First in a series which offers educational resources and teaching techniques related to major social issues to high school social studies classroom teachers, the guide focuses on political and economic aspects of health care in the United States. The document is presented in four major chapters. Chapter I explores how economic and political science frameworks can be used to analyze policy issues. Chapter II presents an overview of health care in the United States. Topics discussed include costs, availability of services, advantages of private and public health care, policy choices, and health care insurance rates. Chapter III outlines objectives for the health care unit, including that students should be able to interpret health care cost data, assess alternative policies, and understand values involved in the controversy over a national health care policy. Chapter IV presents instructional activities which involve students in defining terms, comparing data, discussing issues in groups and in class, analyzing insurance rates, analyzing filmstrips, role playing, and answering questions based on reading assignments. For each activity, information is presented on grade level, sequence within the unit, time and material required, rationale, concepts, instructional objectives, teaching strategies, and pupil activities. (DB)