Problema Solution

Bayside insurance offers two health plans. Under plan A, Giselle would have to pay the first $100 of her medical bills, plus 35% of the rest. Under plan B, Giselle would pay the first $180, but only 30% of the rest. For what amount of medical bills will plan B save Giselle money?

Answer provided by our tutors

Let's set the equation to see where they're about even:

100 + .25x = 150 + .20 x

Subtract 100 from both sides

.25 x = .20x + 50

Subtract .20x from both sides

.05x = 50

Divide by 0.05

x = 1000

so at the $1000 level, 

Giselle pays 100 + 25% (900) = 325 under plan A. 

Under plan B she would pay 150 + 20% (850) = 170 = 320

Anything over $1000 is going to save her money, because she'll only be paying 20% (not 25%) of each successive dollar.