The following paragraph contains an incomplete statement. Select the answer choice containing the term that correctly completes the statement. Health plans face four contingency risks (C-risks):
asset risk (C-1), pricing risk (C-2), interest-rate risk (C-3), and general management risk (C-4). Of these risks, ________________ is typically the most important risk that health plans face. This is true because a sizable portion of the total expenses and liabilities faced by a health plan come from contractual obligations to pay for future medical costs, and the exact amount of these costs is not known when the healthcare coverage is priced.