Articles by:

Dan Weissmann

Back to the Newsletter
7/18/25

Why drugs cost so much — and can be hard to even find

Zooming out from our "Prescription Drug Playbook"
7/09/25

What’s cooking at An Arm and a Leg

We’re building something we hope you’ll like
6/19/25

A checklist and a new (to us) tip

Getting your meds for less, part two: order of operations
5/14/25

More encouragement, via John Green

What I took away from his best-selling new book.
4/23/25

Help us build a one-stop shop resource

Plus an exciting DIY project to help your neighbors
3/26/25

We’ve still got some protections against medical debt collectors

And they’re still worth knowing about, you know??
3/19/25

Finding encouragement

And not just in fighting medical bills
3/05/25

A medical-debt watchdog gets sidelined: Now what?

This federal agency kept bill collectors in line. It might be disappearing.
2/19/25

First Aid Kit is going weekly.

Restocking the kit with more advice for navigating the evolving health care ~hellscape~ in 2025.
1/31/25

How to (maybe) get drugs for cheaper

What we’ve learned, and how you can help us learn more
10/25/24

Fighting with insurance, part 2 — getting real

There’s no middle step between the “easy” way of fighting with insurance and going to war with them. But there’s a possible (partial) shortcut in the works.
11/10/23

How to shop for insurance, 2023 edition

Getting next year’s insurance: Some new (and updated) tips and tricks
7/31/23

Fighting with insurance, part 1

Let’s get started.
6/29/23

A provider wants you to pay in advance. Should you?

Not if you don’t have to. And often, you may not have to
5/03/23

Getting insurance to pay for therapy

Not for the faint of heart. But we’ve got a roadmap from someone who’s done it.
4/20/23

How to not freak out: Our most important advice ever

Yes, easier said than done. We’ve got strategies for you.
3/30/23

Consider paying cash (at least sometimes)

You can tell ‘em: Don’t run this through my insurance.
1/26/23

Get an itemized medical bill and fact-check it

Do you really owe that much? Maybe not.
1/10/23

Extra: One BIG tip if you signed up for a 2023 Obamacare plan

Double-check to make sure “in-network” docs are really in-network. Like, call them. Today.
12/08/22

Picking insurance (again)? We’ve got some updates

Still the same garbage system, but some glimmers of decent news
11/21/22

First, see if you can get your medical bill forgiven

Lots of people qualify— but providers won’t always tell you, or make it easy. Luckily, you can get help.
10/20/22

What *not* to do when you get a big medical bill

Don’t pay it right away, but don’t ignore it either.
5/12/22

Programming note

We're slowing down a bit, for now.
4/27/22

Your Turn: Share your tips and requests

We want your tips, questions, and feedback on First Aid Kit.
4/12/22

I had COVID. Here’s what I learned.

With cases rising (again), here are some plan-ahead tips.
3/31/22

On avoiding a giant ER bill

Our best tips for the worst rip-off in health care
3/16/22

Fun updates: Buying drugs and insurance

You are not alone. Even the smartest experts get socked.
3/01/22

How to avoid (some of) the worst prescription-drug ripoffs

GoodRx, carefully considering Canada, and other tools can help…sometimes
2/02/22

The bonus benefit in the No Surprises Act

Here's how to get some idea of what you'll be charged for a health care encounter. Plus, more caveats, of course.
1/19/22

Know your (new) rights under the No Surprises Act…

We’ll have to be @#$% vigilant about enforcing them. Here’s the plan.
1/11/22

How to track down COVID tests using bots

Plus a thank you, in playlist form.
1/05/22

How do I avoid paying through the nose for a COVID test?

The bad news: It’s possible to get socked with a four-figure bill. The good news: It’s possible to avoid that.
12/07/21

Why health insurance actually sucks

Insurance companies are terrible at their job. And we pay for their incompetence.
11/30/21

Buying your own health insurance? Healthcare.gov. Full stop.

Health insurance you can buy on healthcare.gov is crappy in the usual ways. Everything else is worse.
11/23/21

WTF even *is* this health insurance I’m picking?

HMO? PPO? TBH it's like alphabet soup out there. We've got the dictionary you need.
11/16/21

Avoiding crappy health insurance

To identify the lousiest plans, run two scenarios.
11/09/21

Introducing First Aid Kit: A financial survival guide to health care

We live in hell. Who wants some burn cream?