Which of the following is one of the four overarching goals of Healthy People 2020?

• A. Attain high-quality, longer lives free of preventable disease, disability, injury, and premature death
• B. Reduce healthcare costs by limiting services
• C. Increase hospital admissions
• D. Achieve financial stability for all families

Answer: (A)

Healthy People 2020 guides national efforts by aiming to improve population health through broad, achievable outcomes. One of its overarching goals is to Attain high-quality, longer lives free of preventable disease, disability, injury, and premature death. This focus emphasizes prevention, early detection, safety, and effective management of health conditions so people can live longer with better health.

That’s why this option stands out: it targets both extending life and reducing preventable illness and disability, which is the essence of promoting a healthier population. The other choices don’t align with the plan’s aims. Reducing healthcare costs by limiting services would undermine access and preventive care. Increasing hospital admissions suggests worse health or insufficient preventive care, not a national health goal. Financial stability for all families, while important to health in a broader sense, isn’t one of the four overarching health objectives outlined by Healthy People 2020.