Choosing Insurance During Open Enrolment
Intermediate English listening exercise ยท Health Insurance
Transcript
[Wife] Open enrolment ends Friday. We need to decide on our health insurance plan for next year. [Husband] I know. Let me pull up the options. We have three choices: the basic plan, the standard plan, and the premium plan. [Wife] What's the monthly cost difference? [Husband] The basic is three hundred a month for our family, the standard is four fifty, and the premium is six hundred. [Wife] That's a big range. What do we actually get for the extra money? [Husband] The basic has a five-thousand-dollar deductible per person, but the premiums are the lowest. The standard has a two-thousand-dollar deductible, and the premium plan has only a five-hundred-dollar deductible. [Wife] What about prescriptions? My medication costs are going up. [Husband] Good point. The basic plan covers generics only. The standard covers generics and preferred brand names. The premium covers all tiers including specialty medications. [Wife] I think we need at least the standard. My thyroid medication is a brand name. [Husband] Let me calculate... With the standard, we'd pay fifty-four hundred in premiums plus up to four thousand in deductibles. With the premium, we'd pay seventy-two hundred in premiums but only one thousand in deductibles. [Wife] So the maximum total cost is almost the same? [Husband] Exactly. The premium plan costs about a thousand more in premiums but saves us three thousand in potential deductible costs. Given your medication needs and the kids' orthodontist visits, the premium plan is actually the better value. [Wife] Let's go with the premium plan then. Can you also check if it includes dental and vision? [Husband] Dental is bundled in. Vision is an additional thirty dollars per month.
Comprehension questions
- Why do they choose the premium plan?
- According to the husband, what does the premium plan include at no extra cost?
- What is the monthly cost of the basic plan?
- Which medications does the basic plan cover?
- What is the deductible for the premium plan?