Shots

In theory, "direct primary care" should result in better health for patients and lower health care costs overall. But some analysts say that approach just encourages the worried well to get more care than they need. BraunS/Getty Images hide caption

Opana ER, a potent extended-release opioid, was approved by the FDA for pain management in 2006. But the agency says Endo's attempts to reformulate the pills to make them harder to crush, dissolve and inject have not been successful. Rich Pedroncelli/AP hide caption

Legal issues — evictions, domestic violence, or insurance claim denials, for example — all too often can cascade into problems with bad medical outcomes. Sam Edwards/Caiaimage/Getty Images hide caption

A whistleblower lawsuit alleged that two Florida insurance plans inflated fees by making patients appear sicker than they were. Getty Images hide caption

There are many reasons someone could end up having a lapse in health insurance. They might need to move closer to a caregiver or treatment center, for example, and consequently have to quit their job — and lose their insurance. Portra Images/Getty Images hide caption

Hospital-acquired infections are a big risk in health care, especially for older or seriously ill patients. Dana Neely/Getty Images hide caption

Pharmaceutical companies send "detailers" to hospitals to persuade doctors to prescribe their medications. IPGGutenberg UK Ltd/Getty Images/iStockphoto hide caption

Medical errors are a leading cause of death and injuries in U.S. hospitals, according to the Institute of Medicine. VILevi/Getty Images/iStockphoto hide caption

An EpiPen Jr. epinephrine auto-injector. Some EpiPens have been recalled from the U.S. market over concerns that they could fail to activate when people try to use them. Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

UnitedHealth Group is one insurer offering Medicare Advantage plans, which cover about one third of people on Medicare. Jim Mone/AP hide caption