Leading up to the 2020 election, America’s unusual approach to health care is on full display. The hot-button issue is a consistent talking point for both Democrats and Republicans since it has a huge impact on all American citizens.
Health care costs are prohibitively expensive, sometimes costing thousands of dollars for a quick trip to the emergency room, as many have experienced. These stories were part of the inspiration for the podcast An Arm and a Leg, which showcases the horror stories and hard-fought victories of people dealing with America’s health care system.
Dan Weissmann is the host and executive producer of the podcast, which premiered its third season in December. The fourth episode of the third season comes out on Thursday and deals with the hidden costs of emergency room visits.
"This is a long struggle and the cavalry is not coming."
"One of the things that I ended up thinking about, especially as we had completed two seasons, is that this is a long struggle and the cavalry is not coming," says Weissmann.
Lake Effect’s Joy Powers spoke with Weissmann about the impact and stories of health care costs in the U.S.:
