“Refreshing”

November 26, 2019

What a refreshing look at health care in the USA! Instead of a politics focus, this show takes the listener on a journey with compelling stories from citizens who are dealing with our often-convoluted health care system on a daily basis. Dan Weissmann, the host, does a marvelous job of keeping this podcast about potentially terrifying and depressing topics upbeat, hopeful, and informative. Highly recommend!

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Latest Episodes

Keep listening for info on 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)

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

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

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Starter Packs

Our Starter Packs are full of useful information and actionable advice on all things healthcare.

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. It happens to the best of us. And as we’ve learned, you have rights when it does.

How to wipe out your medical bill with charity care

Most hospitals are required by law to provide financial assistance (AKA “charity care”) to a portion of their patients. And more people qualify than know about it.

How do I shop for health insurance?

Picking a health insurance plan can be overwhelming. 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.

First Aid Kit

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

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

Hey there — Summer intern Lynn here. I can hardly believe that today’s my last day with An Arm and a Leg and soon I’ll be back in school. But I’m so excited to bring you a new Arm and a Leg Starter Pack before I go, about why prescription drugs cost so freaking much — especially because for me, this one’s personal. That’s because there’s

New episode! Veteran health reporter Julie Rovner is back

Hey there — We’re back with a brand new episode this week: Dan checks back in with Julie Rovner — chief Washington correspondent for KFF Health News and host of the podcast What The Health? — about the ever-wobblier “Jenga tower of U.S. health care”. If that sounds anxiety-inducing, well yeah: Julie tells us she’s genuinely worried about health care being stripped from people who need it, about

Mailbag! Getting nickel-and-dimed at your annual

Hey there — We’re back with another reader question — this time about why it might look like you got double billed for a routine physical. Plus, two follow-ups on stories we’ve covered before: An update on Oregon’s fight against corporate-owned medical clinics. New reporting on drug copay assistance programs and the sneaky way insurers claw that money back. Q: My

Podcast feed drop: A tool everyone needs to hear about

In your Arm and a Leg feed this morning: an episode of Paper Trail, a new podcast from the investigative journalism powerhouse, ProPublica. This episode taught us about an insurance industry term that we just had to share: external review. Knowing it could one day be the key to reversing an unfair insurance denial. An external review allows you to tap an expert from outside your insurance

New Starter Pack: People being awesome

Hey there — We’re back with a brand new Arm and a Leg “Starter Pack” — plus some Obamacare news. Last month, the federal government issued its annual update to Obamacare rules and regulations— an 1,100+ page set of terms that will affect how much plans cost, what’s in them, and how you sign up. In March, before the rules

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