When a New York couple purchased a health insurance plan from a telemarketer, everything sounded legit. Meds, doctors, tests?  All covered.

But it didn't take long for them to realize they'd been “hustled” – ending up with bills for thousands of dollars, and leaving them no choice but to skip important medical care. 

In their series “Health Care Hustlers,” Bloomberg reporters Zach Mider and Zeke Faux uncover the exact nature of the scheme – how this couple, as well as thousands of others, signed up for health plans by unknowingly agreeing to work “fake jobs.”  

Zach and Zeke join us to unpack the many surprising layers to this business— involving a subculture of unscrupulous telemarketers, a TV-sitcom-writer-turned-investor who masterminded the idea, and the legal gray area that allows these plans to proliferate. 

Reminder: If you need to sign up for health insurance, the place to go is healthcare.gov. (As we’ve warned before: Don’t even Google it.) 

No matter what, shopping for insurance requires a ton of homework. We’ve got a guide for you in this Starter Pack.

Here’s a transcript of this episode. 

Send your stories and questions. Or call 724 ARM-N-LEG.Of course we’d love for you to support this show.

When a New York couple purchased a health insurance plan from a telemarketer, everything sounded legit. Meds, doctors, tests?&nbsp; All covered.
But it didn't take long for them to realize they'd been &ldquo;hustled&rdquo; &ndash; ending up with bills for thousands of dollars, and leaving them no choice but to skip important medical care.&nbsp;
In their series &ldquo;Health Care Hustlers,&rdquo; Bloomberg reporters Zach Mider and Zeke Faux uncover the exact nature of the scheme &ndash; how this couple, as well as thousands of others, signed up for health plans by unknowingly agreeing to work &ldquo;fake jobs.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Zach and Zeke join us to unpack the many surprising layers to this business&mdash; involving a subculture of unscrupulous telemarketers, a TV-sitcom-writer-turned-investor who masterminded the idea, and the legal gray area that allows these plans to proliferate.&nbsp;
Reminder: If you need to sign up for health insurance, the place to go is <a href="http://healthcare.gov">healthcare.gov</a>. (As we&rsquo;ve warned before: <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/episode/avoid-crappy-health-insurance/">Don&rsquo;t even Google it</a>.)&nbsp;
No matter what, shopping for insurance requires a ton of homework. We&rsquo;ve got a guide for you in this <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/starter-pack/how-do-i-shop-for-health-insurance/">Starter Pack</a>.
<a href="https://armandalegshow.com/episode/health-insurance-hustle/">Here&rsquo;s a transcript of this episode</a>.&nbsp;
<a href="https://armandalegshow.com/contact-us/">Send your stories and questions</a>. Or call 724 ARM-N-LEG.Of course we&rsquo;d love for you to <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/support/">support this show</a>.

An Arm and a Leg is a podcast about why health care costs so freaking much and what we can (maybe) do about it.

If you’ve ever been surprised by a medical bill, you’re in good company. But as our team of seasoned journalists has learned from years of reporting — you’re not always helpless. We don’t have all the answers, but we’ll offer you tools and big picture insights with plenty of humor and heart. 

An Arm and a Leg is co-produced with KFF Health News and distributed in partnership with KUOW.

You can support An Arm and a Leg by donating at armandalegshow.com/support/

Show Credits: Created, hosted, and produced by Dan Weissmann with senior producer Emily Pisacreta and engagement producer Claire Davenport, edited by Ellen Weiss. Audio wizard: Adam Raymonda. Music is by Dave Weiner and Blue Dot Sessions. Bea Bosco is our consulting director of operations. Lynne Johnson is our operations manager.

An Arm and a Leg&nbsp;is a podcast about why health care costs so freaking much and what we can (maybe) do about it.
If you&rsquo;ve ever been surprised by a medical bill, you&rsquo;re in good company. But as our team of seasoned journalists has learned from years of reporting &mdash; you&rsquo;re not always helpless. We don&rsquo;t have all the answers, but we&rsquo;ll offer you tools and big picture insights with plenty of humor and heart.&nbsp;
An Arm and a Leg is co-produced with <a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/">KFF Health News</a> and distributed in partnership with <a href="https://www.kuow.org/">KUOW</a>.
You can support An Arm and a Leg&nbsp;by donating at <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/support/">armandalegshow.com/support/</a>
<hr>
Show Credits:&nbsp;Created, hosted, and produced by Dan Weissmann with senior producer Emily Pisacreta and engagement producer Claire Davenport, edited by Ellen Weiss. Audio wizard: Adam Raymonda. Music is by Dave Weiner and Blue Dot Sessions. Bea Bosco is our consulting director of operations. Lynne Johnson is our operations manager.

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