SUMMARY

Health care is at the center of a political debate as millions of Americans struggle with rising costs. Enrollment in the marketplaces created by the ACA dropped this year, mainly due to the expiration of federal credits. Vice President Vance also announced plans to cancel coverage for nearly 760,000 people, citing claims of widespread fraud. Geoff Bennett discussed with Larry Levitt of KFF.

View the transcript of the story.

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? What do you want to learn more about? You can also make a Google doc copy of these general discussion questions.

News alternative: Check our recent segments from the News Hour and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. See the Google doc above for discussion questions.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. What is the purpose of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare?
2. Why did ACA enrollment drop by 3 million people this past year?
3. Who is the main perpetrator of fraudulent activity in the ACA, according to Larry Levitt?
4. Which household expenses are people most worried about, according to Levitt?
5. What two factors contribute to rising premium and coverage costs?

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

1. Medical debt is one of the leading causes of bankruptcy in the world. Larry Levitt claims that medical debt in the United States has reached $200 billion. How do you think this widespread debt might influence political choices in the coming midterm elections?
2. Due to 3 million people dropping out of the ACA, those who are still enrolled had an average premium payment surge of 114%. Which group of people will this hurt the most? Explain why.

Media literacy: Who do you think is missing from this interview and why? How might the voice(s) add to the conversation about healthcare?

WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO

Check out KFF’s healthcare calculators, inputting the same information into both to compare and contrast the results:

1. Health Insurance Marketplace Calculator
2. Calculator: ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credit

Answer the following questions:

1. What was the data you used?
2. Did you see any difference between the two results? Why or why not?

Written by PBS News Hour Classroom's Intern Sophia Sharaa with editing from News Hour Classroom's Luke Gerwe

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