Which factors make health care costs difficult to control? Select all

QUESTION

Which factors make health care costs difficult to control? Select all that apply.

1. Technology replacement costs
2. People living longer
3. Focus on disease
4. The medically uninsured
5. Disease-prevention strategies

ANSWER:

Answers: 1; 2; 3; 4
Rationale:
• Technology replacement costs: Machinery used in patient care and support services are becoming more expensive as they become more technologically advanced.
• People living longer: As technology improves, it is possible for people to live longer with chronic diseases, requiring more frequent and more expensive medical care.
• Focus on disease: The health care system in the United States focuses on curing diseases individuals already have. This increases health care costs substantially more than a plan of primary prevention.
• The medically uninsured: As more people in the United States are uninsured, costs continue to rise as they seek care in Emergency Departments providing the most expensive care for illnesses and injuries.
• Disease-prevention strategies: Health care costs are not rising because of disease-prevention strategies, but because of the system’s focus on curing once an illness has already developed.