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# Joseph: Health insurance premiums are growing at an alarming

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Joseph: Health insurance premiums are growing at an alarming [#permalink]

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26 Jan 2013, 05:37
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Joseph: Health insurance premiums are growing at an alarming rate. This is, in part, because many hospitals bill for unnecessary diagnostics and tests that inflate the subsequent amount that insurers pay out to them. These expenses are then passed on to consumers in the form of increased insurance premiums. Therefore, reducing the number of unnecessary tests performed by health care providers will be effective in controlling growing health insurance premiums.

Which of the following is an assumption required by the argument?

A. Doctors are generally able to determine, with great reliability, which diagnostic procedures and tests would yield the most effective results
B. Tests and diagnostic procedures do not make up an insignificant portion of the bills that are sent to insurers
C. Insurance companies in other industries, such as auto and home, have been able to reduce costs by reducing the number of unnecessary repairs and replacements on claims for automobiles and homes
D. Patients are not just as likely as doctors to choose the most expensive diagnostics and tests.
E. Health insurance premiums have increased twice as fast in the past five years than they have over an average of the past 25 years.
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

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Re: Joseph: Health insurance premiums are growing at an alarming [#permalink]

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26 Jan 2013, 05:47
Ans is B in my opinion

Let's analyze:
Option a is out of scope.

Option b- if we read line 2 carefully we csn find the wording 'in part'. So, by this, there are other causes for the premium to increase. And option b resolves this issue by stating that the diagnostic tests are NOT INSIGNIFICANT in other words IS SIGNIFICANT.

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Re: Joseph: Health insurance premiums are growing at an alarming [#permalink]

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26 Jan 2013, 18:52
Premise 1-Providers are billing insurers for unnecessary tests.

Premise 2-Insurers are passing on these costs to policyholders.

Conclusion-Stop paying for these tests >>> healthcare costs go down

Assumption>>>These have a impact on the cost of healthcare.

Choice "A": the cost of those tests is significant.

Seems to fit my reasoning. Any thoughts?
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Re: Joseph: Health insurance premiums are growing at an alarming [#permalink]

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26 Jan 2013, 19:59
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jgomey wrote:
Premise 1-Providers are billing insurers for unnecessary tests.

Premise 2-Insurers are passing on these costs to policyholders.

Conclusion-Stop paying for these tests >>> healthcare costs go down

Assumption>>>These have a impact on the cost of healthcare.

Choice "A": the cost of those tests is significant.

Seems to fit my reasoning. Any thoughts?

Let me point out one thing here - the conclusion is:

Reducing unnecessary tests will control growing costs i.e. the costs will not grow so much. The conclusion is not that the costs will go down.
The assumption certainly is that the cost of unnecessary tests have an impact on the cost of insurance premiums i.e. the cost of unnecessary tests is significant. So you are right there.

The only other option where there could be a confusion is "A. Doctors are generally able to determine, with great reliability, which diagnostic procedures and tests would yield the most effective results"
i.e. the doctors can figure out which tests are 'worth it' and which are not.
It certainly seems like an assumption - if someone tells us that the insurance costs are shooting up so reduce unnecessary tests to reduce the growing costs, we might be tempted to say, 'But you are assuming that it is possible to say which tests are necessary and which are not.' but in CR, it is not a valid assumption.

If our conclusion is of the form: 'A will lead to B', we need to analyze only whether A will lead to B. Whether A is possible or not is out of our scope. The point is 'if A DOES happen, can B happen?'
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Get started with Veritas Prep GMAT On Demand for $199 Veritas Prep Reviews GMAT Club Legend Joined: 01 Oct 2013 Posts: 9320 Followers: 807 Kudos [?]: 165 [0], given: 0 Re: Joseph: Health insurance premiums are growing at an alarming [#permalink] ### Show Tags 06 Feb 2014, 12:20 Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot! Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos). Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email. GMAT Club Legend Joined: 01 Oct 2013 Posts: 9320 Followers: 807 Kudos [?]: 165 [0], given: 0 Re: Joseph: Health insurance premiums are growing at an alarming [#permalink] ### Show Tags 08 Sep 2015, 08:08 Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot! Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos). Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email. Intern Joined: 26 May 2016 Posts: 42 Followers: 0 Kudos [?]: 2 [0], given: 1 The argument is based on which assumption [#permalink] ### Show Tags 18 Jun 2016, 00:39 This question appeared on the IR study section , but i am not completely convinced with their answer Joseph: Health insurance premiums are growing at an alarming rate. This is, in part, because many hospitals and clinics bill for unnecessary diagnostics and tests that inflate the subsequent amount that insurers pay out to them. These expenses are then passed on to consumers in the form of increased insurance premiums. Therefore, reducing the number of unnecessary tests performed by health care providers will be effective in controlling growing health insurance premiums. identify the assumptions upon which argument depends A. Doctors are generally able to determine, with great reliability, which diagnostic procedures and tests would yield the most effective results. B Tests and diagnostic procedures do not make up an insignificant portion of the bills that are sent to insurers. C Insurance companies in other industries, such as auto and home, have been able to reduce costs by reducing the number of unnecessary repairs and replacements on claims for automobiles and homes. D Patients are not just as likely as doctors to choose the most expensive diagnostics and tests. E Health insurance premiums have increased twice as fast in the past five years than they have over an average of the past 25 years. [Reveal] Spoiler: Answer : B .... Joseph argues that growing health insurance premiums can be controlled by reducing the number of unnecessary tests performed by doctors. He says this because many tests that are performed, and then billed to insurance providers, are unnecessary. But note the assumption: While this practice may relate to some excess expenditure, the argument assumes that it’s enough excess spending that, if it were cut, could save the healthcare industry quite a bit. Accordingly, the second assumption, that “tests and diagnostic procedures DO NOT make up an insignificant portion of the bills to insurers,” is required. Without it—if we could then say (via the Assumption Negation Technique) that these tests do represent an insignificant portion of the bill—their presence or absence does not matter. Accordingly, Joseph’s argument requires that fact. _________________ Best Regards, Ashwini Kudos if it was helpful Senior Manager Joined: 26 Nov 2012 Posts: 336 Followers: 0 Kudos [?]: 36 [0], given: 38 Re: The argument is based on which assumption [#permalink] ### Show Tags 18 Jun 2016, 05:24 [quote="ashwini86"]This question appeared on the IR study section , but i am not completely convinced with their answer Joseph: Health insurance premiums are growing at an alarming rate. This is, in part, because many hospitals and clinics bill for unnecessary diagnostics and tests that inflate the subsequent amount that insurers pay out to them. These expenses are then passed on to consumers in the form of increased insurance premiums. Therefore, reducing the number of unnecessary tests performed by health care providers will be effective in controlling growing health insurance premiums. identify the assumptions upon which argument depends A. Doctors are generally able to determine, with great reliability, which diagnostic procedures and tests would yield the most effective results. B Tests and diagnostic procedures do not make up an insignificant portion of the bills that are sent to insurers. C Insurance companies in other industries, such as auto and home, have been able to reduce costs by reducing the number of unnecessary repairs and replacements on claims for automobiles and homes. D Patients are not just as likely as doctors to choose the most expensive diagnostics and tests. E Health insurance premiums have increased twice as fast in the past five years than they have over an average of the past 25 years. Every assumption question will definitely have a conclusion and without that there won't be any argument. Here the conclusion is that Therefore,reducing the number of unnecessary tests performed by health care providers will be effective in controlling growing health insurance premiums. ( We have a conclusion indicator). Reducing the tests will control the premium amount. - simple understanding of the conclusion. We have negation technique which can help us to find out the answer for the assumption based question. A. Negate this... then we get Doctors are NOT able to determine... blah blah........insurers ( negate the main verb always in the sentence). This is not weakening the conclusion in fact strengthening. B. Negate this... then we get Tests and diagnostic procedures DO make up...blah blah....insurers. Here both tests and diagnostic procedure do make up the bills go high. Even when they cut unnecessary tests but necessary tests and diagnostic procedures which are mandatory could be very costly and then they put these costs in the bills .Thus ,insurers will get burden. Thus it weakens the conclusion. and the correct option. C. Out of scope D. Unnecessary. E. Irrelevant. Manager Joined: 09 Feb 2015 Posts: 140 GMAT 1: 200 Q0 V0 GPA: 2.8 Followers: 0 Kudos [?]: 10 [0], given: 112 The argument is based on which assumption [#permalink] ### Show Tags 19 Jun 2016, 03:03 after first round of elimination only A and B remain, If u negate A,it doesn't shatter the conclusion. If Doctors are able to determine which tests yield effective results how does that affect the number of the tests?does it reduce the tests?its not clear from the statement.Hence this is not our assumption. Negate B it totally does. If tests and diagnostic procedures add an insignificant sum ,reducing them wont reduce the bill amount sent to insurers. Senior Manager Status: Always try to face your worst fear because nothing GOOD comes easy. You must be UNCOMFORTABLE to get to your COMFORT ZONE Joined: 15 Aug 2014 Posts: 376 Concentration: Marketing, Technology GMAT 1: 570 Q44 V25 GMAT 2: 600 Q48 V25 WE: Information Technology (Consulting) Followers: 5 Kudos [?]: 5 [0], given: 461 Re: Joseph: Health insurance premiums are growing at an alarming [#permalink] ### Show Tags 29 Jul 2016, 23:44 carcass wrote: Joseph: Health insurance premiums are growing at an alarming rate. This is, in part, because many hospitals bill for unnecessary diagnostics and tests that inflate the subsequent amount that insurers pay out to them. These expenses are then passed on to consumers in the form of increased insurance premiums. Therefore, reducing the number of unnecessary tests performed by health care providers will be effective in controlling growing health insurance premiums. Which of the following is an assumption required by the argument? A. Doctors are generally able to determine, with great reliability, which diagnostic procedures and tests would yield the most effective results B. Tests and diagnostic procedures do not make up an insignificant portion of the bills that are sent to insurers C. Insurance companies in other industries, such as auto and home, have been able to reduce costs by reducing the number of unnecessary repairs and replacements on claims for automobiles and homes D. Patients are not just as likely as doctors to choose the most expensive diagnostics and tests. E. Health insurance premiums have increased twice as fast in the past five years than they have over an average of the past 25 years. Can someone explain why option 'D' is incorrect. if we negate option D - Patients are just as likely as doctors to choose the most expensive diagnostics and tests.- doesn't it weaken the conclusion _________________ "When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you’ll be successful.” - Eric Thomas I need to work on timing badly!! Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Posts: 6844 Location: Pune, India Followers: 1932 Kudos [?]: 12001 [1] , given: 221 Re: Joseph: Health insurance premiums are growing at an alarming [#permalink] ### Show Tags 31 Jul 2016, 22:03 1 This post received KUDOS Expert's post sairam595 wrote: carcass wrote: Joseph: Health insurance premiums are growing at an alarming rate. This is, in part, because many hospitals bill for unnecessary diagnostics and tests that inflate the subsequent amount that insurers pay out to them. These expenses are then passed on to consumers in the form of increased insurance premiums. Therefore, reducing the number of unnecessary tests performed by health care providers will be effective in controlling growing health insurance premiums. Which of the following is an assumption required by the argument? A. Doctors are generally able to determine, with great reliability, which diagnostic procedures and tests would yield the most effective results B. Tests and diagnostic procedures do not make up an insignificant portion of the bills that are sent to insurers C. Insurance companies in other industries, such as auto and home, have been able to reduce costs by reducing the number of unnecessary repairs and replacements on claims for automobiles and homes D. Patients are not just as likely as doctors to choose the most expensive diagnostics and tests. E. Health insurance premiums have increased twice as fast in the past five years than they have over an average of the past 25 years. Can someone explain why option 'D' is incorrect. if we negate option D - Patients are just as likely as doctors to choose the most expensive diagnostics and tests.- doesn't it weaken the conclusion The conclusion talks about “unnecessary tests”. Option (D) talks about “expensive tests”. The two are not related. Unnecessary tests could be cheap or expensive - either way, cutting them off would save cost. _________________ Karishma Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor My Blog Get started with Veritas Prep GMAT On Demand for$199

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Re: Joseph: Health insurance premiums are growing at an alarming [#permalink]

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01 Aug 2016, 01:19
Unnecessatry test => increased premium
assumption that attacks that -> reducing the number of unnecessary tests performed by health care providers will not be effective in controlling growing health insurance premiums.

Which of the following is an assumption required by the argument?

A. Doctors are generally able to determine, with great reliability, which diagnostic procedures and tests would yield the most effective results

Negate
Doctors are not generally able to determine, with great reliability, which diagnostic procedures and tests would yield the most effective results. key is "most effective result" the argument is about necessary or unnecessary and not about "most" or "worst"

B. Tests and diagnostic procedures do not make up an insignificant portion of the bills that are sent to insurers

Tests and diagnostic procedures do make up an insignificant portion of the bills that are sent to insurers => that means reducing the number of unnecessary tests performed by health care providers will not be effective in controlling growing health insurance premiums. As test and DP are just insignificant portion.

C. Insurance companies in other industries, such as auto and home, have been able to reduce costs by reducing the number of unnecessary repairs and replacements on claims for automobiles and homes

Out of scope.

D. Patients are not just as likely as doctors to choose the most expensive diagnostics and tests.

E. Health insurance premiums have increased twice as fast in the past five years than they have over an average of the past 25 years.

Irrelevant
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Re: Joseph: Health insurance premiums are growing at an alarming [#permalink]

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04 Aug 2016, 22:20
fact 1:- premiums are high
fact 2 :- unnecessary test adds up significantly

conclusion :- if the number of unnecessary tests reduces it will effect the cost of the health insurance premiums
assumption 1 :- No other cost get any effect of this decrease
assumption 2 :- percentage cost for tests is such high that it affects the cost.
With this understanding lets see answer choices
B gives the right answer.
Re: Joseph: Health insurance premiums are growing at an alarming   [#permalink] 04 Aug 2016, 22:20
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