Health Insurance Problems for US Workers
美國勞工醫療保險問題
Introduction
Many people in the US get health insurance from their jobs. Now, this insurance is too expensive. Small companies have big problems.
許多美國人透過工作獲取醫療保險。現在，這些保險價格過高，小型公司面臨巨大的問題。
Main Body
In the past, many workers had insurance. In 1998, 67% of adults had it. Now, only 60% have it. Small companies with 200 workers or less have the most problems.
過去許多勞工擁有保險。1998年時，有67%的成年人擁有保險。現在僅剩60%。員工人數在200人或以下的小型公司問題最為嚴重。
Insurance costs are very high. In 1987, the cost was $132.5 billion. In 2024, it is $1.4 trillion. Small businesses pay more money than big companies.
保險成本非常高昂。1987年時，成本為1,325億美元。到了2024年，則達到1.4兆美元。小型企業支付的金額比大公司更多。
Now, more people buy insurance from the government market. This happened because medicine and hospitals cost too much money. Small companies cannot pay these prices.
現在更多人從政府市場購買保險。這是因為藥品和醫院的費用過高，小型公司無法承受這些價格。
Conclusion
The old system is failing. Insurance costs too much money for small businesses to pay.
舊系統正在失效。保險成本過高，小型企業無法負擔。
Vocabulary Learning
⚡ Comparing Then and Now
To move to A2, you need to talk about how things change. Look at these two patterns from the text:
1. The Past (Was/Had)
- In the past, many workers had insurance.
- The cost was $132.5 billion.
2. The Present (Is/Have)
- Now, only 60% have it.
- In 2024, it is $1.4 trillion.
💡 Simple Rule: Use WAS/HAD for old dates (1987, 1998) Use IS/HAVE for today (2024, Now).
Vocabulary Note:
- Expensive = costs a lot of money Cheap = costs a little money.