Which of the following is a primary goal of underwriting in health insurance?

The primary goal of underwriting in health insurance is to balance risk and ensure profitability. Underwriting involves evaluating the risk associated with insuring individuals or groups based on their health status, lifestyle, and other relevant factors. By carefully assessing these risks, underwriters can determine appropriate premium rates and coverage options that protect the insurer from financial losses while also providing necessary coverage to policyholders.

Effective underwriting helps to maintain healthy risk pools, which is essential for the financial viability of insurance products. Ensuring profitability is critical for insurance companies to continue operating, expanding, and offering services to their customers. When underwriters successfully balance risk, they contribute to a sustainable business model that supports both the insurer's financial health and the provision of care to insured individuals.

This goal underpins many decisions made during the underwriting process, such as setting premiums, defining coverage limits, and implementing policies related to pre-existing conditions or high-risk individuals. Other options may address secondary aspects of the insurance process, but they do not capture the central focus of underwriting in health insurance.