Why do you think health care is getting more expensive?
From rising insurance premiums to more expensive prescriptions, test your knowledge on what’s driving up the cost of health care in the U.S. — and how to fix it.
Take the quiz
What do health insurance premiums mainly pay for?
Routine doctors visits and prescriptions.
Administrative costs and insurer profits.
Protection against large, unexpected medical bills.
Negotiated discounts with providers.
Premiums aren’t prepayment for medical care. They protect from major, unpredictable health costs — so, premiums rise when overall health care spending rises.
Next question
When hospital and prescription drug prices rise, what happens to insurance premiums?
Fall as people delay care.
Rise because premiums are tied to medical and pharmacy spending.
Premiums reflect the cost of care in the system, so as hospitals and drug prices rise, those increases are reflected in what people pay each month.
Stays the same because insurers absorb the cost.
Nothing because they only affect government health plans.
Routine doctor visits annd prescriptions you e.xpect to use
Protection against large,. unexpected medical bills
Routine doctor visits and prescriptions you expect to use
Rise because premiums are tied to medical and pharmacy s.pending
Protection against large, unexpected medical bills
Which factor is one of the fastest-growing drivers of rising health care costs in the U.S.?
Rapid growth in hospital and prescription drug spending.
Administrative paperwork.
Hospital care and prescription drugs are some of the fastest-growing and expensive parts of the health system — and they play a huge role in overall cost increases.
People visiting doctors more often for preventive care.
Increased use of telehealth services.
Which health plan approach has shown to deliver similar patient outcomes at a lower cost?
Reducing coverage for chronic conditions.
Limiting access to speciality therapies.
Using alternative sites of care when appropriate.
Research shows that high-quality care can often be delivered outside hospital settings at a lower cost, pointing to one way health plans can help make care more affordable.
Receiving all care in the hospital.
Limiting access to specialty therapies.
Research shows that high-quality care can often be delivered outside hospital settings at a lower cost, pointing to one way health plans can make care more affordable.
Which change could help lower health care costs without reducing quality?
Making patients pay more out of pocket.
Keeping pricing information confidential.
Improving data sharing and aligning payment with care site.
Better data and smarter payment structures can reduce inefficiencies and unnecessary spending while supporting positive patient outcomes.
Improving data sharing and aligning payment with care sites.
Reducing insurance coverage options.
Improving data sharing and aligning payment with care sites
What's next
Lowering health care costs requires addressing the underlying price of hospital care and prescription drugs and tailoring the system to reward value instead of volume.
Find out more
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Looking ahead: Elevance Health is pushing for greater transparency, smarter payment alignment, expanded lower-cost care options and better data to reduce inefficiencies and costs.
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