Healthcare has been all over the news recently, but unfortunately it’s for the wrong reasons. All of the headlines focus on the political squabbling in Washington, D.C., as President Trump pressures Congress to pass a healthcare bill that repeals Obamacare.
If any of these folks were paying attention to next-generation solutions and innovation, maybe they would take a look at a company I recently recommended in both NexGen Investor and NexGen Trader. We made more than 10% in less than a week on our trade, and we’re holding for bigger gains over the long term in NexGen Investor. The company has a niche, in-demand health insurance product that is a brilliant idea, and its cloud-based business model also gives it a NexGen edge. Just a few moments ago I told my subscribers about a new buying opportunity in it, which you can find out more about here.
So even something as boring as insurance gets more exciting when you think about what’s to come. Imagine how much more amazing – and profitable – the medical and technological advancements will be!
The truth is that the healthcare sector here in the U.S. has struggled to embrace change and the technology revolution. But it’s happening now and the trend is unstoppable. With technology touching so many aspects of healthcare already and much more to come, the upside for the sector is huge. The disruption taking place opens up tremendous possibilities for us as both patients and investors. That’s definitely what you call a win-win!
As healthcare incorporates more revolutionary technology, we’ll see the discovery of new life-saving drugs and better ways of doing everything. Just take a look at the major impact robotics has had on surgery. It allows for more precise, less invasive procedures that are much better for the patient with less pain, less time in hospitals, lower risks of infection, and other benefits. Robots also make remote surgery possible, so even surgeons can telecommute now! Seriously, though, you could get operated on by a specialist in some other part of the world while you’re at your local hospital.
We’ve already seen the money to be made here as well. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG), the company that makes the da Vinci Surgical System, is up over 800% since 2009.
Another big area in which tech is having an influence is record-keeping. Things are starting to improve with the shift to electronic health records (EHRs), but there is still a long way to go. There is no reason that all medical facilities shouldn’t have electronic records. EHRs save time and money, and they are more convenient for everyone involved. One day, you won’t have to fill out all of that ridiculous paperwork when you visit a new doctor. It will be available digitally. I know I can’t wait for that day to arrive, and it will.
More importantly, digital records and their ability to be accessed will literally save lives. A study last year by Johns Hopkins Research found that medical errors are now the third leading cause of death in the United States. Technology and electronic records can help reduce those errors. Cerner (CERN) is one of the leaders in this area, and its stock is up more than 350% over the last 10 years.
Then there is my personal favorite, which is the virtual doctor experience. No more dragging yourself out of bed, waiting for what seems like forever and wasting an entire day for something as simple as antibiotics. A quick and easy video call from your phone or computer to a doctor and you’re done. Teladoc (TDOC) is the leader here, and my NexGen Investor subscribers are already up 42% in just a little over two months.
NexGen medicine is clearly a powerful mega-trend that is only going to get more powerful. As the Baby Boomers age, the demand for new and better healthcare (everything from drugs to medical devices) is growing rapidly. There are also related areas that you may not readily think about. The growing wearables space comes to mind. If you’re like me, you’re seeing more and more people walk down the street with some sort of fitness tracker on their wrists. Whether it’s a Fitbit (FIT), Apple (AAPL) Watch or another brand of tracker, there are all kinds of dynamic devices out there that allow users to monitor all their vital health stats.
In fact, a new report from Business Intelligence highlights the connected devices that companies are developing, including connected scales, smart beds and augmented reality (AR) glasses. As Business Intelligence concludes, previous resistance to some of these advancements is lessening as the benefits become more and more obvious.
There’s no question the innovations of today will change the future, and healthcare is going to look a lot different down the road thanks to ever-advancing technologies. You can start profiting now, even as much of Old Wall Street remains focused on more traditional pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. Not us. We’re already taking advantage of the new and exciting opportunities this NexGen trend provides, and there will be many more as it really takes off.
