“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.

October 22, 2026

Hidden Help: What Happened When Oregon Forced Hospitals to Boost Financial Aid? (From Tradeoffs)

September 24, 2026

Medicare plans keep disappearing

September 3, 2026

System meltdown: employer-sponsored health insurance

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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.

October 15, 2026

Update: 2027’s disappearing Medicare Advantage plans

Medicare’s annual open enrollment period kicks off today and millions of seniors on privatized Medicare plans — many more than expected — will have to find new plans next year.

September 24, 2026

Disappearing Medicare plans spell trouble for millions

Hey there — In the next week, at least two million seniors will get letters telling them their Medicare plan is going away — and they may not have great options to replace it. The same thing happened to almost three million people last year. It wasn’t pretty. Experts say this is a new trend, and the dynamics behind it

September 14, 2026

Employer-sponsored health insurance is “unraveling”

Why workplace health insurance is in trouble: in three charts.

August 13, 2026

It’s always been a fight — and maybe a joy

Hey there — On the podcast this week, we’re bringing back the story of ‘The People’s Hospital’ — that’s the nickname Dr. Ricardo Nuila gives to the institution where he has practiced for more than a dozen years. It’s a favorite story of mine, and it’s never been more relevant. Nuila’s 2023 book, The People’s Hospital: Hope and Peril in American Medicine, is

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

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