An Arm and a Leg Logo
  • Listen
  • Explore
    • Podcast Episodes
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Starter Packs
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Our Team
    • Our Impact
    • Our Partners and Supporters
    • Contact Us
  • Support Us

Get the First Aid Kit Newsletter!

Summing up the practical lessons we've learned about surviving the health care system, financially.

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

A ridiculous song for an endless process
Claire Davenport commemorates hunting down the least-worst price for your meds
(with the help of AI)

Robots sing: The Prescription Drug Playbook Song

July 2, 2025
Share
Copy URL

Producer Claire Davenport created a ridiculous song to commemorate the endless process of hunting down the least-worst price for your meds. With an AI contributing the melody, the band, and the vocals.

Reporting on why health care costs so freaking much, and what we can maybe do about it.
More about us →
Logo for Arm & A Leg

Latest Episodes

More stories about why health care costs so freaking much, and what we can maybe do about it.
August 13, 2026

A Texas doctor’s love letter to ‘The People’s Hospital’ (From 2023)

July 23, 2026

Julie Rovner is “worried.” Checking in with a veteran DC reporter.

July 2, 2026

How to Fight a Health Insurance Denial With a Little-Known Tool (from ProPublica’s Paper Trail)

See More

Looking for something specific?

For topic-specific deep dives and recommended reading, start here or use the search bar below to explore our site.

Follow the Podcast

Image

More of our reporting


Starter Packs

Jumping off points: Our best episodes and our best answers to some big questions.

Explore our Starter Packs →

Why do prescription drugs cost so much?

It’s a national outrage — one that millions of us struggle with: the unaffordable price of prescription drugs. Here’s our reporting on how drug prices got so out-of-control, and what we can maybe do about it.

Tell me a story about someone being awesome

It takes skills, patience, and guts to take on the health care system. We could all use a little inspiration.

Help! I’m in collections for medical debt.

So, a debt collector is chasing you over a medical bill. Here's what we've learned about what to do if you're facing debt collection.

How to wipe out your medical bill with charity care

Our guide to an under-the-radar but essential resource for wiping out medical debt.

How do I shop for health insurance?

Picking a health insurance plan can be super confusing. Here's our best advice.

See All Our Starter Packs

If you don't know where to start or are just getting to know us, we recommend you start here.
Explore All

Logo for First Aid Kit

First Aid Kit

Our newsletter about surviving the health care system, financially.

Explore our First Aid Kits →
August 13, 2026

It’s always been a fight — and maybe a joy

Revisiting ‘The People’s Hospital’ and reading Ross Gay
August 7, 2026

New starter pack! Why do prescription drugs cost so freaking much?

And what our summer intern learned about the cost of gender-affirming care.
July 23, 2026

New episode! Veteran health reporter Julie Rovner is back

And she's worried.
July 16, 2026

Mailbag! Getting nickel-and-dimed at your annual

And an update on last year’s less-sucky news.
July 2, 2026

Podcast feed drop: A tool everyone needs to hear about

From ProPublica’s new podcast, Paper Trail.

See the First Aid Kit Archive

Our most useful tools for surviving the health care system, financially.
Explore All

Get the First Aid Kit Newsletter!

Summing up the practical lessons we've learned about surviving the health care system, financially.

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

Support Us
Contact Us
Follow the Podcast
Image
Find us on Social
  • About Us
  • Listen
  • First Aid Kit Newsletter
  • Starter Packs
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners and Supporters
  • Our Impact
  • Editorial Independence Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
ⓒ 2026 Copyright Public Road Productions
Site by Hafi
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
  • About Us
  • Listen
  • First Aid Kit Newsletter
  • Starter Packs
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners and Supporters
  • Our Impact
  • Editorial Independence Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
Support Us
Manage Cookie Consent

To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Not consenting may adversely affect certain features and functions.

Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
  • Manage options
  • Manage services
  • Manage {vendor_count} vendors
  • Read more about these purposes
View preferences
  • {title}
  • {title}
  • {title}