Average lifetime costs per person already are $172,000, a study estimates
by William E. Gibson, AARP, March 19, 2018|
LAUREN NICOLE/GETTY IMAGES


The number of people 70 and older in 2047 is projected to be twice as large as today potentially doubling the financial burden of care.
The costs of long-term care services for 70-and-older Americans are expected to grow enormously over the next three decades, putting a heavy burden on individuals, government programs and nursing facilities, according to a recent report by professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The current average lifetime cost of long-term care per person already has reached $172,000 (in 2016 dollars), according to the report entitled “Formal cost of long-term care services: How can society meet a growing need?,” based on a study of insurance claims. The estimate includes all paid services but not informal care.
The growing elderly population and rising costs of care will mean that the total financial burden will double from $2.8 trillion to $5.6 trillion (in 2016 dollars) by 2047, the report says.
The report also estimates costs by state. The most expensive is Connecticut, where individuals relying on long-term care need an average of $244,000 to cover paid services. Massachusetts is second at $236,000.
Nebraska has the lowest per-person costs, at $130,000, and Arizona the second lowest, at $137,000, according to the report.
Medicare and Medicaid also face a growing burden. “If population demographics remain similar to what they are today, long-term care funding for these government programs will be increasingly costly to future generations,” the report says.
The report serves as a warning for all concerned and may prompt renewed interest in long-term care insurance options. 
“The picture we paint in this report has several implications for financing of long-term care risks,” the authors wrote. “The average estimated cost is a significant sum, and long-term care financing should be a consideration in any personal retirement financial plan.” 

Here’s What to Do​
If you see a headline one day, you can be sure a related scam will follow soon after. With the Affordable Care Act in the news, scammers are on the prowl, calling, emailing, sending letters and texts, trying to get your money – and your personal and financial information. Scammers know you have questions about the new Health Insurance Marketplace, and they’re taking advantage of that to mislead you.
Some people have contacted the Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, about health care scams they’ve seen so far. Here’s what those scams look like – and what you can do about them.

• Charging you for help getting new insurance
• Medicare cards
• Medical discount scams
• Insurance agents
• “I can help you. Really.”
• “I’m from the government.”
• Report any scams you see

Charging you for help getting new insuranceSomeone contacts you, offering to help you navigate the Health Insurance Marketplace for a fee – or saying that you need a new insurance card now or you’ll have to pay a penalty. Regardless of the set-up, their goal is to get your bank account or credit card number.
Don’t give your information. The people who offer legitimate help with the Health Insurance Marketplace – sometimes called Navigators or Assisters – are not allowed to charge you. In fact, you can’t pay them. What’s more, you don’t need to buy a special insurance card, or pay any penalties for not buying one, either. Bottom line: Never give your money or your information to anyone who contacts you.
Medicare cardsSomeone gets in touch, saying you need a new Medicare card because of “Obamacare.” They tell you that you’ll lose Medicare coverage if you don’t pay a fee for a new card or give them your Social Security number and bank account or credit card number.
Not true. The Affordable Care Act doesn’t say you need a new Medicare card, or another health insurance card. Nor does the law say you’ll lose Medicare coverage. Don’t give your personal or financial information to anyone who contacts you. When in doubt, call 1-800-MEDICARE, before you give anyone your money or information. 
Medical discount scamsSomeone contacts you, offering discounts on health services and products. They might say the discount plan will save you money and that it meets the minimum coverage required under “Obamacare” so you won’t have to pay a penalty or look at other plans.
Medical discount plans are not health insurance. Sometimes, medical discount plans illegally pretend to be insurance. Ask specific questions and don’t pay until you read the terms. Your state insurance commissioner’s office can tell you if a health plan is insurance. Most medical discount plans are a membership in a “club” that claims to offer reduced prices from certain doctors, certain pharmacies, and on some procedures. Some medical discount plans provide legitimate discounts, but others are scams that don’t deliver on the medical services promised. Others are attempts to get your personal or financial information, so the scammer can use it to commit identity fraud.
Insurance agentsSomeone claiming to be an insurance agent gets in touch to say you should “act now” to get your new insurance. They may promise to get you a special deal or help you avoid a penalty. Or they might say they can help you avoid losing access to your current doctors under Medicare – unless you sign up for a Medicare Advantage Plan.
Not true. If you have Medicare, the open enrollment for Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage Plans stays the same: October 15 – December 7, 2013. You don’t have to do anything different because of the Affordable Care Act. While some insurance agents can help you with your application through the Health Insurance Marketplace, don’t give your personal information or pay any money to someone who contacts you.
“I can help you. Really.”Someone contacts you, offering to help you navigate the Health Insurance Marketplace. There really are trained people who can help. But experts expect scammers to wade in here, too. So…  
See what they do.
The helpers might be called navigators, assistors, counselors, connectors, or something similar. The important thing is what they do. The official helpers will try to help you find the plan that serves you best. If you want, they might help you get signed up through HealthCare.gov. They will not try to sell you a particular plan or ask for money to help you. If someone does that, chances are they’re not an official trained helper.
“I’m from the government.”
No. They’re not. The government will not call you about your health insurance; and no one from the government will ask you to verify your Social Security number or bank information. Some government agencies might send you a letter (for example, Medicare and the IRS), but they will never ask you to wire them money or give your credit card number. If someone calls, emails, or texts and says they’re from the government, it’s a scam.
Report any scams you seeCall 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or go to ftc.gov/complaint. Your reports give the FTC the information it needs to launch investigations, and put scammers out of business.
If you’re shopping in the Health Insurance Marketplace, do it at HealthCare.gov. People who try to sign you up elsewhere just might be scamming you.

Tagged with: Affordable Care Act, health

​What does the new Medicare Card look like?



It has your name, new Medicare number, dates that Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B coverage started.
It doesn’t have your signature, Social Security Number, gender.


When will I get my new Medicare Card?Medicare will begin mailing new cards in April, 2018 (after June for most Indiana residents).
Everyone who had Medicare before April, 2018 will get a new card with instructions in the mail
Mailing will take several months.
If you retired from a railroad, the Railroad Retirement Board will mail you your new card.
People new to Medicare in April 2018 or later will get the new card when they are enrolled.
Your card might arrive at a different time than your friend’s or neighbor’s.
Visit www.Medicare.gov/NewCard and sign up for email updates, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/medicare.
 Only your Medicare card and number are changingYour Medicare benefits stay the same.
Your Social Security Number stays the same.
Any enrollments in Medicare Advantage, Part D prescription plans, and Medigap (Supplemental) policies don’t change—keep those plan cards.


When do I start using my new Medicare Card?Start using your new card as soon as you get it.
Beginning January 1, 2020, you can only use the new Medicare card and new number.


What if I belong to a Medicare health plan (like an HMO), or a Medicare drug plan?You will still get a new Medicare card.
Be sure to destroy your old red, white, and blue Medicare card, but don’t destroy your plan’s card.
You should continue to use your health or drug plan’s card when you get health care or fill a prescription.
 How can I protect myself and Medicare from fraud?Don’t share your Medicare card with anyone—treat it like a credit card.
• Don’t carry it unless you need it.
• Keep it in a safe place.
Scam artists may try to get personal information by contacting you about your new card.
If someone asks you for your information, for money, or threatens to cancel your health benefits if you don’t share your personal information, hang up.

 By Rachael Link, MS, RD
You’ve likely heard the term “superfood” tossed around quite a bit and have probably heard about all of the benefits offered by these nutrient-rich dietary additions. But what are superfoods?
Superfoods do more than just help you meet your vitamin and mineral needs or aid in shedding a few extra pounds when it comes time for swimsuit season. In fact, these foods can help you achieve better health, prevent chronic disease, and improve the way you feel day in and day out — and they’re some of the top anti-aging foods around.
When combined with regular exercise and a balanced diet, adding a few of these top superfoods into your day can benefit many different aspects of your health.

What Are Superfoods?
We all know that eating healthy can have a major impact on the way you feel. Load up on the fast food and processed junk and you’ll probably start to feel sluggish, tired and weighed down. Cram tons of nutrient-dense fruits and veggies into your diet and you’ll likely find yourself full of energy and feeling good.
Superfoods take it to the next step, helping optimize your body’s ability to function by supplying a megadose of nutrients.
But what are superfoods? Although there’s no set criteria as to what defines a superfood, these are foods that are jam-packed with nutrients and can help provide your body with the vitamins and minerals you need to thrive, survive and feel great.
Include a few servings of these foods into your day paired with a balanced diet and regular physical activity and you’re bound to feel better than ever.

What Are Superfoods Good For?
15 Top Superfoods

1. Wheatgrass
2. Cinnamon
3. Blueberries
4. Avocados
5. Broccoli Rabe
6. Salmon
7. Sweet Potatoes
8. Goji Berries
9. Raw Milk
10. Almonds
11. Kale
12. Spirulina
13. Acai Berries
14. Coconuts
15. Flaxseeds

1. Wheatgrass
Whether you’re looking to fight free radicals or maximize the nutrients in your diet, wheatgrass should definitely be at the top of your list.
Wheatgrass is prepared from the freshly sprouted leaves of the common wheat plant and can supply tons of vitamins and minerals, including iron, calcium and magnesium. It also gives you some added chlorophyll, a plant pigment that’s loaded with health benefits.
Add it to juices or smoothies for a burst of energy, try it in tablet form, or even eat it raw if you’re feeling adventurous.
2. Cinnamon
This delicious spice does more than just add flavor to sweet treats and seasonal drinks. In fact, it’s high in antioxidants and has been associated with lower blood sugar and cholesterol, improvements in nausea and PMS symptoms, and decreased inflammation. (1, 2, 3)
Try sprinkling cinnamon over yogurt, oatmeal or smoothies to bump up the nutritional value of your healthy breakfast and reap the many health benefits of this invaluable spice.
3. Blueberries
Tiny but packed with nutrients, blueberries fit the superfood definition to a T. Blueberries are brimming with disease-fighting antioxidants and phytochemicals as well as plenty of vitamin C, vitamin K and manganese.
Best of all, these flavorful fruits are delicious and easy to add into your diet. Use them to bring a hint of sweetness to salads, add them to baked goods or even enjoy them alone as a healthy snack.
4. Avocados
In answering the question of “what are superfoods,” it would be impossible not to mention this super nutritious fruit. Yes, although the avocado is commonly enjoyed and used in cooking as a vegetable, it is technically a fruit from the Lauraceae family of plants.
The avocado is rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, folate, vitamin C and vitamin K. Not only that, but it manages to pack in more potassium than a banana.
There are limitless ways to enjoy this creamy fruit; try spreading it over toast, adding it to a salad or even just sprinkling a bit of salt on a few slices and chowing down.
5. Broccoli Rabe
Also known as rapini, broccoli rabe is a cruciferous green veggie that makes the list of top 10 superfoods without question.
It’s loaded with bone-building vitamin K and antioxidant-rich vitamins A and C as well as folate, calcium and manganese.
Thanks to its impressive nutrient profile, the compounds found in broccoli rabe may be able to help reduce inflammation, keep your skeletal structure strong, protect against eye disease, improve your heart heath and even prevent the growth of cancer.
Sautée a big bunch of broccoli rabe and add it to frittatas, pasta dishes, soups or sandwiches to give your meal a serious superfood upgrade.
6. Salmon
The American Heart Association recommends including fish in your diet at least twice a week, and for good reason. Fatty fish like salmon are high in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids that can slash inflammation, boost brain health and keep your heart strong.
Opt for wild-caught salmon whenever possible, and try to squeeze a few servings into your week by enjoying it as a savory snack paired with crackers or a healthy entree for lunch or dinner.
7. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are known and loved for their delicious flavor, but did you know that they’re also high in vitamins and minerals and can provide important benefits to you and your health?
These nutritious root vegetables are high in vitamin C, potassium and manganese. Most notably, however, they’re brimming with vitamin A. In fact, one cup of cooked sweet potatoes meets 769 percent of the daily value for vitamin A.
Vitamin A plays a role in maintaining healthy vision, fighting inflammation and protecting the health of your immune system to fight off infections.
Try roasting up a batch of sweet potato wedges, throwing them into soups or casseroles, or using them to kick up the flavor of curries and salads.




8. Goji Berries
With up to 12 times the antioxidant levels of blueberries, it’s no wonder these berries top the charts as one of the most nutrient-dense superfoods for men and women.
Goji berries have been a staple in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and have been credited with improving vitality, energy and longevity.
They are also loaded with nutrients that may help prevent eye disease, protect against skin damage and inhibit the growth of cancer cells. (4, 5, 6)
You can often find goji berries in dried or superfoods powder form at many grocery stores. Try adding them to a raw superfood carrot salad for a nutritious option for lunch or dinner.
9. Raw Milk
Raw milk is high in many vitamins and minerals, including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamins A and D.
Kefir made from raw milk is especially beneficial for health as it has been fermented and has probiotics that can help boost the good bacteria in your gut to promote better digestion and enhance immunity.
Try adding raw milk or kefir to your next breakfast smoothie to pump up the nutrient profile and start your day off on the right foot.
10. Almonds
Almonds are one of the most nutrient-rich nuts available. They are among the best non-dairy sources of calcium, providing more milligrams of calcium per serving than any other nut, and are also high in vitamin E and protein.
You can enjoy these nuts raw as a tasty snack or try roasting them up for a warm treat on a cold day. Just remember that almonds are high in calories, so be sure to keep your portion size in check — it is definitely possible to have too much of a good thing.
11. Kale
Type “what are superfoods” into Google and this leafy green vegetable is likely to be one of the first results that pops up.
Kale is one of the best superfoods for weight loss and can supplement your diet with lots of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, calcium and manganese for very few calories.
Whip up a batch of kale chips for a savory snack, or use raw kale to take your shakes or salads to the next level.
12. Spirulina
This blue-green algae is considered one of the most nutritious foods on the planet. Gram for gram, it’s higher in protein than red meat, contains all of the essential fatty acids your body needs, and also provides tons of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.
Health benefits of spirulina include potentially preventing plaque buildup in the arteries, lowering blood pressure and protecting against cancer. (7, 8, 9)
Spirulina is most often found in powder form and is widely available at online retailers and health stores. Use it in smoothies, or sprinkle it over your foods to increase the nutritional content.
13. Acai Berries
High in antioxidants and health-promoting properties, the acai berry is a key player in defining what are superfoods. These berries contain plenty of healthy fats, fiber, B vitamins, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus.
Studies show that the compounds found in acai berries may help improve cognitive function, enhance lipid profiles and maintain normal blood sugarlevels. (10, 11, 12)
Thanks to its growing popularity, acai powder is widely available at health stores and can be mixed into smoothies or used to make a nourishing acai bowl.
14. Coconuts
Coconut and coconut oil are both high in medium-chain triglycerides, a type of beneficial fatty acid that can help support the health of your gut due to its bacteria-fighting, antioxidant properties.
These fatty acids are also easy to digest, can be burned up as fuel rather than stored as fat and are able to provide immediate energy.
Coconut oil, in particular, has been credited with aiding in weight loss, keeping hair healthy and smooth, and even preventing bone loss. (13, 14)
Be sure to use extra virgin coconut oil that has not been refined, and use it in your cooking and baking for an added dose of healthy fats.
15. Flaxseeds
Flaxseed is loaded with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids that can help reduce inflammation, improve brain function, and even potentially protect against cancer and diabetes.
These seeds are also high in thiamin, magnesium, phosphorus and manganese, plus contain a hearty dose of protein and fiber in each serving.
You can reap the benefits of flaxseed by using the seeds in everything from granola to oatmeal or hummus or by consuming flaxseed oil in liquid or capsule form.

PrecautionsIf you are allergic or sensitive to any of the foods listed here, eating them can cause negative side effects and is not recommended. Similarly, if y0u experience any adverse symptoms after eating one of these foods, it’s best to discontinue use and talk to your doctor.
Keep in mind that these foods pack in extra nutrients and can be a healthy addition to the diet but are not an immediate cure for any ailment or medical problem. Instead, they should be used in conjunction with a nutritious and varied diet, healthy lifestyle, and/or traditional treatment to see the most results.
Pair these health-promoting foods with other nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains, as well as a healthy lifestyle and regular exercise, to really optimize your health and ward off chronic disease.

Final Thoughts on What Are Superfoods.  It can be hard to answer the question of what are superfoods because there is no specific criteria defining what makes a superfood. However, superfoods are foods that are especially rich in nutrients and shown to bestow unique benefits to health.
There are a wide range of foods that qualify as superfoods and can be incorporated into the diet in a number of different ways. Add a few of these foods into your daily routine along with a well-rounded diet and routine physical activity to get started on your journey to better health.
Where should you start? With these top 15 superfoods:

1. Wheatgrass
2. Cinnamon
3. Blueberries
4. Avocados
5. Broccoli Rabe
6. Salmon
7. Sweet Potatoes
8. Goji Berries
9. Raw Milk
10. Almonds
11. Kale
12. Spirulina
13. Acai Berries
14. Coconuts
15. Flaxseeds

Written By:
Christina England, BA Hons
This article is copyrighted by GreenMedInfo LLC, 2016




Major supermarkets are deceiving us in one of the worst ways possible - by deliberately boycotting products that can reverse the damage caused by continuous exposure to toxic aluminum. 
As many of us are aware, the human body is being bombarded with aluminum in everyday products. Many of our foods, vaccinations, medications, baby products, cosmetics, cleaning products and even soft furnishings contain aluminum and it appears that we are powerless to prevent the ever-increasing onslaught.
Despite the fact that aluminum is known to be a toxic substance and, according to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, a potential health hazard, aluminum has been named as the second most used metal in the world after steel, largely due to its versatility.
However, despite its many uses, aluminum has become one of most negatively talked about products used today and over recent years, scientists have linked its use to cancer, autism, Alzheimer’s disease and chemical burns.
The Age of AluminumProfessor Christopher Exley, a scientist from Keele University in Staffordshire, has been studying the effects of aluminum for many years. In his latest video on the subject, he stated that:
“One of the things that I write about is that we live in the Aluminum Age today. The Aluminum Age, like when I went to school, we learned about the Iron Age, the Bronze Age and the Copper Age, well, today, is clearly the Aluminum Age.
The result of living in the Aluminum Age, is that there is aluminum throughout our body and in every cell of our body, and that aluminum has almost invariably come from the activities of man, from us mining aluminum which only began in earnest 120 years ago and using it in so many different ways that we cannot even begin to imagine. So we then have the situation, whereby, what if, after having used aluminum in so many ways and exposed ourselves to aluminum in so many ways, we then find, absolute evidence, that aluminum is toxic to humans?” (own emphasis)
His words are very scary, as I am sure you will agree. However, in reality, this is exactly the situation that we as humans find ourselves in today.
According to the US federal public health agency Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, this toxic substance is used freely in a wide range of products, including aspirin, food additives, antiperspirant, baking powder and cosmetics and these and many more can be found listed on the many charts displayed on their website.
However, two of the charts in particular really stand out; these charts describe the many serious health effects that aluminum can have on the human body.


Source: ATSDR Public Health Statement: Aluminum
As you can see, aluminum is far from safe and yet this toxic substance is being used in everyday products on a regular basis and therefore slowly destroying our health.
Although the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry did reluctantly admit that vaccinations may contain aluminum:
“Vaccines may contain small amounts of aluminum compounds, no greater than 0.85 mg/dose.”
In reality a large number of our vaccinations are known to contain aluminum; see the CDC PDF titled Vaccine ingredients sorted by vaccine, for details.
Despite this fact, I can find no government-supported evidence stating whether or not vaccinating a child with several vaccinations containing aluminum can have a cumulative effect.
Number of Vaccinations Containing Aluminum is on the Rise

Dr. Lucija Tomljenovic, a scientist working at the University of British Columbia, Canada, believes that the level of aluminum children receive in their diet and childhood vaccinations is far in excess of the safe levels recommended.
In a paper that she wrote in 2010, titled Aluminum and Alzheimer's Disease: After a Century of Controversy, Is there a Plausible Link?, she explained that the blood brain barrier (BBB) in young children is immature, making them more susceptible to toxic substances. She stated that:
“According to the latest vaccination schedule, every child in the USA will receive a total of 5–6 mg of Al by the age of 2 years, or up to 1.475 mg of Al during a single visit to the pediatrician (Table 6). This is contrary to the upper limit of 5µg Al/kg/day set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for premature neonates and individuals with impaired kidney function. Healthy neonates may be able to handle more Al, however, there are no such studies available upon which we could safely estimate acceptable upper levels of Al from parenteral or injectable sources in healthy children. In that respect, it is worth noting that the FDA document states that Al accumulation at levels associated with central nervous system and bone toxicity may occur at even lower rates of exposure.”
Reading through her detailed vaccination schedules, you will see that the amount of aluminum a small baby can receive in just one visit to the doctor's office is of great concern.
According to her vaccination charts, a child aged two months is scheduled to receive the following vaccinations:
·        Hepatitis BRotavirus
·        DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus)
·        Hib (haemophilus influenzae type b)
·        PCV (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine)
·        IPV (polio vaccination)
Using the figures supplied by Dr. Tomljenovic in her paper, in just one visit, an eight-week old baby could receive vaccinations containing a cumulative sum of 1.225 – 1.475 mg of aluminum, an amount well in excess of the FDA's recommendations.
This of particular concern because on August 12, 2016, Professor Exley, published his latest paper titled, Insight into the cellular fate and toxicity of aluminium adjuvants used in clinically approved human vaccinations.
In a press release discussing this paper it stated:
“In a project funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Dwoskin Foundation, the group at Keele investigated the relationship between the physicochemical properties of aluminium adjuvants and the immune response. Specifically, they show that the reaction of the aluminium adjuvant at the injection site will determine its subsequent fate and therefore its activity both at the injection site and away from the injection site.
One form of aluminium adjuvant which is used in clinically-approved vaccines is an aluminium hydroxyphosphate salt and is more toxic at the injection site than the second form of aluminium adjuvant commonly used in clinically-approved vaccines which is an aluminium oxyhydroxide salt. However, the latter is more easily loaded into immune reactive cells with the possibility to be transported throughout the body. It is suggested by the Keele research that this loading of aluminium into viable cells offers a mechanism whereby significant amounts of aluminium, a known neurotoxin, might be translocated throughout the body and even across the blood brain barrier and into the central nervous system.
Professor Exley adds that there are no clinically-approved aluminium adjuvants only clinically approved vaccines which use aluminium adjuvants. This makes it imperative that all vaccine trials which use aluminium salts as adjuvants must not use the aluminium adjuvant as the control or placebo. This has been common practice for many years and has resulted in many vaccine-related adverse events due in part or in entirety to aluminium adjuvants being unaccounted for in vaccine safety trials.”

What is the Answer?In his video, Professor Exley describes the case of a 59-year old woman who has died from a mysterious neurological brain disorder, which he and a colleague from Oxford University were asked to investigate.
After investigating her case, they discovered that the woman had been suffering from an extremely rare form of Alzheimer's disease, which they say is only usually seen in people in their very late 80s and 90s. Shocked by what they had discovered, they decided to measure the aluminum content in her brain tissue and found it to be extraordinarily high. Professor Exley stated:
“Indeed, when this case of this particular person went to a coroner’s investigation at a coroner’s court, the verdict of the coroner in 2013 was that it was inevitable that aluminum contributed to the death of this woman.”
Professor Exley explained that he and his team were the first to identify a relationship between the element silicon and aluminum. He discovered that silicon protected the body against the toxicity of aluminum and that by drinking a silicon-rich mineral water, the aluminum is removed from the human body through the excretion of urine. He stated:
We have been able to test this, in clinical trials lasting up to about 12 weeks in both healthy volunteers and people with Alzheimer’s disease and in both cases, we have been able to show that over a 12-week period, aluminum is removed from the body such as what we call their body burden of aluminum is reduced over this period of time.”
In his paper on the subject, titled. Silicon-Rich Mineral Water as a Non-Invasive Test of the Aluminum Hypothesis in ‘Alzheimer’s Disease. He stated:
“However, the group of individuals diagnosed with AD showed a statistically significant reduction in their body burden of Al between Wks 1 and 12 and, concomitantly, evidence that for 8 out of 15 individuals their cognitive function was either unchanged or improved during this same period. Longer term studies are now required to show that any reductions in the body burden of Al can be further improved and sustained and that any cognitive benefits are similarly long-lived.”




Professor Exley has not only discovered that drinking a silicon-rich mineral water can aid in the recovery of Alzheimer’s disease but he has also discovered that silicon-rich mineral water can help in some cases to reverse vaccine damage.
Parents State Vaccine-Injured Daughters are Improving Another vaccine known to contain the adjuvant aluminum is the human papillomavirus vaccination (HPV). In 2011, Professor Exley spoke to professionals at a conference on vaccination safety, where once again he mentioned his work on aluminum and mineral water. 
At approximately 47 minutes 45 seconds in the video, he stated:
“Like many of you, I am contacted on a regular basis by people who have been adversely affected, sometimes by vaccination and other aluminium-related issues. I have been contacted by parents of girls who have taken the human papillomavirus vaccination and they have said, is there anything we can do, has it got anything to do with aluminium? I don't tell them it's got anything to do with aluminium, that is not my role, I am not a doctor. I would simply tell them look, if there is anything to do with aluminium, try taking a silicon-rich mineral water, I tell them which one. I am increasingly getting emails back six months, a year later, telling me their daughter is better. I am not making this up. Their daughter is better; I say well, it might have had something to do with that, it might be something else that you are doing, but that’s great news. So, anecdotally, at least we're getting good results here; we need, of course, to get proper scientific data as well for people potentially getting better, simply by drinking a silicon-rich mineral water. “ (words taken from the video)
If Professor Exley is correct, then this could mean that something as simple as drinking silicon-rich mineral water may have the potential to help many other vaccine injured children including those children with autism.
Readers will find more of Professor Christopher Exley’s studies and papers listed on the Children’s Medical Safety Research Institute (CMSRI) website.
What is Silicon and Where Does It Come from?One of the silicon-rich mineral waters that Professor Exley has identified in his video is Spritzer.
Interested to learn more about silicon and its possible health benefits, I emailed Spritzer.


I was very fortunate to receive a reply from the Executive Director of Spritzer Bhd, Dr. Chuah Chaw Teo,


who explained that:
“Silicon is the second most abundant element in the earth’s crust and it exists with oxygen and aluminium, the third most abundant element is hydroxyaluminosilicates where the silicon acts as a binding agent to the aluminium to negate the toxicity of the aluminium cation from living organism.
The only form of silicon that is useful to the body is the water soluble form known as silicic acid, Si(OH)4.”
I continued by asking Dr. Chuah, where does silicon come from?
He told us that:
“Silicon is present in several foods such as rice husk, the outer skin of grains, for example, oat bran and barley, vegetables, such as green beans, spinach and cucumber and in legumes, such as lentils and soya.
However, for the silicon to become available, these foods need to be hydrolysed by the stomach’s acid into the monomeric form of silicic acid which your body can absorb.”
Seeing that much of Dr. Exley’s work has been referred to by the Spritzer website, I asked Dr. Chuah what he felt about Dr. Exley’s findings. He said:
“Professor Chris Exley’s findings on the importance of drinking a silicon-rich natural mineral water, such as Spritzer, to reduce the body burden of the neurotoxin, aluminium is indeed a brilliant scientific breakthrough that should be strongly embraced by the authority and the public.
The people have all to benefit if this theory is one day proven to be true. There is nothing to lose but all to gain. After all, every one of us needs to consume at least 1 to 1.5 litre of good quality water for our daily hydration needs. What a better way to get that than from Spritzer- the clinically proven silicon rich natural mineral water that comes to you from a natural aquifer 420 feet deep covered with 330 acres (266 soccer fields) of pristine and unspoilt surroundings of natural tropical rainforest, away from all pollution, hence providing complete protection to the integrity, quality and safety of its natural mineral water. From source to bottle, Spritzer is untouched by human hands. Recent findings of a unique rock structure in the facility dated the land to be in existence for about 200 to 214 million years.”
You cannot argue with that!
Since Exley’s Studies UK Supermarkets Have Boycotted Silicon-Rich Mineral WaterAlthough there are three silicon rich mineral waters available, Spritzer, Volvic and Fiji, it has become increasingly difficult to purchase these from UK’s major supermarkets. This is because Fiji is a brand that is only sold in the US, Spritzer is a brand that is no longer available in any UK supermarket and Volvic, which was once relatively easy to purchase, has recently become less easy, since many of the leading supermarkets such as Tesco and Morrisons are only opting to sell fruit flavored Volvic.
Reading the ingredients of just one of the fruit flavors listed on the Tesco website, it is easy to see why.
As you can see, fruit-flavored Volvic does not include silicon but does include a high sugar content and a wide range of preservatives and additives.
“Ingredients: Volvic Natural Mineral Water (94%), Sugar (4.5%), Acid (Citric Acid), Natural Summerfruit (Raspberry, Strawberry, Blackcurrant) Flavouring with other Natural Flavourings, Preservative (Potassium Benzoate)”
However, when it comes to non-fruit flavored Volvic, Tesco state clearly state on their website that this product is currently not available.
Equally Morrisons stated exactly the same on their website.
As did Asda.


Interested to understand why, I contacted Tesco using a contact form. They replied by email stating:
“Thank you for your email.
I’m sorry I cannot comment on you query from our office, as we respond to customer queries and requests.
However, if you could please call our Press Office on 01992 644645, they will be happy to help further.
Thank you once again for contacting us.
Kind regards
Mandy Lobb
Tesco Customer Service
Tesco Customer Engagement Centre”
I then contacted the Press Office who failed to answer their phone.
Getting frustrated, I contacted Tesco’s main switchboard, who in turn put us through to the buyer of soft drinks, Emily Mace. She also did not answer her phone, so I left her a message.
However, so far she has failed to return my call.
Sadly, Tesco’s total lack of interest leads me to come to the conclusion that Tesco would prefer to offer their consumers unhealthy, sugary soft drinks over healthier options.
Professor Exley Banned from Advertising VolvicAmazingly, Professor Exley has been prevented from advertising the fact that Volvic is a silicon-rich mineral water that can help reduce the body burden of aluminum. In a lecture that Professor Exley gave at the Vaccine Safety Conference in 2011, he stated:
“I am going to break all protocol and tell you that the one water that works incredibly well, was a water called Volvic in the United Kingdom, made by a French company called Danone. But I can’t tell you this now because since Danone went into an agreement with us to work in this area, they then told me that they no longer want to work with us. They no longer want to be associated with the possibility that the removal of aluminum might be an important thing.”

This article is copyrighted by GreenMedInfo LLC, 2018
Visit our Re-post guidelines

Tens of millions of root canals are performed each year, yet how safe are they? Consider the morbid fact that it is the only procedure routinely performed where a dead part of your body -- the diseased tooth -- is kept attached to your body. 
Almost 60 million root canals are performed a year (1), on individuals who are mistakenly informed that it is a safe and harmless procedure. While your teeth may look and feel fine after the procedure, the reality is that it is impossible for all of the bacteria to be removed from the tooth. After a root canal, the healthy bacteria changes to highly toxic anaerobic bacteria that will continue to thrive inside and around the tooth, jawbone and periodontal ligament causing numerous potentially long term health problems. (1)
Dr. Weston Price
Dr. Weston Price was a brilliant dentist and researcher who studied the relationship between nutrition, dental and physical health. He was the head of research for the dental association for 14 years.  In their studies, Dr. Price and the Mayo Clinic discovered that bacterial growth in root canals could be transferred to animals to recreate the same diseases of the human donor. Their tests proved successful in 80 to 100% of the animals. In particular, heart disease could be transferred 100% of the time (1, 2). It's shocking to know that as far back as 1908 Dr. Price and the Mayo Clinic found that bacteria and the toxins from root canals could enter the bloodstream and thus travel to any point in the body and create disease to that particular tissue or organ. (1, 2). Price went on to discover that numerous degenerative diseases have their origin in root canal procedures, the most frequent are circulatory and heart disease.
Others would follow in Dr. Price's footsteps to bring this knowledge to the public. Dr. George Meinig would discover his work 70 years later and bring it to the forefront through his book, Root Canal Cover Up.  The Toxic Element Research Foundation (TERF) would later use state of the art DNA technology to identify multiple bacteria found within root canal teeth, the jawbone next to root canals as well as in areas of extracted teeth where proper protocols were not performed to remove the periodontal ligament and necrotic bone.
Basic tooth anatomy
A tooth has multiple layers, the first is the  enamel, the second layer is the dentin and the inner core is the pulp. Tiny fibers come out of the tooth and intertwine with fibers coming out of the bone, and they unite to form the periodontal ligament. This ligament is also an incubator for billions of bacteria to multiply. (1) The dentin layer is not solid, but is actually comprised of tiny dentinal tubules, that if stretched would be approximately three miles long, per tooth. This is another excellent place for bacteria to hide and develop. In fact when Weston Price did his research, this is exactly where he found anaerobic bacteria in the thousands of teeth he tested. (2) Since it is impossible to sterilize these accessory canals, it becomes a haven for bacteria to grow and develop. As bacteria multiply and create infection, it will oftentimes extend down into the jawbone where it creates cavitations—areas of necrotic tissue in the jawbone itself.
Common bacteria found in root canals
The American Dental Association (ADA) still insists to this day that Dr. Price and the Mayo Clinic Research was incorrect, yet they have no research to back this claim. Dentists are misled to believe that root canals are a safe and harmless procedure. While they may claim that bacteria found in teeth with root canals can't cause disease, the simple fact remains, the bacteria found in root canaled teeth are not the same normal bacteria found in your mouth. Without oxygen and nutrients the friendly bacteria become highly toxic, capable of causing long term infection, jawbone loss and numerous diseases.
In Hal Huggins article on Root Canal Dangers, he shares the following information on the five major bacteria species (out of the fifty –three that are commonly found in root canal teeth). (2)


Capnocytophaga ochracea: Found in brain abscesses associated with dental source of infection. Causes human disease in the central nervous system. Also related to septicemia and meningitis.
Fusobacterium nucleatum: Produces toxins that inhibit fibroblast cell division and wound healing processes. Causes infection in the heart, joints, liver and spleen.
Gemella morbillorum: Linked to acute invasive endocarditis, septic arthritis and meningitis.
Leptotrichia buccalis: Reduces the number of neutrophils (a critically important white blood cell), thus lowering immune competence.
Porphyromonas gingivalis:
Destroys  red blood cells by drilling holes (porins) in them, causing the cell to bleed to  death. Low red blood cell counts that do not recover after dental revision are frequently responding to the porin activity of this microbe.  P gingivalis also  alters the integrity of the endothelial lining of blood vessels, which leads to inflammation and bleeding in the inner lining of blood vessels. According to Dr. Huggins this is the key step in formation of atherogenesis that leads to heart attacks. P. gingivalis can change friendly bacteria into pathogens. (2)
Chronic disease linked to root canals
According to Dr. George Meinig, (one of the founders of the American Association of Endodontists) and author of Root Canal Cover Up, a high percentage of chronic illness can originate from root canals, the most frequent being circulatory and heart disease. The next common diseases include those affecting the joints, such as arthritis and rheumatism; this is followed by diseases that affect the brain and nervous system such as ALS and MS.
Additional risks
Root canal treatment increases the risk of infective endocarditis. (4)
Root canals are associated with high rates of infection (up to 54%) with anaerobic bacteria. In a 1998 study for oral focal infection, 26 patients had blood drawn and tested during and ten minutes after their procedure.  All root canals contained anaerobic bacteraemia. (5)
Conclusion
It is important to do your own research before any surgical procedure and treatment plan. A root canal is a surgical procedure. The decision on whether to have a root canal or remove the tooth is best made between you, your doctor and your biological dentist. Establishing an appropriate pre and post procedure protocol can expedite your recovery process.

Resources

• Beyond Amalgam:  The Hidden Health Hazard Posed by Jawbone Cavitations by Susan Stockton, MA, foreword by Christopher John Hussar, DDS, DO
• Root Canal Cover up by George Meinig, D.D.S.
• Uninformed Consent: The Hidden Dangers in Dental Care by Hal A. Huggins, D.D.S., M.S. and Thomas E. Levy M.D., J.D.
• 1 http://terfinfo.com/Files/Root%20Canal%20News%20Release_2.pdf
• 2 http://www.westonaprice.org/dentistry/root-canal-dangers
• 3. http://www.westonaprice.org/dentistry/dental-cavitation-surgery

What you need to know about Medicare supplements
Last updated: April 2017
Medigap health plans are basically bookkeeping operations. Unlike Medicare Advantage plans, Medigap plans don't make any decisions about what to cover. They don't have networks of doctors or hospitals. All they do is pick up a specified share of your medical bills that Medicare doesn't pay, such as Part A or Part B deductibles or co-pays. If Medicare paid for it and you still owe a part of the bill, Medigap will pay it, no questions asked.
Medigap plans come in standardized varietiesIn all but three states (Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin), Medigap plans are available in 10 standardized benefits packages, which vary according to how much of your expenses they will pick up. The more expenses the plan will pick up, the higher its premium will be.  
The most popular plan is F, which pays for pretty much everything Medicare doesn't, including the 15 percent excess charge that you can be billed by doctors who don't accept Medicare as payment in full. Here's a chart of the various kinds of Medigap plans.
You can find a complete list of Medigap carriers in your area on Medicare.gov.
When you put your ZIP code into the search box, you will see a list of which plans are available in your area and which companies sell them. You will see a range of prices for each type of plan, and the names, websites, and other contact information for companies that sell them. But it's up to you to contact the carriers directly to get their specific pricing information.
There are no ratings for Medigap plansConsumers are often surprised to find this out because there is plenty of rating information available for Medicare Advantage plans. Basically, there is very little to base Medigap plan ratings on. The benefits of Plan F are the same no matter which company you buy it from.
In almost every case, the companies get information on your Medicare bills straight from Medicare and pay their share automatically. They don't have networks of doctors or hospitals.
And the rules for Medigap are not the same everywhere, the way they are for Medicare Advantage. The federal government sets some minimum rules to protect consumers but many states have decided to add additional consumer protections on top of those.
The type of premium pricing method you choose will affect your future costsA policy that looks inexpensive when you first buy it at age 65 could end up being the most expensive when you hit 80.
Insurance companies use three different ways of setting premium prices. In some states you may have a choice of only one or two.
Community-rated (also called no-age rated). The same premium is charged to everyone, regardless of age. Medigap experts say these plans are the least expensive over time, though not necessarily when you first purchase them.
Issue-age-rated. The premium is based on your age when you buy the policy. It won't go up as you age, but will increase due to cost inflation.
Attained-age rated. The premium starts low but goes up as you get older. Over time, this type of policy is the most expensive.
Learn more about policy pricing.
Medigap plans can turn you down or charge you more for pre-existing conditions at certain timesIn every state, you have a guaranteed right to buy a Medigap policy for six months starting the first day of the month you are at least 65 and enrolled in Part B. During this grace period, the insurance company is not allowed to turn you down or charge you more because you have a pre-existing condition. This is called "guaranteed issue."
After that, you're only entitled to guaranteed issue Medigap in specific situations, such as these.

• Your Medicare Advantage plan shuts down or you move out of its service area.
• Your retiree plan shuts down.
• You joined Medicare Advantage at 65 but decide to switch back to original Medicare within a year.
• Your Medigap plan shuts down.

The minimum rules for when Medigap must sell you a plan are explained in this publication from Medicare. But some states have chosen to go beyond these minimums, for example, by requiring insurers to sell Medigap plans to applicants at any time. Your State Health Insurance Assistance program or state insurance department can give you information on your state's rules.
The rules are different if you are under 65If you are under 65 but have Medicare because of a disability or other qualifying condition, you do not have the same blanket right to buy a Medigap plan guaranteed issue. Some states have gone above and beyond the minimum rules about this and do require at least some Medigap plans to be made available. You can learn more from Medicare's free publication on choosing a Medigap policy.
If you are in this category and cannot buy a Medigap plan, you have the option of getting a Medicare Advantage plan instead. These must be sold to anyone on Medicare, regardless of age. Then when you turn 65 you can switch to a Medigap plan if you want.
How to buy a Medigap planYou can't buy a Medigap plan directly through Healthcare.gov the way you can a Medicare Advantage plan. You can buy the plan directly from an insurance company. Or you can work with a reputable local insurance broker to close the deal.
Consumer tip: Download this excellent Medicare pamphlet on MedigapMedicare's free publication "Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare" has much more detailed information on Medigap than we have room for here. Highly recommended.

By K. Aleisha Fetters | February 8, 2018

You can’t beat the Olympians you’ll be watching over the next two weeks. But you can join them.Age is just a number. It’s never too late to get active. Getting older shouldn’t mean slowing down.
These are all clichés for a reason: They’re true. In fact, by keeping active you can actually slow aging in your body’s cells, according to a 2017 study in Preventive Medicine.
The problem: Despite knowing the facts, motivation is often hard to muster. So instead of telling you what science and experts say is possible, we’re going to show you via the five real-life fitness heroes below.
Between the ages of 63 and 78, they’re running marathons, competing in duathlons, biking across the country, and generally winning at life. Needless to say, their stories will provide more than enough motivation to get you moving—no matter your age or fitness level.
The Marathoner: Kathrine Switzer, 71 In 1967,
















Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to officially enter and run the Boston Marathon. “I entered the race as ‘K.V. Switzer,’ so nobody thought I was a woman,” she says. “But while the men at the starting line were actually very friendly, 1.5 miles in, the race director chased me down and tried to physically keep me from running the race. I was so determined to finish that race I would have done it on my hands and knees.”
Fifty years and 38 marathons later, she ran the Boston Marathon again wearing the same bib number, 261. And she finished only 24 minutes slower than when she first ran the race all those years ago!
“But it’s so funny: People treat me, as an older person, the way they used to treat all women 50 years ago—with fear and hesitation,” Switzer says. “When people find out that I run up to two, three, or four hours per day when I’m training for a race, they say, ‘Be careful, you might hurt yourself’ and ‘Your body can’t handle that at your age.’”
Clearly, Switzer disagrees and is an ardent advocate for exercising at all stages of life. “Staying active is the best way to slow the aging process,” she says. “You’re never too old or too out of shape to start.”
A great way to start: walking. It’s free, you can do it almost anywhere, and these nine tips can keep your walks fun. Up for a race? At any age, it’s smart to check with your doctor before a new physical activity or challenge. Then try shorter races like 5Ks and 10Ks first, and work your way up to half-marathons and full marathons.
The CrossFit Coach: Jacinto Bonilla,
78 CrossFit coach and gym owner Jacinto Bonilla proves that CrossFit isn’t just for younger crowds.
“Every decade of my life, I did a different type of exercise,” he says. “In my 20s, it was martial arts. In my 30s, it was bodybuilding. In my 40s, I ran. In my 50s, I returned to weightlifting. And in my late 60s, I found CrossFit.”
Bonilla got involved in the sport after spotting a group of CrossFitters exercising in a New York City park. He immediately joined in and has since become a leading coach with a CrossFit gym in his Brooklyn backyard called CrossFit 1939. (He was born in 1939.)
“I mostly do one-on-one training with athletes who are much younger than me—my oldest athlete is only 41,” he says.
After participating in countless competitions, going to the CrossFit Games isn’t his goal this year. “There is only one Master’s division that’s 60 and older,” Bonilla says. “I have almost 15, 16, 17 years on most of those athletes. But when I’m 80, God willing, I’m going to go to the Games to show CrossFit that we need a second senior division.”
If you’re thinking about trying CrossFit, Bonilla has some advice: “Find a coach that knows how to treat an older person and who listens to your problems or concerns with certain movements,” he says. “Take baby steps, and don’t worry about the weight. It takes time.”
Connect
Subscribe to our newsletterThe Duathlete: Ida Thorbek, 70Pacific Northwesterner Ida Thorbek has been climbing mountains, practicing yoga, and cycling for decades. After picking up running just two years ago, she represented the United States in the 2017 Duathlon World Championships in her age group. The cherry on top: She does it all while working full-time in finance.
After volunteering to help staff the Hood to Coast relay, a 199-mile, 32.5-hour race in Oregon, Thorbek was blown away by what she saw. “I’d never been much of a runner, but I decided to take it up. I was so inspired by that race,” she says.
She signed up for a sprint-distance duathlon, which involved a 5K run, 20K bike ride, and another 5K run, and she loved it. After her first season, Thorbek qualified for the World Championships.
“I started working out with an endurance group and training six days per week for one to two hours per day,” she says. It was a big commitment, she recalls, so though she recently qualified to represent the United States again, she doesn’t have the time to train at that level.
That’s okay with her, as it allows her to focus on her own enjoyment instead of the pressures of competition. “I’m still training with my endurance group, take yoga classes once per week, and hike or snowshoe on the weekends,” she says. “Once you find a type of exercise you really enjoy, sticking with it is the easy part.”
The Outdoor Adventurer: Jeff Reaves,
66 Biking, hiking, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, golf—if it requires being outside, 66-year-old Oregonian Jeff Reaves probably does it.
“It’s always been more about the adventure than the exercise for me,” Reaves says. “You could say I’m kind of an adventure junkie. I stay fit enough to be able to experience life the way I want to.”
And to experience life the way he does, staying fit is a prerequisite. A few highlights include cross-country bikes trips, day- and weekend-long hikes throughout Bend, Oregon, and working as a mountain host five days per month, helping people who are stuck in the snow get back down the mountain.
“How I exercise is dictated by the seasons,” he says. “I can’t snowboard in the summer, and I can’t go on a long outdoor bike ride in the winter.”
But no matter the season, Reaves also strength trains at his local gym to keep his body strong. “I don’t lift really heavy weights—I’m not trying to be Arnold Schwarzenegger,” he says. “For me, it’s all about staying healthy and strong for my adventures.”
His next goal: “To bike the Mississippi River and to give yoga a try,” he says. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become even more committed to the sense of adventure. I could make 1,000 excuses for why I shouldn’t do every activity I do, but that’s not how my mindset works,” he says. “And at this age, your mindset and outlook are everything.”
The Boot Camp Queen: Ann Wolinsky,
63 Exercise has always been a big part of Ann Wolinsky’s life, but it wasn’t until her 60s that she tried group fitness.
“I started taking boot camp classes and found that I love working out with a lot of younger people,” she says. “Even though I’m older, I’m not in worse shape than the other girls in class. I bet nobody knows how old I am.”
Perhaps that’s because her favorite class involves sledgehammers and tires, box jumps, sandbag slams, rope climbs, rowing machines, TRX suspension training, and even pullups—and Wolinsky does them all!
“My hope is to continue building my aerobic and anaerobic capacity so that when I retire, I can do even more: kayaking, canoeing, hiking, climbing,” she says. “My recommendation for anyone just getting started would be to focus on strength instead of just aerobic ability. You need that kind of training to prevent osteoporosis and other age-related health issues,” she says, adding that “weights and resistance training don’t have to be scary.”
If you’re new to strength training or getting back into it after a break, hitting the weight room can be intimidating. Don’t sweat it! Check out our guide to everything you need to know about strength training in a safe, effective, and fun way that will keep you strong for life.
Ready to Take the Next Step? Let Us Help!A knowledgeable fitness instructor and encouraging exercise buddies can help you feel more confident, have more fun, and stay on track when motivation dips. And with SilverSneakers, you’ll find both types of support, plus:

• Free gym membership at more than 14,000 gyms and fitness centers across the nation
• Free gym fitness classes led by certified instructors who specialize in working with older adults
• Free community fitness classes that range from tai chi to boot camp to yoga
• Unlimited access to any participating location or class in the SilverSneakers network

Check your eligibility here, and find a location here.
Don’t have SilverSneakers? Stay connected and find great tips on our Facebook page and in our email newsletters.

Uber's new health service lets providers schedule rides for patientsUber
BY STEVEN ROSS JOHNSON  | MARCH 1, 2018
Ride-sharing service Uber has decided to jump into the medical transportation provider market with the introduction of its latest product, Uber Health.
The company on Thursday announced the launch of a new non-emergency ride service that healthcare providers can use to schedule rides for patients.
It's a venture that the company has been exploring since July 2017 on a limited scale in partnerships with more than 100 healthcare organizations who tested Uber's beta version of the program.
Advertisement
The service will now be available to all healthcare providers. They will not be charged a monthly subscription or similar fee, just the cost of the ride.

Chris Weber, general manager of Uber Health, said the company's ability to expand its scope to provide transportation in traditionally underserved areas was the premise behind its launch into healthcare.

Lack of transportation has often been cited as a major barrier to healthcare access. An estimated 25% of patients have missed an appointment due to transportation problems, according to a 2013 study published in the Journal of Community Health.

An estimated 3.6 million Americans miss their healthcare appointments every year because of unreliable transportation, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Evidence has shown the healthcare industry loses approximately $150 billion per year due to missed appointments.

“While we certainly don't expect to take on that entire $150 billion number in our first efforts, we're pretty confident we can start making an impact by reducing the number of missed appointments due to transportation,” Weber said.

Healthcare providers will be able to schedule rides for patients through a digital dashboard that would be accessible online or integrated into a facility's existing system.

The service can transport to patients as far as 300 miles, and drivers could be any one of Uber's more than 750,000 drivers.

“This is your standard set of Uber drivers that are out there,” said Jay Holley, head of partnerships at Uber Health.

Holley said drivers are not given any additional information that leads them to conclude an Uber health trip was any different form a standard Uber trip, out of respect for patient privacy.

Providers are able to call for multiple rides at once using the dashboard, which does not require riders to have the Uber app or a smartphone. Riders can either get a text message or phone call with trip details.

The potential for ride-sharing in healthcare could be huge, with the non-emergency medical transportation market estimated at $3 billion a year.

Studies have shown ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft tend to be used more often by urban residents, who are younger and more affluent. A 2016 analysis by the Pew Research Center found 26% of Americans with an annual household income of $75,000 or more had used a ride-hailing service compared to 10% of those living in households with an annual income of less than $30,000.

But the bulk of Uber Health's patients would most likely be older, lower-income individuals.

“I think in general this is another example of more effort being placed on providing patient-centric care,” said Sebastian Seiguer, CEO of Emocha, a mobile health company that uses video directly observed therapy to increase medication adherence. “This is a great example of a returned focus on helping the patient now that the length of stay in clinics has been reduced.”