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

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First Aid Kit is a newsletter meant to help you fight a brutal enemy — the American health care system. Subscribe here.

Hey, help us do our jobs better

Take our quick survey, okay?
February 20, 2026
 · 
Dan Weissmann
Emily Pisacreta
Claire Davenport
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Hey there—

This time, we’re asking you for some info, and some advice. We love making An Arm and a Leg and First Aid Kit — and we want them to be as entertaining, empowering, and useful as possible.

To do that, we want to know as much as we can about who we’re making this work for — that’s you — and about what’s helpful to you, and what you’d like to see.

So… we’ve got a little survey for you.

It’ll take just a few minutes — or less, if you skip questions (which is totally allowed).

Taking it will help us so much.

Also, you could win a prize!

I’m gonna print out some Arm and a Leg stickers at my local library, and I’ll send them to ten people who fill out the survey.

Once again, here’s the link to the survey:

Take it now!

Thanks so much for doing this!

I’m gonna head over to the library and start learning how to print those stickers…

— Dan

Get the First Aid Kit Newsletter!

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

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You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

Reporting on why health care costs so freaking much, and what we can maybe do about it.
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Get our latest tips for dealing with the healthcare-industrial complex.

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August 7, 2026

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

July 23, 2026

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Starter Packs

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

Our show about why health care costs so freaking much, and what we can (maybe) do about it.
Explore the podcast →
August 13, 2026

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

Dr. Ricardo Nuila's 2023 book 'The People's Hospital' on the surprising history of Houston's public hospital system.
July 23, 2026

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

Veteran DC health policy reporter Julie Rovner talks with Dan about the crumbling Jenga tower of U.S. health care.
July 2, 2026

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.
June 11, 2026

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)
May 21, 2026

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")

See the Episode Archive

One of the most enraging, terrifying, depressing parts of American life made entertaining, empowering, and useful.
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Get the First Aid Kit Newsletter!

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

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You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

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