2021 is off to a rough start, but we've got a couple of small things that don't completely suck.

First, a new federal rule could help cut through one completely-ridiculous issue. Then, a listener describes how he headed off an insurance nightmare, using what he learned from this show.


Dan talked about the first story—a requirement that hospitals give us some information upfront about what a given service might cost us (after insurance, if we've got it)—in a short conversation with Niala Boodhoo for the daily-news podcast Axios Today.


You'll find a LOT more detail on that rule in this story from reporter Celia Llopis-Jepsen (whose reporting about a $50,000 "air ambulance" ride formed the core of a recent episode about how we get squeezed by insurers on one side and providers on the other).


Here's a transcript for this episode.

Send your stories and questions: https://armandalegshow.com/contact/ or call 724 ARM-N-LEG

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

2021 is off to a rough start, but we've got a couple of small things that don't completely suck.First, a new federal rule could help cut through <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/episode/if-theyre-going-to-take-you-for-3000-for-stitches-why-cant-they-at-least-tell-you-the-price-upfront/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">one completely-ridiculous issue</a>. Then, a listener describes how he headed off an insurance nightmare, using what he learned from this show. Dan talked about the first story—a requirement that hospitals give us some information upfront about what a given service might cost us (after insurance, if we've got it)—in a short conversation with Niala Boodhoo for the daily-news podcast Axios Today. You'll find a LOT more detail on that rule in <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/you-now-have-right-know-your-hospitals-prices-and-heres-how-experts-hope-will-help?fbclid=IwAR3cbdyNM8W0DZuOOnv-22vUiHHaD7Lw_ffTnrf3K164MYgHC9-BRnTyHPE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this story from reporter Celia Llopis-Jepsen</a>&nbsp;(whose reporting about a $50,000 "air ambulance" ride formed the core of <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/episode/financial-self-defense-school-now-in-session-make-your-own-luck/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a recent episode about how we get squeezed by insurers on one side and providers on the other</a>). Here's <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Arm-and-a-Leg_S05-Ep01_Two-Small-Doses-of-Good-News_Transcript.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a transcript for this episode</a>.Send your stories and questions:&nbsp;<a href="https://armandalegshow.com/contact/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://armandalegshow.com/contact/</a>&nbsp;or call 724 ARM-N-LEGAnd of course we'd love for you to <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/support/" 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

2021 is off to a rough start, but we've got a couple small things that don't completely suck. First, a new federal rule could help cut through one completely-ridiculous issue. Then, a listener describes how he headed off an insurance nightmare.

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