First Aid Kit Archive • An Arm And a Leg

First Aid Kit

Our newsletter sums up and shares the practical lessons we’ve learned about surviving the health care system, financially.

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Podcast feed drop: A tool everyone needs to hear about

From ProPublica’s new podcast, Paper Trail.

New Starter Pack: People being awesome

And some bad ACA news, sorry.

The Big Picture

Mailbag! Mysterious fees and the semantics of “charity care”

Answers to reader questions, plus introducing our new intern.

Avoiding Ripoffs

Series reboot: “The Prescription Drug Playbook”

Plus, the Supreme Court ruling about generic drugs.

Starter pack: Help! I’m in collections over medical debt

Our new resource about dealing with medical debt collectors.

Navigating Insurance

A scary look at what’s going on with Obamacare enrollment

From our partners at KFF Health News.

Navigating Insurance

New episode: The Chatbot Will See You Now (from Organized Money)

And how tech companies are sneaking into your therapy sessions.

Who’s suing patients over medical debt? It’s not just hospitals anymore

Avoiding Ripoffs

What to do — and expect — if there’s a mistake on your credit report

New reporting from ProPublica reveals a gap in help.

The Big Picture

New episode: The Supreme Court case that could slow generic drugs

This week, the Court hears a big case about drug patents.

Chatbots haven’t totally nailed fighting medical bills

Plus: Is your doctor using an AI scribe?

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For topic-specific deep dives and recommended reading, check out our Starter Packs or use the search bar below to explore our site.

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Starter Packs

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

Explore our Starter Packs →

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.

Help! I’m stuck with a gigantic medical bill.

Don't freak out. We've laid out tips to help you manage your medical bills.

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.

Podcast Episodes

Our show about why health care costs so freaking much, and what we can (maybe) do about it.

Explore the podcast →

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

Remember these words: external review — a powerful and too-little-known insurance appeal.

The Prescription Drug Playbook (Full Version)

The best advice we've heard about what to do when you can't afford your meds (from 2025)

The Chatbot Will See You Now: Big Tech In Therapy (from Organized Money)

The mental health middlemen selling your data, and one state’s solution (From "Organized Money")

The Supreme Court case that could slow generic drugs

The Supreme Court hears a case about "skinny labels" — a legal carveout used by generic drugmakers — that has major stakes for patients.

Why drugs cost so much, 101: Medicine monopolies

How a street-smart patent lawyer helped shape a grand bargain between brand-name and generic drug companies — and the unforeseen consequences he's determined to fix.

See the Episode Archive

One of the most enraging, terrifying, depressing parts of American life made entertaining, empowering, and useful.