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Licensed to Ill

How do health insurance markets work?

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Licensed to Ill

How do health insurance markets work?

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Licensed to Ill - Student Handout.pdf
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Licensed to Ill - Teacher Guide.pdf
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Health insurance reform is one of the most important issues in the United States. It’s also one of the most contentious. Years after Congress passed the Affordable Care Act, feelings are still heated.

In this lesson, students use percents to calculate the value of insurance to people with different health profiles, analyze the insurance market from the perspectives of both consumer and company, and debate the long-term impacts of a range of policies.

REAL WORLD TAKEAWAYS

  • The expected value of insurance to someone depends on how likely they are to need it and the cost of the services it covers.
  • An insurance company can predict their payouts based on the probability its customers will need services and the cost of those services. They will set prices to cover those costs.

MATH OBJECTIVES

  • Calculate expected value and use it to solve real-world problems
  • Solve real-world problems using percents
Appropriate most times as students are developing conceptual understanding.
Grade 7
Probability & Statistics
Grade 7
Probability & Statistics
Content Standards
Mathematical Practices

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Big Foot Conspiracy

Should people with small feet pay less for shoes?

Grade 7
Ratios & Proportions
Great anytime, including at the beginning of a unit before students have any formal introduction to the topic.

Common Cents

Should the U.S. get rid of the penny?

Grade 7
Rational Numbers
Appropriate most times as students are developing conceptual understanding.

To Have and to Hold

Is it a good idea to rent a storage unit?

Grade 7
Equations & Expressions
Appropriate most times as students are developing conceptual understanding.

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How do vehicles turn so smoothly?

Grade 7
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Appropriate most times as students are developing conceptual understanding.

Grading Scales of Justice

How should students be graded?

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Appropriate most times as students are developing conceptual understanding.