digital health technologies bring healthcare into the 21st century.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">\u003Cem>“Digital health technologies empower patients to become proactive in their life; empower medical professionals to do their job being supported by advanced technologies, and companies and policymakers to make better decisions about their future.” – Dr. Bertalan Meskó\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To support this transformation, Dr. Meskó and The Medical Futurist team is working relentlessly analyzing the latest trends in digital health and bringing insights to the 800,000+ readers and followers of our publications, along these principles:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #e71d3299;\">\u003Cstrong>The Medical Futurist is a place to learn, not a place for advertising\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fspan>. The Medical Futurist team is working to bring you unlimited access to reliable, neutral information, that is free from the influence of vendors and companies.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #e71d3299;\">\u003Cstrong>Unlike many others, we keep 99% of The Medical Futurist content open for all readers\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fspan>, regardless of where they live or what they can afford to pay. We do this because we believe in information equality, where everyone deserves to read accurate news and thoughtful analysis.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp>For 2021, we commit to another year of high-impact reporting that helps people navigate the jungle of digital health and to see where it is heading. With no shareholders or billionaire owners, we set our own agenda and provide unbiased insights that are free from commercial and political influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",false,{"rendered":22,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>The global health insurance market has been experiencing a declining growth rate in recent years; from 9% in 2014-2015 to 6-7% in subsequent years. The […]\u003C\u002Fp>\n",6,33931,"closed",true,"","standard",{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[31,32,33,34],504,802,499,800,[36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54],347,6735,6971,6973,519,6975,1137,649,6977,1463,655,6979,756,140,152,4709,821,196,5403,[56,57,58,59],947,951,952,953,[],[62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73,74,75],1883,2621,2987,2989,2991,2993,1571,3005,1613,3825,1617,3829,1631,1681,[77,14,78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90,91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,100,101,102,103,104,105,106,107,108,109],"post-13003","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-artificial-intelligence","category-health-insurance","category-healthcare-design","category-healthcare-policy","tag-patient","tag-mckinsey","tag-cigna","tag-img","tag-gc4","tag-geoblue","tag-dante-labs","tag-fitbit","tag-oscar-health","tag-atlas-biomed","tag-genome-sequencing","tag-infinx","tag-insurance","tag-amazon","tag-bioprinting","tag-at-home-tests","tag-a-i","tag-data-2","tag-mysugr","project_category-company","project_category-patients","project_category-policy-makers","project_category-researchers",{"id":24,"alt_text":27,"caption":27,"description":111,"media_type":112,"media_details":113,"post":5,"source_url":141},"The health insurance industry could ride on the waves of disruption to make the market relevant again in the digital health age.","image",{"width":114,"height":115,"file":116,"sizes":117,"image_meta":139},1920,1080,"2021\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_260-01.png",{"medium":118,"large":124,"thumbnail":129,"medium_large":133,"1536x1536":134},{"file":119,"width":120,"height":121,"mime-type":122,"source_url":123},"tmf_article_260-01-370x208.png","370","208","image\u002Fpng","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_260-01-370x208.png",{"file":125,"width":126,"height":127,"mime-type":122,"source_url":128},"tmf_article_260-01-768x432.png","768","432","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_260-01-768x432.png",{"file":130,"width":131,"height":131,"mime-type":122,"source_url":132},"tmf_article_260-01-150x150.png","150","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_260-01-150x150.png",{"file":125,"width":126,"height":127,"mime-type":122,"source_url":128},{"file":135,"width":136,"height":137,"mime-type":122,"source_url":138},"tmf_article_260-01-1536x864.png","1536","864","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_260-01-1536x864.png",{"aperture":140,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":140,"copyright":27,"focal_length":140,"iso":140,"shutter_speed":140,"title":27,"orientation":140},"0","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_260-01.png",{"related_posts":20,"related_posts_footer":143,"cta_type":147,"cta_color":27,"subtitle":27,"related_books":148},[144,145,146],33895,33769,32801,"subscribe",[149,150],31417,24759,{"yoast_wpseo_title":17,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":152,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":15},"Technology will soon offer the opportunity for truly personalized care, tailored to our genetic background and lifestyle. The future of health insurance would guarantee we each have access to it, while at the same time keeping Dr. Big Brother away from the privacy of our personal lives.",{"self":154,"collection":160,"about":163,"author":166,"replies":169,"version-history":172,"predecessor-version":176,"wp:featuredmedia":180,"wp:attachment":183,"wp:term":186,"curies":202},[155],{"href":156,"targetHints":157},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F13003",{"allow":158},[159],"GET",[161],{"href":162},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts",[164],{"href":165},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftypes\u002Fpost",[167],{"embeddable":26,"href":168},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fusers\u002F6",[170],{"embeddable":26,"href":171},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=13003",[173],{"count":174,"href":175},24,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F13003\u002Frevisions",[177],{"id":178,"href":179},50485,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F13003\u002Frevisions\u002F50485",[181],{"embeddable":26,"href":182},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F33931",[184],{"href":185},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=13003",[187,190,193,196,199],{"taxonomy":188,"embeddable":26,"href":189},"category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=13003",{"taxonomy":191,"embeddable":26,"href":192},"post_tag","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=13003",{"taxonomy":194,"embeddable":26,"href":195},"project_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=13003",{"taxonomy":197,"embeddable":26,"href":198},"contact_email_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=13003",{"taxonomy":200,"embeddable":26,"href":201},"yst_prominent_words","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=13003",[203],{"name":204,"href":205,"templated":26},"wp","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.w.org\u002F{rel}",[207],{"id":146,"date":208,"date_gmt":209,"guid":210,"modified":212,"modified_gmt":213,"slug":214,"status":13,"type":14,"link":215,"title":216,"content":218,"excerpt":220,"author":23,"featured_media":222,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":26,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":223,"categories":224,"tags":229,"project_category":249,"contact_email_category":252,"yst_prominent_words":253,"class_list":263,"better_featured_image":290,"acf":310,"yoast_meta":317,"_links":320},"2021-02-18T10:00:00","2021-02-18T09:00:00",{"rendered":211},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=32801&_wpnonce=a53adb78d1&status=auto-draft&type=post","2021-02-18T22:57:45","2021-02-18T21:57:45","generation-q-children-and-the-pandemic","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fgeneration-q-children-and-the-pandemic",{"rendered":217},"Generation Q(uarantine): Children Of The Pandemic",{"rendered":219,"protected":20},"\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>A child, who is now 10 years old has spent one-tenth of his\u002Fher life in quarantine\u003C\u002Fstrong>, away from grandparents, friends, school, sports and other activities. This has a devastating effect on their social, physical and mental development. More than a\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.thelancet.com\u002Fjournals\u002Flanpsy\u002Farticle\u002FPIIS2215-0366(20)30570-8\u002Ffulltext\" target=\"_blank\"> quarter of children\u003C\u002Fa> (aged 5–16 years) reported disrupted sleep. \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.thelancet.com\u002Fjournals\u002Flanpsy\u002Farticle\u002FPIIS2215-0366(20)30570-8\u002Ffulltext\" target=\"_blank\">18% of kids in the UK\u003C\u002Fa> with probable mental health problems felt fearful of leaving the house because of COVID-19. COVID-19 became the monster under the bed – and it’s likely to stay. No wonder these kids are already being dubbed as \u003Cstrong>Generation Q – as in quarantine\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>COVID-19 has put a spotlight on existing problems that some call \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fedition.cnn.com\u002F2021\u002F01\u002F04\u002Fhealth\u002Fmental-health-during-covid-19-2021-stress-wellness\u002Findex.html\" target=\"_blank\">the biggest pandemic issue\u003C\u002Fa> we face today: mental health. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The fears implanted by the virus are going to be embedded into this young generation. We can’t even begin to think about how it will turn out when they grow up. Will they be more fearful? Less independent, less brave, or right the opposite, will they become more resilient? \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.sciencedirect.com\u002Fscience\u002Farticle\u002Fpii\u002FS0278584620304875\" target=\"_blank\">Studies are in the making\u003C\u002Fa>, but what is certain is that this generation has way too much on their shoulder. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>A \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.washingtonpost.com\u002Fhealth\u002Fcoronavirus-is-harming-the-mental-health-of-tens-of-millions-of-people-in-us-new-poll-finds\u002F2020\u002F04\u002F02\u002F565e6744-74ee-11ea-85cb-8670579b863d_story.html\" target=\"_blank\">worldwide scale\u003C\u002Fa> of anxiety, loneliness and fear that had been there before added up, and investigation found rise in school safeguarding reports, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.independent.co.uk\u002Fnews\u002Fuk\u002Fhome-news\u002Feating-disorder-rise-pandemic-lockdown-b1798387.html\" target=\"_blank\">eating disorders\u003C\u002Fa> and \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fsociety\u002F2020\u002Foct\u002F21\u002Ffigures-lay-bare-toll-of-pandemic-on-uk-childrens-mental-health\" target=\"_blank\">sleeping pill prescriptions\u003C\u002Fa>. Parents struggle to get help, and, as a social worker in the UK \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.irishtimes.com\u002Flife-and-style\u002Fhealth-family\u002Fparenting\u002Flocked-down-and-vulnerable-it-s-the-kids-we-don-t-know-about-that-is-the-worry-1.4468231\" target=\"_blank\">put it\u003C\u002Fa> “\u003Cem>everybody feels anxious at the moment. You don’t want that to develop into anything more sinister for a young person\u003C\u002Fem>.” And without help, these kids have the chance to deteriorate. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Help is hard to come by\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Despite the fact that governments know of the impending issue of children being unable to cope with the aftermaths of the pandemic, with vaccinations and economic struggles on their minds, these issues are most likely not on the top of their agenda. Small-scale solutions are, however, popping up. Even though they don’t reach too many children (\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.usnews.com\u002Fnews\u002Fbest-states\u002Flouisiana\u002Farticles\u002F2021-02-13\u002Flouisiana-teacher-writes-childrens-book-about-covid-19\" target=\"_blank\">like this teacher\u003C\u002Fa> who wrote a children’s book about COVID-19 while in quarantine), they are steps into the right direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“\u003Cem>By April last year, the pandemic had disrupted education for around 90 per cent of the world’s school-age children. An unprecedented 1.4 billion students were shut out of schools in 192 countries\u003C\u002Fem>” – wrote advocacy NGO Human Rights Watch \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hrw.org\u002Fnews\u002F2021\u002F01\u002F25\u002Fcovid-19-school-closures-inaction-fuel-childrens-loss-education\" target=\"_blank\">in a report\u003C\u002Fa>. And those who had access to technology were considered lucky, as, according to the same report, “\u003Cem>more than a third have no access to remote education because they have not been provided with the tools or support to continue learning from home\u003C\u002Fem>.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002F198_tmf-01-768x432.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-29677\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002F198_tmf-01-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002F198_tmf-01-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002F198_tmf-01-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002F198_tmf-01-2048x1152.png 2048w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F08\u002F198_tmf-01.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>The ups and downs of technology\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Technology was at hand to help kids participate in online classes, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002FQgo6cIM1QmM\" target=\"_blank\">do exercise\u003C\u002Fa> and stay social. But that didn’t always turn out right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As UNICEF pointed out, “\u003Cem>while technology and digital solutions provide significant opportunities to keep children learning, entertained and connected, these same tools may also increase their exposure to a myriad of risks. Even before the pandemic, online sexual exploitation, harmful content, misinformation and cyberbullying all threatened children’s rights, safety and mental wellbeing.”\u003C\u002Fem> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"452\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F02\u002Fcch12822-fig-0001-m-1-768x452.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32815\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F02\u002Fcch12822-fig-0001-m-1-768x452.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F02\u002Fcch12822-fig-0001-m-1-1536x904.jpg 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F02\u002Fcch12822-fig-0001-m-1-2048x1205.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003Cfigcaption>Key \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fonlinelibrary.wiley.com\u002Fdoi\u002Ffull\u002F10.1111\u002Fcch.12822\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">recommendations\u003C\u002Fa> to mitigate the effects of COVID‐19 on children and their families\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">UNICEF recommendations\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In their \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.unicef.org\u002Fpress-releases\u002Fgrowing-concern-well-being-children-and-young-people-amid-soaring-screen-time\" target=\"_blank\">February 2021 statement\u003C\u002Fa>, the agency put forward several milestones on how various stakeholders can step forward and protect children. Some of the key suggestions were\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>1)\u003Cstrong> For Governments: \u003C\u002Fstrong>train health, education and social service workers about the impact of COVID-19 on child well-being, including increased online risks;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>2) \u003Cstrong>For The Tech Industry:\u003C\u002Fstrong> guarantee that online platforms have enhanced safety and safeguarding measures for children as well as to increase investments in safe technologies and content that promote quality learning and skills building;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>3) \u003Cstrong>For Parents:\u003C\u002Fstrong> help the children understand the risks presented by the Internet and digital technologies as well as be alert to signs of distress that may arise with online activity;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>4) \u003Cstrong>For Schools:\u003C\u002Fstrong> grant children access to school-based counselling services.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>If you want to know more about how children are exposed to these sometimes problematic technological developments, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fgchumanrights.org\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">The Global Campus of Human Rights\u003C\u002Fa> created an online course, where experts (from Edward Snowden to Dr Bertalan Meskó) are promoting a more ethical, human-centric, and accessible tech-infused future for our kids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"MOOC Children’s Rights and Technology in the Digital Age\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002Fnn76prWjgFo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Child rights in healthcare\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Children’s rights were also compromised in healthcare systems. That is why a new organisation called the European Children’s Hospitals Organisation (\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.echohospitals.org\u002F\">ECHO\u003C\u002Fa>), representing leading paediatric hospitals across Europe, calls on children’s hospitals and public health systems to ensure that the rights of children are central in the new normal of COVID-19. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As they mentioned in their study in \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.thelancet.com\u002Fjournals\u002Flanchi\u002Farticle\u002FPIIS2352-4642(20)30300-X\u002Ffulltext\">The Lancet\u003C\u002Fa>, “\u003Cem>as anchors of paediatric care in our communities, children’s hospitals have a moral responsibility to ensure that the rights of children are protected and promoted in pandemic response planning. This applies not only to the COVID-19 response but also to planning for future pandemics.\u003C\u002Fem>”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Netherlands-based international children’s aid and advocacy organisation KidsRights created their \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fkidsrights.org\u002Fresearch\u002Fkidsrights-index\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">KidsRights Index 2020\u003C\u002Fa>, and began with the statement “\u003Cem>around the globe, children’s rights are seriously affected by the coronavirus outbreak.\u003C\u002Fem>” The organisation also pointed out how under-funded child’s issues are globally: “\u003Cem>The index shows that countries worldwide allocate insufficient budget for children’s rights, specifically on domains such as protection, health and education.”\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F02\u002F116043070_2719351555019882_4424453590013940915_o-768x384.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-32805\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F02\u002F116043070_2719351555019882_4424453590013940915_o-768x384.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F02\u002F116043070_2719351555019882_4424453590013940915_o.png 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Swiss-based Terre Des Hommes created a worldwide survey to measure children’s wellbeing during COVID. Their project, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.tdh.ch\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002Fcovidunder19_thematic_summaries_english_20201209.pdf.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">#CovidUnder19: Life Under Coronavirus\u003C\u002Fa> is an initiative to meaningfully involve children in responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. 26,258 children from 137 countries responded to the survey – and the results are not surprising. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\u003Cp>\u003Cem>“I’m waiting when school will reopen so that I don’t need to work,”\u003C\u002Fem> \u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ccite>said a 13-year-old girl from India.\u003C\u002Fcite>\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The pandemic had a major impact on children’s experiences and rights. Beside feeling pressured from school tasks, respondents also spoke about missing physical closeness and hugging their family and friends, missing out on key milestones such as birthdays and graduation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As the survey also \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.newswise.com\u002Fcoronavirus\u002Fsurvey-finds-pandemic-had-a-major-impact-on-children-s-experiences-and-rights\u002F?article_id=743054\" target=\"_blank\">served as a channel\u003C\u002Fa> for children around the world to portray their thoughts and feelings about the pandemic to the world, they took the chance and put forward a couple of suggestions to governments. For example to provide reliable & accessible information and prioritise & invest in health.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Maybe it’s time for us adults to start listening to them. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dr. Bertalan Mesko, PhD, the Director of The Medical Futurist Institute, launched The Medical Futurist to help individuals, companies, and governments understand how digital health technologies bring healthcare into the 21st century.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">\u003Cem>“Digital health technologies empower patients to become proactive in their life; empower medical professionals to do their job being supported by advanced technologies, and companies and policymakers to make better decisions about their future.” – Dr. Bertalan Meskó\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To support this transformation, Dr. Meskó and The Medical Futurist team is working relentlessly analyzing the latest trends in digital health and bringing insights to the 800,000+ readers and followers of our publications, along these principles:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #e71d3299;\">\u003Cstrong>The Medical Futurist is a place to learn, not a place for advertising\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fspan>. The Medical Futurist team is working to bring you unlimited access to reliable, neutral information, that is free from the influence of vendors and companies.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: #e71d3299;\">\u003Cstrong>Unlike many others, we keep 99% of The Medical Futurist content open for all readers\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fspan>, regardless of where they live or what they can afford to pay. We do this because we believe in information equality, where everyone deserves to read accurate news and thoughtful analysis.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp>For 2021, we commit to another year of high-impact reporting that helps people navigate the jungle of digital health and to see where it is heading. With no shareholders or billionaire owners, we set our own agenda and provide unbiased insights that are free from commercial and political influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":221,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>A child, who is now 10 years old has spent one-tenth of his\u002Fher life in quarantine, away from grandparents, friends, school, sports and other activities. […]\u003C\u002Fp>\n",32873,{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[225,226,227,34,228],6479,798,491,516,[230,231,232,233,234,235,236,237,238,239,240,241,242,243,244,245,246,247,248],630,6701,716,6707,6709,6721,4729,894,6723,5273,899,6727,6729,199,6691,279,6695,6697,6699,[56,250,251,57,58],949,950,[],[254,255,71,68,73,256,257,72,258,62,259,260,261,262],3471,1559,1587,4277,1723,2405,2413,2655,3079,[264,14,78,79,80,81,82,265,266,267,86,268,269,270,271,272,273,274,275,276,277,278,279,280,281,282,283,284,285,286,287,106,288,289,107,108],"post-32801","category-covid-19","category-digital-health-research","category-empowered-patients","category-medical-education","tag-digital-technology","tag-generation-q","tag-children","tag-eating-disorders","tag-echo","tag-terre-des-hommes","tag-who","tag-mental-health","tag-childrights","tag-lockdown","tag-anxiety","tag-covidunder19-2","tag-lancet","tag-depression","tag-child-rights","tag-hospital","tag-human-rights-watch","tag-unicef","tag-quarantine","project_category-educators","project_category-medical-professionals",{"id":222,"alt_text":27,"caption":27,"description":291,"media_type":112,"media_details":292,"post":146,"source_url":309},"COVID-19 became the monster under the child's bed – and it’s likely to stay.",{"width":114,"height":115,"file":293,"sizes":294,"image_meta":308},"2021\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_247-01.png",{"medium":295,"large":298,"thumbnail":301,"medium_large":304,"1536x1536":305},{"file":296,"width":120,"height":121,"mime-type":122,"source_url":297},"tmf_article_247-01-370x208.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_247-01-370x208.png",{"file":299,"width":126,"height":127,"mime-type":122,"source_url":300},"tmf_article_247-01-768x432.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_247-01-768x432.png",{"file":302,"width":131,"height":131,"mime-type":122,"source_url":303},"tmf_article_247-01-150x150.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_247-01-150x150.png",{"file":299,"width":126,"height":127,"mime-type":122,"source_url":300},{"file":306,"width":136,"height":137,"mime-type":122,"source_url":307},"tmf_article_247-01-1536x864.png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_247-01-1536x864.png",{"aperture":140,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":140,"copyright":27,"focal_length":140,"iso":140,"shutter_speed":140,"title":27,"orientation":140},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2021\u002F02\u002Ftmf_article_247-01.png",{"cta_type":147,"cta_color":27,"subtitle":27,"related_posts_footer":311,"related_posts":20,"related_books":315},[312,313,314],32637,14229,30847,[149,316],24762,{"yoast_wpseo_title":318,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":319,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":215},"Generation Q(uarantine): Children Of The Pandemic - The Medical Futurist","COVID-19 has put the spotlight on probably the biggest problems we face today: mental health. 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We aim to show how physicians of the various professions can successfully prepare for the sweeping changes coming with the waves of technology. \u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":378,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>In this e-book we specify in detail how the appearance of artificial intelligence, sensors, wearables, VR\u002FAR or robots affect each medical specialty in order to […]\u003C\u002Fp>\n",10,49971,[382],2015,[384,371,385,79,81,82],"post-24759","type-book",{"id":380,"alt_text":27,"caption":27,"description":27,"media_type":112,"media_details":387,"post":150,"source_url":403},{"width":388,"height":389,"file":390,"filesize":391,"sizes":392,"image_meta":402},320,414,"2019\u002F09\u002Ffuture-of-medical-specialties.png",24785,{"medium":393,"thumbnail":398},{"file":394,"width":395,"height":121,"mime-type":122,"filesize":396,"source_url":397},"future-of-medical-specialties-320x208.png","320","52681","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002Ffuture-of-medical-specialties-320x208.png",{"file":399,"width":131,"height":131,"mime-type":122,"filesize":400,"source_url":401},"future-of-medical-specialties-150x150.png","26567","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002Ffuture-of-medical-specialties-150x150.png",{"aperture":140,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":140,"copyright":27,"focal_length":140,"iso":140,"shutter_speed":140,"title":27,"orientation":140},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002Ffuture-of-medical-specialties.png",{"leanpub_url":405,"buy_button_text":406,"preview":407},"https:\u002F\u002Fleanpub.com\u002Ffuture-of-medical-specialties","Get it on Leanpub",[408,410,412,414,416,418,420,422,424,426],{"image":409},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002FThe-Technological-Future-of-Medical-Specialties-2021-Preview-01.png",{"image":411},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002FThe-Technological-Future-of-Medical-Specialties-2021-Preview-02.png",{"image":413},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002FThe-Technological-Future-of-Medical-Specialties-2021-Preview-03.png",{"image":415},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002FThe-Technological-Future-of-Medical-Specialties-2021-Preview-04.png",{"image":417},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002FThe-Technological-Future-of-Medical-Specialties-2021-Preview-05.png",{"image":419},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002FThe-Technological-Future-of-Medical-Specialties-2021-Preview-06.png",{"image":421},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002FThe-Technological-Future-of-Medical-Specialties-2021-Preview-07.png",{"image":423},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002FThe-Technological-Future-of-Medical-Specialties-2021-Preview-08.png",{"image":425},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002FThe-Technological-Future-of-Medical-Specialties-2021-Preview-09.png",{"image":427},"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F09\u002FThe-Technological-Future-of-Medical-Specialties-2021-Preview-10.png",{"yoast_wpseo_title":429,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":27,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":372},"The Technological Future of Medical Specialties - The Medical Futurist",{"self":431,"collection":436,"about":439,"author":442,"replies":445,"wp:featuredmedia":448,"wp:attachment":451,"wp:term":454,"curies":457},[432],{"href":433,"targetHints":434},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fbook\u002F24759",{"allow":435},[159],[437],{"href":438},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fbook",[440],{"href":441},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftypes\u002Fbook",[443],{"embeddable":26,"href":444},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fusers\u002F10",[446],{"embeddable":26,"href":447},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=24759",[449],{"embeddable":26,"href":450},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F49971",[452],{"href":453},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=24759",[455],{"taxonomy":200,"embeddable":26,"href":456},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=24759",[458],{"name":204,"href":205,"templated":26},1787036522139]