No Surprises Act brings new federal protections against unexpected medical bills (WBEZ, Reset)

Hey there — So much to share this week, including a new podcast episode out today, but let’s start with a story that reminded me of this year’s Prescription Drug Playbook. This one’s from a listener — my friend Tim. Tim’s doc prescribed a basic antibiotic — and the pharmacist said the charge would be $100. Tim was like, WTF? A basic antibiotic, not

Hey there — Ermahgerd, Medicare is confusing. Or as John Oliver said in a recent Last Week Tonight segment on Medicare Advantage, “On a scale of one to Inception, it is basically Tenet. And I don’t say that lightly.” So yeah, like we said in our last Medicare installment, there’s so much important stuff to know before enrolling — and it’s wayyyy

Hey there —  We’ve got a new episode out today, and a new way you can pitch in with a big project.  When health economist Vivian Ho asked us to help her gather data for a new study, I wanted to hear her out.  A disclosure: Vivian’s been a donor to this show — not a make-or-break donor, but a

Hey there — Our first podcast episode about Medicare — covering things to know before signing up — had a subtitle: “This one kind of blew our minds.” There is so much to know — so many potential pitfalls and complications. And it left me thinking: “I’ll need to do some serious planning, years before I turn 65.” So: please

Remember Thomas Sanford, the fourth-year medical student who created a one-page resource for dealing with medical expenses? With help from some of you, he’s got a new draft — and a plan to keep making this tool better and better — hopefully with help from even more of you. That virtuous cycle — and its potential to keep growing —