NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
SUMMARY
We’re weeks away from 20 million Americans seeing a massive spike in their healthcare premiums. That’s if no deal can be struck to extend subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. We heard from some of those being affected.
View the transcript of the story.
News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
Key terms
Affordable Care Act (ACA) = legislation passed in 2010 that transformed health insurance regulation in the U.S., including creating plans for individuals to purchase health insurance outside plans from their jobs. Subsidies for these individual insurance plans were offered through legislation passed during the COVID epidemic.
WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- When are insurance premiums set to spike for millions?
- Why are subsidies (financial support from the government) expiring now?
- How many people will drop insurance coverage after subsidies end, according to estimates?
- Who are some of the people interviewed in this segment, and how will they be impacted?
- What are some of the monthly payment increases expected for the individuals interviewed in this segment?
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
- Why do you think health insurance is so expensive for so many in the United States?
- What do you think the federal government (or state and local governments) could do to make insurance and healthcare more affordable?
Media literacy: How do you think the producers of this segment chose the individuals that were interviewed about their experiences?
WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO
One of the reasons that Republicans and Democrats couldn't agree on extending subsidies is that Republicans hoped to launch their own plan to replace some elements of the Affordable Care Act. But what would a Republican plan include? Read the article "Trump and Republicans again face a tough political battle over Obama’s health care law" and then discuss the following —
- What changes do Republicans seek to make to the healthcare and health insurance systems?
- Why do you think they haven't voted on these plans already?
- What change would you make to the way health care is funded in the United States?
U.S. President Donald Trump gestures at the McDonald's Impact Summit at the Westin Hotel in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 17, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
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