The ER visit was quick and uneventful. The bill was $1,300. Our listener decided to push back. He didn't win, but he learned a lot — and so did we. 


We had help, from an expert we met by visiting a Renaissance Fair — which we did in this very fun early episode. Kaelyn Globig, head of advocacy for the Rescu Foundation, is a medical-bill wizard, and no one has taught us more.


In this story, she teaches us how to find out what Medicare pays for a given procedure — here’s the guide she shared with us — and how to use that information. 

We also got advice on dealing with debt collectors — when it makes sense to file a dispute — from April Kuenhoff, an attorney with the National Consumer Law Center. 


She shared resources too. Here are sample letters — templates you can edit:
To tell a debt collector that you are disputing a charge. 
To demand verification of a debt they say you owe
To limit their legal right to harass you. 




Here’s a transcript of the episode. 


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


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

The ER visit was quick and uneventful. The bill was $1,300. Our listener decided to push back. He didn't win, but he learned a lot — and so did we.&nbsp; We had help, from an expert we met by visiting a Renaissance Fair — which we did in <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/episode/so-robin-hoods-got-an-approach-to-medical-bills/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this very fun early episode</a>. Kaelyn Globig, head of advocacy for the <a href="https://rescufoundation.org/wp/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rescu Foundation</a>, is a medical-bill wizard, and no one has taught us more. In this story, she teaches us how to find out what Medicare pays for a given procedure — <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/How-to-find-the-Medicare-price-from-Rescu-Foundation.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here’s the guide she shared with us</a> — and how to use that information.&nbsp;We also got advice on dealing with debt collectors — when it makes sense to file a dispute — from April Kuenhoff, an attorney with the <a href="https://www.nclc.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">National Consumer Law Center</a>.&nbsp; She shared resources too. Here are sample letters — templates you can edit:<ul><li>To tell a debt collector that <a href="https://library.nclc.org/companion-material/dispute-letter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">you are disputing a charge</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>To <a href="https://library.nclc.org/companion-material/verification-letter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">demand verification</a> of a debt they say you owe</li><li>To <a href="https://library.nclc.org/companion-material/sample-stop-contact-or-cease-letter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">limit their legal right to harass you</a>.&nbsp;</li></ul> <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Web-transcript_S09-Ep03_Medicare-Price-.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Here’s a transcript of the 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

The ER visit was quick and uneventful. The bill was $1,300. Our listener decided to push back. He didn't win, but he learned a lot — and so did we.

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