During a joint session of Congress held at the United States Capitol, President Barack Obama outlines parts of his health insurance reform plan.

Discussion Questions

1. Summarize the main features of President Obama’s plan:
   (a) for Americans who have health insurance
   (b) for Americans who do not have health insurance
2. How will health insurance companies factor into President Obama’s plan?
3. President Obama states the implementation of the insurance exchange for Americans without health insurance will take effect in four years. The President also proposed an immediate solution for uninsured Americans, which he credited to his opponent in the 2008 Presidential Campaign Sen.John McCain (R-AZ). Describe that proposal.
4. Why did President Obama give this address?
5. Click here to view the Republican Party’s response, delivered by Rep. Charles Boustany’s (R-LA), to President Obama’s speech. List some of the main points of Rep. Boustany's response.
6. For more information on the health care debate, including: town halls, citizen videos, and TV ads, visit
   C-SPAN's Health Care Hub.