Understand the importance of having health insurance
Identify the various costs affiliated with having health insurance
Explain how health insurance works and the different types of plans available to you
Understand how government healthcare programs like Medicaid and CHIP work and who qualifies for them
Explore steps you can take to lower your medical costs
What percent of children under the age of 18 visit an emergency room annually? (Do some quick research online to find an answer.)
What are some likely reasons that you or another teenager could end up needing to visit the emergency room?
Even if you’re young and healthy, it’s a good idea to have health insurance. Read the first part of this article to learn why it’s so important to have health insurance - stop once you reach Health Insurance and the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Then, skim through the infographic to learn more about how costs differ when you are covered and not covered. Finally, answer the questions.
In your own words, explain why it’s so important to have health insurance even if you’re young and healthy.
Skim through the infographic to see how costs compare for people with insurance and without insurance. Which of the cost differences surprised you most and why?
Now that you know why it’s crucial to have health insurance, let’s take a look at how the world of healthcare works. Watch this video and follow your teacher's directions to answer the questions either in your student activity packet or within the EdPuzzle itself.
Define in your own words "out of pocket maximum".
There are a few different ways you can get health insurance. Read through this excerpt from an article to find out what your options are. Then, answer the question.
Pick one of the ways to get health insurance from question 13 and research online to find out how many people in the U.S. are insured by that method.
These types of plans may be a good fit for you, but they come with a cost. Read this article to learn more, and then answer the questions.
Who are catastrophic health insurance plans designed for?
Fast forward about 10 years into the future. Do you think you would sign up for a catastrophic health insurance plan? Why or why not?
If you choose to have a high-deductible plan, you may qualify for a Health Savings Account (HSA). For some employer sponsored insurance plans, you can have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA). Watch this video to learn more about these two types of accounts. Then, answer the questions.
Why might someone want to open up an HSA or FSA?
No matter which type of plan you choose, you’ll have to pay a monthly premium as a member. Read this article to learn more about what factors can impact the cost of your premium.
Then, skim through the data charts in this resource to learn more about the average costs of monthly premiums.
Finally, answer the questions.
Do the Federal government’s rules for setting premiums seem fair to you? Why or why not?
You may be thinking at this point that health insurance is expensive - and it is! There’s good news though! Millions of Americans qualify for Medicaid, which can help lower your costs. Watch this short video through 1:53 to learn more about Medicaid.
Then, skim through the article to learn more about another government program called CHIP. Finally, answer the questions.
What factor(s) is/are used to determine if you qualify for Medicaid and CHIP?
What is the process to enroll for Medicaid and CHIP?
Even if you don’t qualify for Medicaid, there are steps you can still take to lower your medical costs. Skim through this article that provides a breakdown of things you can do. Then, answer the questions.
Which of the following people likely pays the LEAST for health care?
Visits to the ER tend to be extremely high cost due to the nature of the ailment being treated. Knowing that there is almost a 1 in 5 chance of an ER visit, how important do you think health insurance is for families with children?
If a patient reports to the ER and doesn’t have health insurance, what would happen to them?
Should everyone in the U.S. have health insurance? What about those people who can not afford it? What do they do when they can not afford health care?
What are the three primary sources of health insurance? (three correct answers)
What is the difference between a copay and coinsurance?
In which of the following plans will your insurance NOT pay if you go out-of-network?
Who should you contact if you have questions about your health insurance coverage? (two correct answers)
Billy is 17 and was diagnosed with asthma at the age of 5. Can a health insurance company charge him a higher premium? Why or why not?
What general trends do you notice about the average cost of health insurance premiums for individual and family coverage?
Are you surprised by the cost of monthly premiums? Explain.
Take a look at the last graph that breaks down premiums by age group. Why do you think the cost of health care increases substantially after the age of 54?
What is the benefit of using a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Savings Account (FSA)?
If you purchase a plan from the Marketplace, all of these factors affect the cost of your monthly health insurance premium EXCEPT...