Final answer:
High-risk patients include drug addicts, phlebotomists, and dentists due to higher chances of infections and needle sticks.
Step-by-step explanation:
Patients considered "high risk" typically include those with certain medical conditions, occupational hazards, or lifestyle factors that increase their susceptibility to complications or adverse effects. For example, drug addicts are often considered high-risk patients due to their increased likelihood of infections and related health issues. Healthcare workers, such as phlebotomists and dentists, may also be categorized as high risk because of their increased risk of needle sticks and exposure to blood-borne pathogens.
When it comes to insurance, high-risk individuals, such as those who have recently experienced major accidents, may be offered policies with higher copays or premiums based on the company's assessment of their risk level. Insurance companies tend to use historical data to predict future events, which can lead to classifying individuals as high-risk based on past incidents. However, this categorization can be controversial as it may not necessarily reflect an individual's future behavior or chance events.
The identification of high-risk patients is a complex matter that involves weighing multiple factors, and can result in higher healthcare and insurance costs for the individuals concerned.