The Chatbot Will See You Now: Big Tech In Therapy (from Organized Money)

One place you might assume is safe from prying ears is your therapy session.  But as more therapists struggle to negotiate with insurers, they’re turning to tech middlemen like BetterHelp and Headway that promise to take care of the insurance admin and match them with patients.  And these compani…

The Supreme Court case that could slow generic drugs

It’s a case you’ve (probably) never heard of: This week, the Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in Hikma v. Amarin — a legal battle that could impact how much you ultimately pay for prescription drugs.  Here’s why the case matters: As soon as a generic version of a brand-name drug comes to ma…

Why drugs cost so much, 101: Medicine monopolies

We’re always asking: Why do drugs cost so freaking much?  And it’s a complicated question. There are a bunch of reasons — tobesure. But in our reporting over the years, like our stories on insulin and tuberculosis drugs, experts cited one big reason over and over again:  The pharmaceutical indust…

‘Not workable’: How two Americans picked a plan this year — or didn’t

This year, the price of health insurance increased dramatically for millions of people. Tens of millions. Obamacare subsidies shrunk, and premiums skyrocketed.  People asked themselves: how on earth am I supposed to make this work?  Two of those folks — attorney Nicole Wipp and skate-shop owner N…

The EpiPen and Food Allergies (from Drug Story)

Hey, first! We’re looking for your help. Can you take a couple minutes and fill out our Audience Survey?  We’re dying to know more about the community that’s using this show — and about what’s working for you and what you’d like to see. Let us know! Today we’re switching it up. We’re sharing an e…

NYT’s Ron Lieber: ‘These people are not going to win.'

Thirty-six hours before his wife was scheduled for a major surgery, New York Times personal finance columnist Ron Lieber got a letter in the mail that sent him reeling.  Insurance was denying prior authorization for the surgery. The only way forward would be to appeal the decision. But it was Satu…

'Sh**’s wild': Scaling up, doubling down, and buckling in

For five years, we’ve been following the work of Dollar For and its founder Jared Walker, watching them quickly scale up their efforts to help people crush medical debt by tapping into “charity care” — the financial assistance that hospitals are legally required to offer some patients.  Their work…

Our favorite project of 2025 levels up – and you can help

Hey, first!  If you value what we do, we need your support to keep it going in 2026.  We have SO much work ahead, and we can’t do it without you.   Every little bit counts. Here’s where you can chip in. Thank you SO much! Our listeners have been teaming up on an incredible project – kicked off e…

Some more things that didn’t suck in 2025

Hey, first!  If you value what we do, this is the best-ever time to support our work. We have SO much work ahead in 2026. Donate here. We’re back for another look at things that – believe it or not – did NOT suck in 2025.  Specifically: new state laws from around the country aimed at protecting …

How to pick health insurance — in the worst year ever

Hey, first!  If you value what we do, this is the best-ever time to support our work:  This month, every donation gets matched two-for-one.   We have SO much work ahead in 2026. Donate here — and get your money matched two-for-one. It’s probably fair to say: this is the worst year ever for pickin…