Dr Mehmet Oz reportedly told federal staffers that artificial intelligence models may be better than frontline human physicians in his first all-staff meeting this week. Oz told staffers that if a patient went to the doctor for a diabetes diagnosis it would cost roughly 100 an hour, compared with 2 an hour for an AI visit, according to unnamed sources who spoke to Wired magazine. He added that patients may prefer an AI avatar. Oz also spent a portion of his first meeting with employees arguing they had a "patriotic duty" to remain healthy, with the goal of decreasing costs to the health insurance system. He made a similar argument at his confirmation hearing.

Health insurance is a source of confusion, frustration and stress for many Americans. While the federal and state governments have taken measures to improve the health insurance system, many Americans still groan at the complexities and shortcomings that leave some 15% of adults ages 19-34 uninsured, and both uninsured and insured people say insurance is too expensive. Reforms to the nation's healthcare system are also insufficient for many. About 11% of uninsured people had income below the poverty level but were ineligible for Medicaid because their state did not expand the program. Even reforms to the health insurance system are not reaching most of those who still lack insurance.

Albert Pomales is Co-Founder and CEO of KindHealth, bringing complex insurance solutions to the consumer. Health insurance is a source of confusion, frustration and stress for many Americans. While the federal and state governments have taken measures to improve the health insurance system, many Americans still groan at the complexities and shortcomings that leave some 15% of adults ages 19-34 uninsured, and both uninsured and insured people say insurance is too expensive. Reforms to the nation's healthcare system are also insufficient for many. About 11% of uninsured people had income below the poverty level but were ineligible for Medicaid because their state did not expand the program.

According to OECD predictions, exceeding budgets on health spending remains an issue for OECD countries. Maintaining today's healthcare systems and funding future medical advances will be difficult without major reforms. Public expenditure on health and long-term care in OECD countries is set to increase from around 6% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) today to almost 9% of GDP in 2030 and to 14% by 2060. This will be the harsh reality unless governments and private companies change the structure of how healthcare is funded. In countries with private health insurance, certain treatments such as cancer care are so expensive that only the privileged with good insurance plans can afford them.