Question

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) predicts annual healthcare costs will be $4.64 trillion by 2024, which represents nearly 20% of the U.S. gross domestic product. The increase in healthcare spending can be attributed to all except which one of the following causes:

  

As life expectancy increases in the United States, more individuals will require more medical care for chronic diseases, which means there will be more healthcare expenses.

   

When prices increase in an economy overall, the cost of medical care will increase and, even when prices are adjusted for inflation, medical prices have increased.

   

Dramatic increase in prescription drug costs.

  

As healthcare technology and research provide for more sophisticated and more expensive procedures, there will be an increase in healthcare expenses.

   

Dramatic increase in spending on hospital care.

Answer 1