An interesting concept was presented in some Arthur C. Clarke book (I forgot which one, Rama maybe, but it's not important) regarding a society that had advanced enough to cure every disease and/or ailment and extend any individual's life theoretically forever. Yet to do this for everyone wasn't practical. So one's status (and relative worth) in this society was based on a credit system. As long as you were putting forth enough credits through your work, expertise, or whatever, you could receive the health care and/or live the life of luxury. Otherwise, you were ordered to expire.