What is the primary purpose of health insurance?

The primary purpose of health insurance is to provide money for health care expenses. When individuals purchase health insurance, they are essentially sharing the risk of high medical costs with an insurer. This financial protection helps cover various health-related expenses, including doctor's visits, hospital stays, surgeries, and medications. By doing so, health insurance alleviates the burden of potentially overwhelming costs that can arise from unexpected health issues, making necessary medical services accessible to individuals and families.

The other options do not capture the main focus of health insurance. While health insurance may sometimes contribute to the funding of long-term care, its core function is broader and encompasses a wide range of health care expenses, not just nursing care. Additionally, health insurance is not designed to provide unemployment benefits; that falls under a different category of social welfare. Finally, while many health insurance plans emphasize preventive care, the goal of health coverage extends well beyond just ensuring payment for preventive services, encompassing all aspects of health care spending.