The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news.
Health care â and how much it costs â is scary. But youâre not alone with this stuff, and knowledge is power.Â
An Arm and a Leg, a podcast about these issues, is co-produced by host Dan Weissmann and 51ÊÓÆ” Health News. Previously, Weissmann was a staff reporter for Marketplace and Chicago’s WBEZ. His work also appears on “All Things Considered,” Marketplace, the BBC, 99% Invisible, and “Reveal” from the Center for Investigative Reporting.
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Why do hospitals sue patients who canât afford to pay their medical bills? On this episode of âAn Arm and a Leg,â host Dan Weissmann investigates such lawsuits and covers new laws and regulations that may change this practice.
Some hospitals sue patients over unpaid medical bills. But is this even an effective way for hospitals to recoup lost revenue? On this episode of âAn Arm and a Leg,â host Dan Weissmann speaks with medical-debt experts to explore a different solution.
On this episode of âAn Arm and a Leg,â hear how a couple wrote and directed a short film, starring one of them â just to maintain health insurance through the actors union.
What happens when you canât afford the health care you need? On this episode of âAn Arm and a Leg,â hear from emergency medicine physician and historian Luke Messac about the history of medical debt collection in the United States.
The high price of lifesaving tuberculosis drugs makes them inaccessible to many who need them most. On this episode of âAn Arm and a Leg,â hear how a decades-long global fight to reform drug patents is helping to lower the cost.
Pharmaceutical patents can drive up the costs of lifesaving medications. Hear what author and YouTube star John Green is doing to make tuberculosis drugs more accessible to the people who need them most.
The No Surprises Act has helped rein in out-of-network medical bills, but ground ambulances are a costly exception. Hear why this service can still hit patients with big bills and what to do if you get one.
Pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, are companies that negotiate the prices of prescription drugs. Hear about their role in raising drug prices and the ongoing efforts to regulate this complex industry.
What do you do when a medical provider asks you to provide a credit card upfront? In this episode, we hear advice about your options in this situation.
UnitedHealth Group is the largest health insurer in the United States. And it keeps growing. This has led some health care experts to call for antitrust regulation of this âbehemothâ company.
What should you do when your search for an in-network mental health care provider comes up empty? Abigail Burman has some expertise to share.
Lisa French was told her surgery would cost $1,337. But the hospital sent her a bill for $229,000, then sued her. The case went all the way to the Colorado Supreme Court. The courtâs ruling could have major implications for determining a âreasonable priceâ in health care.
Could a charity hospital founded by a crusading Dutch playwright, a group of Quakers, and a judge working undercover become a model for the U.S. health care system? In this episode of the podcast âAn Arm and a Leg,â host Dan Weissmann speaks with Dr. Ricardo Nuila to find out.
One listener tried to dispute a $1,300 âfacility feeâ with the treating hospital, his insurer, a bill-mediation service provided by his employer, and finally a debt collector. He didnât win, but he learned valuable lessons about advocating for hospital discounts.
A listener sued a hospital in small-claims court and lost but felt as if sheâd won. Now, she wants to encourage more people to take their bills to court.
Can a medical provider youâve never heard of send you an outrageous bill? Sure. Can you fight back and win? Yes, sometimes you can. Hereâs how to do it.
The editorial team of âAn Arm and a Legâ looks back on the reporting that hit close to home over the past year, including insulin pricing and prenatal testing.
A car crash left a woman in need of oral surgery, but her health insurance wouldnât cover it. Her ongoing fight shows podcast host Dan Weissmann the weird way insurance treats teeth and reveals a big problem in the Obamacare marketplace.
A video producerâs quest for health coverage led him to create a video about insurance terminology. That video now has over a million views. Hereâs how he did it.
Privacy concerns and coverage limits have long made insurance an unreliable option for abortion access. For decades, abortion funds have been stepping in to help people pay for what they see as essential health care.
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