American English · B2 · Unit 11
Health and care
Health care
By the end you can
- Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of a health system
- Describe a medical experience in detail
- Understand an article about health
Words and phrases
| American English | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| health insurance | insurance that pays for medical care | My health insurance comes through my job. |
| treatment options | the different ways to treat an illness | What are my treatment options? |
| is it covered | does the insurance pay for it | Is it covered by my insurance? |
| a copay | a fixed amount you pay for each doctor's visit | Every visit has a copay of $30. |
| the deductible | what you pay each year before your insurance pays | It's March, and I haven't met the deductible yet. |
| side effects | unwanted effects of a medicine | Are there any side effects? |
| a specialist | a doctor for one area of medicine | My doctor sent me to a specialist. |
| in-network | working with your insurance company (so it costs you less) | Is this specialist in-network? |
| out of pocket | paid by you, not by insurance | It cost me $400 out of pocket. |
| get a second opinion | ask another doctor what they think | You should get a second opinion. |
| the ER | the emergency room in a hospital | We spent six hours in the ER. |
| a checkup | a regular visit to the doctor to check your health | I go for a checkup once a year. |
Then talk it through
Talking through treatment options with a doctor, and what your insurance will cover. In the app you have this conversation out loud or typed, with the unit's goals to tick off and corrections at the end.