A listener’s doctor wanted her credit card info up front — before her appointment. She wondered: Do I need to give it to them? We did too. 


After all, who wants the risk of being overcharged — and then having to fight for money back?


Experts gave us their best advice, including a couple of tricks to try, and a legal protection you may be able to rely on. 


Meanwhile, Elisabeth Rosenthal, senior contributing editor at KFF Health News, filled us in on the rapid growth of medical debt as a financial product, including specialized credit cards and financing plans pushed by hospitals and other providers.


They can come with steep interest rates, and (surprise, surprise) the terms aren’t always spelled out clearly. 


The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been issuing reports, including a handy FAQ, but hasn’t taken enforcement action in a decade.


Here’s a transcript of this episode. 


Send your stories and questions. Or call 724 ARM-N-LEG.


And of course we’d love for you to support this show.

A listener’s doctor wanted her credit card info up front — before her appointment. She wondered: Do I need to give it to them? We did too.&nbsp; After all, who wants the risk of being overcharged — and then having to fight for money back? Experts gave us their best advice, including a couple of tricks to try, and a legal protection you may be able to rely on.&nbsp; Meanwhile, Elisabeth Rosenthal, senior contributing editor at KFF Health News, filled us in on <a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/how-banks-and-private-equity-cash-in-when-patients-cant-pay-their-medical-bills/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the rapid growth of medical debt as a financial product</a>, including specialized credit cards and financing plans pushed by hospitals and other providers. They can come with steep interest rates, and (surprise, surprise) the terms aren’t always spelled out clearly.&nbsp; The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has <a href="https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/research-reports/medical-credit-cards-and-financing-plans/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">been issuing reports</a>, including a <a href="https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-should-i-know-about-medical-credit-cards-and-payment-plans-for-medical-bills-en-1827/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">handy FAQ</a>, but hasn’t taken <a href="https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/cfpb-orders-ge-carecredit-to-refund-34-1-million-for-deceptive-health-care-credit-card-enrollment/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">enforcement action</a> in a decade. <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Web-Transcript_S09-Ep08-Credit-Card-Please.docx.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Here’s a transcript of this episode</a>.&nbsp; <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/contact/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Send your stories and questions.</a> Or call 724 ARM-N-LEG. And of course we’d love for you to <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/match/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">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.

An Arm and a Leg

A listener’s doctor wanted her credit card info up front — before her appointment. She wondered: Do I need to give it to them? We did too.

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