Health Miles

Written by Benjmain Greenaeway for ‘Tales from Cybersalon’, March 2021.

Connor had always said it started like a joke down the pub.

“National Health Service? More like National Sickness Service, am I right?”

An easy shot, really. Not everybody was a fan of the NHS, not anymore. Connor, just like everyone, had given three years of his liberty to saving it. Again. Then, in swoops this pharma-logistics conglomerate with a long history of international labour rights convictions to save the day.

“That’s fine. Just fine,” Connor thought. “Pandemics keep coming. We’re still paying the bill for the last three. Maybe it’s someone else’s turn to pay the bill?”

***

The program was simple; earn rewards, for healthier decisions, day by day. Simple things like drinking less alcohol, eating less fast food and taking exercise. Thousands signed up in the first few hours. It appealed to Connor that he’d win twice over if he tried it. He certainly wasn’t in his twenties any more; some shortness of breath here, an intermittent muscle ache there and, too tight a squeeze into old jeans than his was willing to admit. It’d be good to get a little fitter. Indeed, he thought, it would be good for everyone. And a few extra treats here and there might be nice too.

“Hello. Welcome to Implantech. Are you here to find out about the program?”

“I am.” Connor replied. He granted a share of basic contact information and the avatar connected.

“We have a wide range of rewards for your health improvements,” it continued. “All courtesy of our network of sponsoring partners. Eligibility for Tier 1 begins with any qualifying, evidence gathering device. Do you currently own a program compatible device, Connor?”

“I think so,” Connor replied.

The program came in two tiers, based on the level and granularity of data you allowed it to gather. It worked by assigning improvement points to regularly updated activity reports. For example, if you attempted to improve with some morning calisthenics, a light to moderate daily exercise routine, you might earn credits for trips on public transport. Something more ambitious like a 5 kilometre run might earn a week’s upgraded media streaming, or preferential seating at a cinema or theatre.

“Tier 1 support is available for any 6G enabled personal health monitor, exercise tracker or location-enabled communications device. Some 5G devices are supported but may require secondary evidence validation via the Drone Surveillance Archive or your Residential Community Security feed.”

“R.C.S. Yeah, that’d be nice,” Connor quipped.
“But my communications device is 6G. That’s enough. How about Tier 2?”

Improvement points in Tier 2 were a more targeted, personal calculation and, consequently, required more detail and verification. In Tier 2 you earned a proportion of your predicted health care outcome costs — assuming you’d not been improving them with the program. Even though it was far from a one-to-one exchange, the rewards you could earn in Tier 2 were significant.

“Aha!” warmed the Salesbot. “Implantech’s Tier 2 evidence gathering and validation is second to none! We are sole manufacturers of the first fully automated monitoring and reporting solution authorised to submit claims under the Tier 2 Advanced Insight Improvement Requirements. Can I tell you about Capsule?”

The capsule device was no larger than multi-vitamin yet could live in its host’s digestive tract for a full month, reporting wide spectrum biometrics, accelerometer & locational data to the program twice a day.

“I’ve heard about that.” Connor sighed, genuinely disappointed.

“As a rule, I’ll never use first generation devices on any platform. Feels that counts twice if it’s inside me! Are there any other ways to qualify for Tier 2?” he asked, already sure of the Salesbot’s response.

“Improvement claims for Tier 2 can be made on your behalf by a variety of health care providers, Connor. What is the name of yours?”

“Yeah. I thought so. Sorry, but I think I’ll have to pass.”

Connor disconnected the feed and slouched dejectedly into his chair. “Health miles!” he sighed. “As if anyone can still afford to fly!”

***

The second generation unit was slightly smaller and came in a range of shaded, pastel colours. Responding to Implantech’s glitzy announcement alert Connor scheduled the in-person appointment at his local pharma-hub. When his time came, he selected a Salmon-Blush Gen 2 Capsule, precisely the colour he imagined his lower intestine to be, washed it down with a glass of chilled, almond milk and headed home to await the calibrating diagnostic results.

It identified him as borderline Type 2 diabetic and had detected pre-cancerous cells in his colon.

“Oh, Christ!” Connor cried. “I’m going to be so rich!”

The diet and exercise program laid out before him appeared relentless, but the Improvements score it was correlated against was everything he’d dreamed it would be, and more. He set to work right away.

Three months in and Connor hadn’t felt so good in years. Six months in and his pre-diabetic indicators were nearly normal again. The new habits he’d been forming in the program felt so great they inspired him to improve still further. He was completing his eleventh month and feeling fitter than ever before when they announced the award. A major wave of new partners would be joining the program and a special live stream event with a lottery of high improvement participants would be held to celebrate. The winner would have their pick from the Supreme Rewards tier for free.

“I wonder if I’m in with a chance of that,” thought Connor, as a notification announcing his place on the shortlist appeared on his screen.

***

The show began with the twelve lottery finalists each being interviewed in turn.

“And last but certainly not least. He’s beaten diabetes, he’s beaten cancer, he’s the most improved man in the nation’s North and East. Let’s welcome, Connor!”

“Hello there, Geraldine. How are you?”

“Not as healthy as you, Connor. How could I be?”

A mixture of remote audience laughter and clapping bursts, then clips out, from Connor’s tele-stream console. Geraldine grins and shrugs her shoulders, feigning a half-embrace.

“Congratulations to you, Connor. Have you given any thought as to which reward you’d claim if you win tonight?”

“Ah yes, Geraldine. I want to travel. If I won, I’d take the Orbital Escape vacation.”

“What? Up there with all those unhealthy Riches, Connor?”

The laughter and clapping came again. Geraldine looks skyward and presses her index finger against pursed lips.

“Oh, I’ll be fine, Geraldine. I mean, I’ve had all my shots.”