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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Avoiding Ripoffs

January 22, 2026

Preventive care: what does (and very likely doesn’t) count

And what to do if you get a bill you don’t owe.

January 15, 2026

Sh**’s wild’: Scaling up, doubling down, and buckling in

Checking back in with charity-care nonprofit Dollar For.

Avoiding Ripoffs

January 9, 2026

Knock out your check-ups early in the year — seriously

Especially if you have a high deductible.

December 29, 2025

Our favorite 2025 project levels up

You can help it keep growing.

December 18, 2025

What we loved this year (not health care related)

It’s time to share some comfort and joy.

December 11, 2025

More things states did to make things suck less

A look at new laws from Maine and Oregon.

December 5, 2025

I’m getting (cautiously) AI-curious

It keeps coming up. Here's what we're seeing.

November 26, 2025

We love the notes you send us

This year, we’re thankful for you.

Navigating Insurance

November 20, 2025

Choosing insurance in the worst year ever

New ep, and our guides.

Navigating Insurance

November 13, 2025

Review your drug plan now, and potentially save thousands

And pro tip: loop in your provider.

November 6, 2025

New episode: What DIDN’T suck in 2025

Plus, another pharmacy-counter fix.

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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.

More of our reporting

Starter Packs

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

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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.

The prescription drug playbook

The high cost of prescription meds in the US is a crisis: one in four adults say they’ve skipped taking a prescription in the past year because of cost.

Help! Insurance denied my claim.

Insurance denies lots of claims, and people give up. But the majority of people who appeal win. Here's the best of what we've published so far to help you.

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 →

January 15, 2026

‘Sh**’s wild’: Scaling up, doubling down, and buckling in

We check in with Dollar For founder Jared Walker about how the organization massively scaled up their operations — as they (and the rest of us) navigate increasingly rocky terrain.

December 29, 2025

Our favorite project of 2025 levels up — and you can help

Behind-the-scenes on a volunteer project to help people get care and avoid debt.

December 11, 2025

Some more things that didn’t suck in 2025

How state lawmakers took on new fights and won

November 20, 2025

How to pick health insurance — in the worst year ever

Why it's worth looking beyond the premium and reading the fine print -- even when everything sucks.

November 6, 2025

Some things that didn’t suck in 2025 (really)

In states like Nebraska and Virginia, new laws could help a ton of people.

See the Episode Archive

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