Dan Weissmann, Author at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News produces in-depth journalism on health issues and is a core operating program of KFF. Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:28:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5 /wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/kffhealthnews-icon.png?w=32 Dan Weissmann, Author at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News 32 32 161476233 ‘An Arm and a Leg’: The Year in Review, From Prenatal Testing to Insulin Pricing /health-care-costs/an-arm-and-a-leg-the-year-in-review-from-prenatal-testing-to-insulin-pricing/ Thu, 29 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Can’t see the audio player? 


In this year’s final episode, the editorial team behind the “An Arm and a Leg” podcast looks back on the stories from 2022 that hit close to home, including insulin pricing, surprise billing, and prenatal testing. Then, host Dan Weissmann shares updates on two court cases.


“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KHN and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” . You can also follow the show on  and . And if you’ve got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers .

To hear all KHN podcasts, .

And subscribe to “An Arm and a Leg” on , , , , or wherever you listen to podcasts.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about .

This <a target="_blank" href="/health-care-costs/an-arm-and-a-leg-the-year-in-review-from-prenatal-testing-to-insulin-pricing/">article</a&gt; first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="">KFF Health News</a> and is republished here under a <a target="_blank" href=" Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/kffhealthnews-icon.png?w=150&quot; style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

<img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="/?republication-pixel=true&post=1597012&amp;ga4=G-J74WWTKFM0&quot; style="width:1px;height:1px;">]]>
1597012
‘An Arm and a Leg’: Getting Insurance to Pay for Oral Surgery Is Like Pulling Teeth /courts/an-arm-and-a-leg-getting-insurance-to-pay-for-oral-surgery-is-like-pulling-teeth/ Thu, 22 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000 https://khn.org/?p=1598291&post_type=article&preview_id=1598291

Can’t see the audio player? 


Health coverage generally does not cover dental work. But Susan Rice of Atlanta should have been the exception: She was hit by a speeding car, causing extensive damage to her own “grill.” She’s been fighting to get her oral surgery covered for 18 months and counting.

The “An Arm and a Leg” podcast connected Rice with University of South Carolina law professor Jacqueline Fox, who, when she was practicing law, fought insurers on behalf of patients. Fox said Rice has “done everything right.” Her insurer’s refusal to pay may be tied to a bigger problem in the Affordable Care Act marketplace … one that’s led to a class-action lawsuit. 


“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KHN and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” . You can also follow the show on  and . And if you’ve got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers .

To hear all KHN podcasts, click here.

And subscribe to “An Arm and a Leg” on , , , , or wherever you listen to podcasts.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about .

This <a target="_blank" href="/courts/an-arm-and-a-leg-getting-insurance-to-pay-for-oral-surgery-is-like-pulling-teeth/">article</a&gt; first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="">KFF Health News</a> and is republished here under a <a target="_blank" href=" Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/kffhealthnews-icon.png?w=150&quot; style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

<img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="/?republication-pixel=true&post=1598291&amp;ga4=G-J74WWTKFM0&quot; style="width:1px;height:1px;">]]>
1598291
‘An Arm and a Leg’: He Made a Video About Health Insurance Terminology That Went Viral /health-care-costs/an-arm-and-a-leg-he-made-a-video-about-health-insurance-terminology-that-went-viral/ Fri, 09 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000 https://khn.org/?p=1591656&post_type=article&preview_id=1591656

Can’t see the audio player? 


A 30-minute video about health insurance terminology has racked up more than a million views. 

Host Dan Weissmann spoke with Brian David Gilbert, the person behind the video. 

Gilbert is best known for his videos for Polygon, a media company focused on video games. But when he left that job to strike out on his own, he needed new health insurance. In this episode of the “An Arm and a Leg” podcast, Gilbert explains how his quest to find coverage inspired him to tackle one of his most difficult subjects yet: U.S. health insurance.

Watch Gilbert’s video here:


“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KHN and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” . You can also follow the show on  and . And if you’ve got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers .

To hear all KHN podcasts, click here.

And subscribe to “An Arm and a Leg” on , , , , or wherever you listen to podcasts.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about .

This <a target="_blank" href="/health-care-costs/an-arm-and-a-leg-he-made-a-video-about-health-insurance-terminology-that-went-viral/">article</a&gt; first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="">KFF Health News</a> and is republished here under a <a target="_blank" href=" Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/kffhealthnews-icon.png?w=150&quot; style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

<img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="/?republication-pixel=true&post=1591656&amp;ga4=G-J74WWTKFM0&quot; style="width:1px;height:1px;">]]>
1591656
‘An Arm and a Leg’: When Insurance Won’t Pay, Abortion Assistance Funds Step In /health-care-costs/podcast-an-arm-and-a-leg-abortion-assistance-funds-step-in/ Wed, 23 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Can’t see the audio player? 


As Americans choose their insurance plans for next year, some might wonder: How does the recent rise in state abortion restrictions affect insurance plans?

There’s no single answer, but for a lot of people, insurance has rarely helped pay for abortions. Most pay cash, and many can’t afford it.

That’s where abortion funds come in. These organizations have been providing financial and logistical assistance to people seeking abortion care for decades.

The “An Arm and a Leg” podcast spoke with Oriaku Njoku, executive director of the , and Tyler Barbarin, a board member with the , to understand the history behind these services and how they’re operating in a post-Roe v. Wade environment.


“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KHN and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” . You can also follow the show on  and . And if you’ve got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers .

To hear all KHN podcasts, .

And subscribe to “An Arm and a Leg” on , , , , or wherever you listen to podcasts.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about .

This <a target="_blank" href="/health-care-costs/podcast-an-arm-and-a-leg-abortion-assistance-funds-step-in/">article</a&gt; first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="">KFF Health News</a> and is republished here under a <a target="_blank" href=" Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/kffhealthnews-icon.png?w=150&quot; style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

<img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="/?republication-pixel=true&post=1586379&amp;ga4=G-J74WWTKFM0&quot; style="width:1px;height:1px;">]]>
1586379
‘An Arm and a Leg’: No Money, No Job, No Health Care? Not Always. /health-care-costs/podcast-an-arm-and-a-leg-open-enrollment-2023-questions-guide/ Fri, 11 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000 https://khn.org/?p=1581253&post_type=article&preview_id=1581253

Can’t see the audio player? 


If you don’t have money and you don’t have a job, what are your best options for getting health care? 

It’s 2023 open enrollment season, and a lot of Americans are shopping for health insurance plans. And some are weighing the risks of skipping health insurance altogether.

One listener wrote to “An Arm and a Leg” about his son, a student with no income who has aged out of the family’s health insurance. He asked: If his son buys a plan, would he be signing away the possibility of getting charity care (financial assistance) at his local hospital? 

To answer this question, podcast host Dan Weissmann relied on expert help from Karen Pollitz, a senior fellow at KFF, and Jared Walker, founder of and an expert on charity care.

If you want to go deeper:

  • “An Arm and a Leg” did a three-part series on picking health insurance in its First Aid Kit newsletter. . 
  • An episode from last year explored other .
  • In a, Weissmann talked with another listener — a “financial therapist” — who had her own deep questions about health insurance. 

“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KHN and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” . You can also follow the show on  and . And if you’ve got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers .

To hear all KHN podcasts, click here.

And subscribe to “An Arm and a Leg” on , , , , or wherever you listen to podcasts.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about .

This <a target="_blank" href="/health-care-costs/podcast-an-arm-and-a-leg-open-enrollment-2023-questions-guide/">article</a&gt; first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="">KFF Health News</a> and is republished here under a <a target="_blank" href=" Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/kffhealthnews-icon.png?w=150&quot; style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

<img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="/?republication-pixel=true&post=1581253&amp;ga4=G-J74WWTKFM0&quot; style="width:1px;height:1px;">]]>
1581253
‘An Arm and a Leg’: Checking Up on California’s DIY Insulin Project /health-care-costs/an-arm-and-a-leg-checking-up-on-californias-diy-insulin-project/ Thu, 13 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0000 https://khn.org/?p=1568138&post_type=article&preview_id=1568138

Can’t see the audio player? 


This year, the state of California put up $100 million to begin manufacturing its own insulin and sell it cheaply. How’s it going to work? (Is it going to work?)

The price of insulin could be the starkest example of an out-of-control health care system: More than 7 million Americans need it daily to survive, and some die because they can’t afford it. But it’s a medicine that’s been around for 100 years, a medicine its discoverers didn’t want to patent.

This episode of the “An Arm and a Leg” podcast looks at how California’s plan came to be, and what might stand in the state’s way.


“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KHN and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” . You can also follow the show on  and . And if you’ve got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers .

To hear all KHN podcasts, click here.

And subscribe to “An Arm and a Leg” on , , , , or wherever you listen to podcasts.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about .

This <a target="_blank" href="/health-care-costs/an-arm-and-a-leg-checking-up-on-californias-diy-insulin-project/">article</a&gt; first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="">KFF Health News</a> and is republished here under a <a target="_blank" href=" Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/kffhealthnews-icon.png?w=150&quot; style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

<img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="/?republication-pixel=true&post=1568138&amp;ga4=G-J74WWTKFM0&quot; style="width:1px;height:1px;">]]>
1568138
‘An Arm and a Leg’: The New Cap on Medicare Drug Costs /aging/an-arm-and-a-leg-the-new-cap-on-medicare-drug-costs/ Mon, 12 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0000 https://khn.org/?p=1555107&post_type=article&preview_id=1555107

Can’t see the audio player? 


On a Sunday afternoon in August, health services researcher Stacie Dusetzina was sitting alone in her office at Vanderbilt University, .

The U.S. Senate was voting on the Inflation Reduction Act, which among other things is designed to ensure that people on Medicare pay less for expensive drugs.

It’s a big deal. Lots of seniors pay $10,000 a year or more for drugs or do without lifesaving treatment; once the new law kicks in, it sets an out-of-pocket limit of $2,000 a year. 

Dusetzina and her colleagues have spent years making the case for this change, documenting the ways current policies leave people in the lurch. 

The pharmaceutical industry fought this change tooth and nail — for decades. Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent for KHN, takes listeners on a journey back to the late 1980s, when Congress learned the cost of messing with Big Pharma. 


“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KHN and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” . You can also follow the show on  and . And if you’ve got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers .

To hear all KHN podcasts, click here.

And subscribe to “An Arm and a Leg” on , , , , or wherever you listen to podcasts.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about .

This <a target="_blank" href="/aging/an-arm-and-a-leg-the-new-cap-on-medicare-drug-costs/">article</a&gt; first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="">KFF Health News</a> and is republished here under a <a target="_blank" href=" Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/kffhealthnews-icon.png?w=150&quot; style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

<img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="/?republication-pixel=true&post=1555107&amp;ga4=G-J74WWTKFM0&quot; style="width:1px;height:1px;">]]>
1555107
‘An Arm and a Leg’: How to Negotiate for Lower Medical Bills /health-care-costs/an-arm-and-a-leg-how-to-negotiate-for-lower-medical-bills/ Wed, 24 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000 https://khn.org/?p=1550522&post_type=article&preview_id=1550522

Can’t see the audio player? 


Negotiating medical bills is often possible. It sounds hard — and it can be — but what if we got it down to a science? Mapped out all the moves ahead of time? Jared Walker and his team at the nonprofit  are running a big experiment to see whether they can do just that.  

The folks at Dollar For went superviral on TikTok in early 2021 with  by accessing charity care, financial assistance that most U.S. hospitals are legally required to offer.

Next, a group of whip-smart  to help people apply for that assistance. Dollar For also started holding lessons on Zoom, teaching people . The group says its work has helped erase more than $18 million in medical debt. 

But lots of people who can’t afford their medical bills don’t qualify for charity care. So Dollar For is trying something new: what they’re calling a “negotiation lab” for gaming out the best way to negotiate with hospitals and debt collectors. 

In this episode, we listen in on one of Dollar For’s real-life negotiations with a debt collector. 


“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KHN and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” . You can also follow the show on  and . And if you’ve got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers .

To hear all KHN podcasts, click here.

And subscribe to “An Arm and a Leg” on , , , , or wherever you listen to podcasts.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about .

This <a target="_blank" href="/health-care-costs/an-arm-and-a-leg-how-to-negotiate-for-lower-medical-bills/">article</a&gt; first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="">KFF Health News</a> and is republished here under a <a target="_blank" href=" Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/kffhealthnews-icon.png?w=150&quot; style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

<img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="/?republication-pixel=true&post=1550522&amp;ga4=G-J74WWTKFM0&quot; style="width:1px;height:1px;">]]>
1550522
‘An Arm and a Leg’: Her Bill for a Prenatal Test Felt Like a ‘Bait-and-Switch’ Scheme /health-care-costs/an-arm-and-a-leg-her-bill-for-a-prenatal-test-felt-like-a-bait-and-switch-scheme/ Wed, 03 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000 https://khn.org/?p=1538421&post_type=article&preview_id=1538421

Can’t see the audio player? 


Can a health care company make enough people mad about its billing practices that its business is hurt? For one genetic testing company, maybe. 

An “Arm and a Leg” listener got a test that has become routine in early pregnancy: noninvasive prenatal testing. It was supposed to be $99. But then — after she took the test — that turned into $250. And when she asked questions, she was told it could go up to $800 if she didn’t pay up quickly. The patient looked up the testing company and found that lots of people had experienced what she called “the genetic testing bait-and-switch.”

And importantly — she’s not the only one who noticed. When some guys on Wall Street, plus , started hearing about those bills, the company found itself in hot water. 


“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KHN and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” . You can also follow the show on  and . And if you have stories to tell about the health care system, the producers .

To hear all KHN podcasts, click here.

And subscribe to “An Arm and a Leg” on , , , , or wherever you listen to podcasts.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about .

This <a target="_blank" href="/health-care-costs/an-arm-and-a-leg-her-bill-for-a-prenatal-test-felt-like-a-bait-and-switch-scheme/">article</a&gt; first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="">KFF Health News</a> and is republished here under a <a target="_blank" href=" Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/kffhealthnews-icon.png?w=150&quot; style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

<img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="/?republication-pixel=true&post=1538421&amp;ga4=G-J74WWTKFM0&quot; style="width:1px;height:1px;">]]>
1538421
‘An Arm and a Leg’: One ER Doctor Grapples With the Inequities of American Health Care /health-care-costs/podcast-an-arm-and-a-leg-emergency-room-doctor-health-care-inequity/ Tue, 12 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0000 https://khn.org/?p=1528834&post_type=article&preview_id=1528834

Can’t see the audio player? 


Dr. Thomas Fisher, an emergency room physician at a hospital on Chicago’s South Side, has written “,” an up-close chronicle of the covid-19 pandemic’s first year. It also tells the story of his journey as a doctor: how his upbringing on the South Side fueled his career choice, and how the realities and inequities of American health care limited his ability to help his community. 

Fisher details how the failures of the American health care system — and the racial inequities it perpetuates — leave health care workers with a profound sense of moral injury. 

“Over time, when you have this conflict between what you can do and what you’re supposed to do — what you wish you could do, what you’re trained to do — that creates a moral conundrum,” Fisher tells host Dan Weissmann in this episode of “An Arm and a Leg.”  “It also leads a lot of people to leave the profession.”


“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KHN and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” . You can also follow the show on  and . And if you’ve got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers .

To hear all KHN podcasts, click here.

And subscribe to “An Arm and a Leg” on , , , , or wherever you listen to podcasts.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about .

This <a target="_blank" href="/health-care-costs/podcast-an-arm-and-a-leg-emergency-room-doctor-health-care-inequity/">article</a&gt; first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="">KFF Health News</a> and is republished here under a <a target="_blank" href=" Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/kffhealthnews-icon.png?w=150&quot; style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

<img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="/?republication-pixel=true&post=1528834&amp;ga4=G-J74WWTKFM0&quot; style="width:1px;height:1px;">]]>
1528834
Dan Weissmann, Author at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News produces in-depth journalism on health issues and is a core operating program of KFF. Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:28:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5 /wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/kffhealthnews-icon.png?w=32 Dan Weissmann, Author at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News 32 32 161476233 ‘An Arm and a Leg’: The Year in Review, From Prenatal Testing to Insulin Pricing /health-care-costs/an-arm-and-a-leg-the-year-in-review-from-prenatal-testing-to-insulin-pricing/ Thu, 29 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Can’t see the audio player? 


In this year’s final episode, the editorial team behind the “An Arm and a Leg” podcast looks back on the stories from 2022 that hit close to home, including insulin pricing, surprise billing, and prenatal testing. Then, host Dan Weissmann shares updates on two court cases.


“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KHN and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” . You can also follow the show on  and . And if you’ve got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers .

To hear all KHN podcasts, .

And subscribe to “An Arm and a Leg” on , , , , or wherever you listen to podcasts.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about .

This <a target="_blank" href="/health-care-costs/an-arm-and-a-leg-the-year-in-review-from-prenatal-testing-to-insulin-pricing/">article</a&gt; first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="">KFF Health News</a> and is republished here under a <a target="_blank" href=" Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/kffhealthnews-icon.png?w=150&quot; style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

<img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="/?republication-pixel=true&post=1597012&amp;ga4=G-J74WWTKFM0&quot; style="width:1px;height:1px;">]]>
1597012
‘An Arm and a Leg’: Getting Insurance to Pay for Oral Surgery Is Like Pulling Teeth /courts/an-arm-and-a-leg-getting-insurance-to-pay-for-oral-surgery-is-like-pulling-teeth/ Thu, 22 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000 https://khn.org/?p=1598291&post_type=article&preview_id=1598291

Can’t see the audio player? 


Health coverage generally does not cover dental work. But Susan Rice of Atlanta should have been the exception: She was hit by a speeding car, causing extensive damage to her own “grill.” She’s been fighting to get her oral surgery covered for 18 months and counting.

The “An Arm and a Leg” podcast connected Rice with University of South Carolina law professor Jacqueline Fox, who, when she was practicing law, fought insurers on behalf of patients. Fox said Rice has “done everything right.” Her insurer’s refusal to pay may be tied to a bigger problem in the Affordable Care Act marketplace … one that’s led to a class-action lawsuit. 


“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KHN and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” . You can also follow the show on  and . And if you’ve got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers .

To hear all KHN podcasts, click here.

And subscribe to “An Arm and a Leg” on , , , , or wherever you listen to podcasts.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about .

This <a target="_blank" href="/courts/an-arm-and-a-leg-getting-insurance-to-pay-for-oral-surgery-is-like-pulling-teeth/">article</a&gt; first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="">KFF Health News</a> and is republished here under a <a target="_blank" href=" Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/kffhealthnews-icon.png?w=150&quot; style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

<img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="/?republication-pixel=true&post=1598291&amp;ga4=G-J74WWTKFM0&quot; style="width:1px;height:1px;">]]>
1598291
‘An Arm and a Leg’: He Made a Video About Health Insurance Terminology That Went Viral /health-care-costs/an-arm-and-a-leg-he-made-a-video-about-health-insurance-terminology-that-went-viral/ Fri, 09 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000 https://khn.org/?p=1591656&post_type=article&preview_id=1591656

Can’t see the audio player? 


A 30-minute video about health insurance terminology has racked up more than a million views. 

Host Dan Weissmann spoke with Brian David Gilbert, the person behind the video. 

Gilbert is best known for his videos for Polygon, a media company focused on video games. But when he left that job to strike out on his own, he needed new health insurance. In this episode of the “An Arm and a Leg” podcast, Gilbert explains how his quest to find coverage inspired him to tackle one of his most difficult subjects yet: U.S. health insurance.

Watch Gilbert’s video here:


“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KHN and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” . You can also follow the show on  and . And if you’ve got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers .

To hear all KHN podcasts, click here.

And subscribe to “An Arm and a Leg” on , , , , or wherever you listen to podcasts.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about .

This <a target="_blank" href="/health-care-costs/an-arm-and-a-leg-he-made-a-video-about-health-insurance-terminology-that-went-viral/">article</a&gt; first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="">KFF Health News</a> and is republished here under a <a target="_blank" href=" Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/kffhealthnews-icon.png?w=150&quot; style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

<img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="/?republication-pixel=true&post=1591656&amp;ga4=G-J74WWTKFM0&quot; style="width:1px;height:1px;">]]>
1591656
‘An Arm and a Leg’: When Insurance Won’t Pay, Abortion Assistance Funds Step In /health-care-costs/podcast-an-arm-and-a-leg-abortion-assistance-funds-step-in/ Wed, 23 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Can’t see the audio player? 


As Americans choose their insurance plans for next year, some might wonder: How does the recent rise in state abortion restrictions affect insurance plans?

There’s no single answer, but for a lot of people, insurance has rarely helped pay for abortions. Most pay cash, and many can’t afford it.

That’s where abortion funds come in. These organizations have been providing financial and logistical assistance to people seeking abortion care for decades.

The “An Arm and a Leg” podcast spoke with Oriaku Njoku, executive director of the , and Tyler Barbarin, a board member with the , to understand the history behind these services and how they’re operating in a post-Roe v. Wade environment.


“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KHN and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” . You can also follow the show on  and . And if you’ve got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers .

To hear all KHN podcasts, .

And subscribe to “An Arm and a Leg” on , , , , or wherever you listen to podcasts.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about .

This <a target="_blank" href="/health-care-costs/podcast-an-arm-and-a-leg-abortion-assistance-funds-step-in/">article</a&gt; first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="">KFF Health News</a> and is republished here under a <a target="_blank" href=" Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/kffhealthnews-icon.png?w=150&quot; style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

<img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="/?republication-pixel=true&post=1586379&amp;ga4=G-J74WWTKFM0&quot; style="width:1px;height:1px;">]]>
1586379
‘An Arm and a Leg’: No Money, No Job, No Health Care? Not Always. /health-care-costs/podcast-an-arm-and-a-leg-open-enrollment-2023-questions-guide/ Fri, 11 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000 https://khn.org/?p=1581253&post_type=article&preview_id=1581253

Can’t see the audio player? 


If you don’t have money and you don’t have a job, what are your best options for getting health care? 

It’s 2023 open enrollment season, and a lot of Americans are shopping for health insurance plans. And some are weighing the risks of skipping health insurance altogether.

One listener wrote to “An Arm and a Leg” about his son, a student with no income who has aged out of the family’s health insurance. He asked: If his son buys a plan, would he be signing away the possibility of getting charity care (financial assistance) at his local hospital? 

To answer this question, podcast host Dan Weissmann relied on expert help from Karen Pollitz, a senior fellow at KFF, and Jared Walker, founder of and an expert on charity care.

If you want to go deeper:

  • “An Arm and a Leg” did a three-part series on picking health insurance in its First Aid Kit newsletter. . 
  • An episode from last year explored other .
  • In a, Weissmann talked with another listener — a “financial therapist” — who had her own deep questions about health insurance. 

“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KHN and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” . You can also follow the show on  and . And if you’ve got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers .

To hear all KHN podcasts, click here.

And subscribe to “An Arm and a Leg” on , , , , or wherever you listen to podcasts.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about .

This <a target="_blank" href="/health-care-costs/podcast-an-arm-and-a-leg-open-enrollment-2023-questions-guide/">article</a&gt; first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="">KFF Health News</a> and is republished here under a <a target="_blank" href=" Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/kffhealthnews-icon.png?w=150&quot; style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

<img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="/?republication-pixel=true&post=1581253&amp;ga4=G-J74WWTKFM0&quot; style="width:1px;height:1px;">]]>
1581253
‘An Arm and a Leg’: Checking Up on California’s DIY Insulin Project /health-care-costs/an-arm-and-a-leg-checking-up-on-californias-diy-insulin-project/ Thu, 13 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0000 https://khn.org/?p=1568138&post_type=article&preview_id=1568138

Can’t see the audio player? 


This year, the state of California put up $100 million to begin manufacturing its own insulin and sell it cheaply. How’s it going to work? (Is it going to work?)

The price of insulin could be the starkest example of an out-of-control health care system: More than 7 million Americans need it daily to survive, and some die because they can’t afford it. But it’s a medicine that’s been around for 100 years, a medicine its discoverers didn’t want to patent.

This episode of the “An Arm and a Leg” podcast looks at how California’s plan came to be, and what might stand in the state’s way.


“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KHN and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” . You can also follow the show on  and . And if you’ve got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers .

To hear all KHN podcasts, click here.

And subscribe to “An Arm and a Leg” on , , , , or wherever you listen to podcasts.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about .

This <a target="_blank" href="/health-care-costs/an-arm-and-a-leg-checking-up-on-californias-diy-insulin-project/">article</a&gt; first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="">KFF Health News</a> and is republished here under a <a target="_blank" href=" Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/kffhealthnews-icon.png?w=150&quot; style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

<img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="/?republication-pixel=true&post=1568138&amp;ga4=G-J74WWTKFM0&quot; style="width:1px;height:1px;">]]>
1568138
‘An Arm and a Leg’: The New Cap on Medicare Drug Costs /aging/an-arm-and-a-leg-the-new-cap-on-medicare-drug-costs/ Mon, 12 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0000 https://khn.org/?p=1555107&post_type=article&preview_id=1555107

Can’t see the audio player? 


On a Sunday afternoon in August, health services researcher Stacie Dusetzina was sitting alone in her office at Vanderbilt University, .

The U.S. Senate was voting on the Inflation Reduction Act, which among other things is designed to ensure that people on Medicare pay less for expensive drugs.

It’s a big deal. Lots of seniors pay $10,000 a year or more for drugs or do without lifesaving treatment; once the new law kicks in, it sets an out-of-pocket limit of $2,000 a year. 

Dusetzina and her colleagues have spent years making the case for this change, documenting the ways current policies leave people in the lurch. 

The pharmaceutical industry fought this change tooth and nail — for decades. Julie Rovner, chief Washington correspondent for KHN, takes listeners on a journey back to the late 1980s, when Congress learned the cost of messing with Big Pharma. 


“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KHN and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” . You can also follow the show on  and . And if you’ve got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers .

To hear all KHN podcasts, click here.

And subscribe to “An Arm and a Leg” on , , , , or wherever you listen to podcasts.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about .

This <a target="_blank" href="/aging/an-arm-and-a-leg-the-new-cap-on-medicare-drug-costs/">article</a&gt; first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="">KFF Health News</a> and is republished here under a <a target="_blank" href=" Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/kffhealthnews-icon.png?w=150&quot; style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

<img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="/?republication-pixel=true&post=1555107&amp;ga4=G-J74WWTKFM0&quot; style="width:1px;height:1px;">]]>
1555107
‘An Arm and a Leg’: How to Negotiate for Lower Medical Bills /health-care-costs/an-arm-and-a-leg-how-to-negotiate-for-lower-medical-bills/ Wed, 24 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000 https://khn.org/?p=1550522&post_type=article&preview_id=1550522

Can’t see the audio player? 


Negotiating medical bills is often possible. It sounds hard — and it can be — but what if we got it down to a science? Mapped out all the moves ahead of time? Jared Walker and his team at the nonprofit  are running a big experiment to see whether they can do just that.  

The folks at Dollar For went superviral on TikTok in early 2021 with  by accessing charity care, financial assistance that most U.S. hospitals are legally required to offer.

Next, a group of whip-smart  to help people apply for that assistance. Dollar For also started holding lessons on Zoom, teaching people . The group says its work has helped erase more than $18 million in medical debt. 

But lots of people who can’t afford their medical bills don’t qualify for charity care. So Dollar For is trying something new: what they’re calling a “negotiation lab” for gaming out the best way to negotiate with hospitals and debt collectors. 

In this episode, we listen in on one of Dollar For’s real-life negotiations with a debt collector. 


“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KHN and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” . You can also follow the show on  and . And if you’ve got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers .

To hear all KHN podcasts, click here.

And subscribe to “An Arm and a Leg” on , , , , or wherever you listen to podcasts.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about .

This <a target="_blank" href="/health-care-costs/an-arm-and-a-leg-how-to-negotiate-for-lower-medical-bills/">article</a&gt; first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="">KFF Health News</a> and is republished here under a <a target="_blank" href=" Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/kffhealthnews-icon.png?w=150&quot; style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

<img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="/?republication-pixel=true&post=1550522&amp;ga4=G-J74WWTKFM0&quot; style="width:1px;height:1px;">]]>
1550522
‘An Arm and a Leg’: Her Bill for a Prenatal Test Felt Like a ‘Bait-and-Switch’ Scheme /health-care-costs/an-arm-and-a-leg-her-bill-for-a-prenatal-test-felt-like-a-bait-and-switch-scheme/ Wed, 03 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000 https://khn.org/?p=1538421&post_type=article&preview_id=1538421

Can’t see the audio player? 


Can a health care company make enough people mad about its billing practices that its business is hurt? For one genetic testing company, maybe. 

An “Arm and a Leg” listener got a test that has become routine in early pregnancy: noninvasive prenatal testing. It was supposed to be $99. But then — after she took the test — that turned into $250. And when she asked questions, she was told it could go up to $800 if she didn’t pay up quickly. The patient looked up the testing company and found that lots of people had experienced what she called “the genetic testing bait-and-switch.”

And importantly — she’s not the only one who noticed. When some guys on Wall Street, plus , started hearing about those bills, the company found itself in hot water. 


“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KHN and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” . You can also follow the show on  and . And if you have stories to tell about the health care system, the producers .

To hear all KHN podcasts, click here.

And subscribe to “An Arm and a Leg” on , , , , or wherever you listen to podcasts.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about .

This <a target="_blank" href="/health-care-costs/an-arm-and-a-leg-her-bill-for-a-prenatal-test-felt-like-a-bait-and-switch-scheme/">article</a&gt; first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="">KFF Health News</a> and is republished here under a <a target="_blank" href=" Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/kffhealthnews-icon.png?w=150&quot; style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

<img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="/?republication-pixel=true&post=1538421&amp;ga4=G-J74WWTKFM0&quot; style="width:1px;height:1px;">]]>
1538421
‘An Arm and a Leg’: One ER Doctor Grapples With the Inequities of American Health Care /health-care-costs/podcast-an-arm-and-a-leg-emergency-room-doctor-health-care-inequity/ Tue, 12 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0000 https://khn.org/?p=1528834&post_type=article&preview_id=1528834

Can’t see the audio player? 


Dr. Thomas Fisher, an emergency room physician at a hospital on Chicago’s South Side, has written “,” an up-close chronicle of the covid-19 pandemic’s first year. It also tells the story of his journey as a doctor: how his upbringing on the South Side fueled his career choice, and how the realities and inequities of American health care limited his ability to help his community. 

Fisher details how the failures of the American health care system — and the racial inequities it perpetuates — leave health care workers with a profound sense of moral injury. 

“Over time, when you have this conflict between what you can do and what you’re supposed to do — what you wish you could do, what you’re trained to do — that creates a moral conundrum,” Fisher tells host Dan Weissmann in this episode of “An Arm and a Leg.”  “It also leads a lot of people to leave the profession.”


“An Arm and a Leg” is a co-production of KHN and Public Road Productions.

To keep in touch with “An Arm and a Leg,” . You can also follow the show on  and . And if you’ve got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers .

To hear all KHN podcasts, click here.

And subscribe to “An Arm and a Leg” on , , , , or wherever you listen to podcasts.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about .

This <a target="_blank" href="/health-care-costs/podcast-an-arm-and-a-leg-emergency-room-doctor-health-care-inequity/">article</a&gt; first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="">KFF Health News</a> and is republished here under a <a target="_blank" href=" Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src="/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/04/kffhealthnews-icon.png?w=150&quot; style="width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;">

<img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="/?republication-pixel=true&post=1528834&amp;ga4=G-J74WWTKFM0&quot; style="width:1px;height:1px;">]]>
1528834