The insurance industry is way more deeply implanted into Medicare, our most celebrated and important social benefit, than I think a lot of people realize. There is no escaping them, even when we turn 65. Reporting this story really drove home how much of a problem that is!

An Arm and a Leg@armandalegshow.bsky.social · 2w ago

At least 2 million seniors are about to get dumped by their health plans through Medicare Advantage, the version of Medicare run by insurance companies—a trend that's been growing in recent years. What that looks like for seniors, and what we can maybe do about it: armandalegshow.com/episode/medi...

New episode: Only 59% of small businesses offered their employees health insurance last year – a 25-year low. @bobjherman.bsky.social joins us to talk about how that’s just one sign that employer-based health insurance is unraveling. armandalegshow.com/episode/empl...

System meltdown: employer-sponsored health insurance • An Arm And a Leg

It's getting more expensive and in some cases even going away. STAT News reporter Bob Herman joins us to talk about why our system of employer-based health insurance is "unraveling."

armandalegshow.com

If your provider offers to sign you up for a medical credit card or loan, here’s why you should steer clear— and what you might want to try instead:

Beware medical credit cards and loans • An Arm And a Leg

The situation: You need a mole removed. Or a root canal. Or a hearing test. Or something lifesaving, like cancer treatment. A big scary bill is looming on

armandalegshow.com

Next mayoral debate they should ask about “Mary, merry, marry”

Looking forward to this conversation about drug prices next week!

Initiative for Medicines, Access & Knowledge@imakglobal.bsky.social · 12mo ago

JOIN US! On Wednesday, October 22 at 10AM ET we will host a webinar to discuss results from a new national survey revealing bipartisan momentum for patent system reform. Speakers: @tahiramin.bsky.social, @welch.senate.gov, Berwood Yost, @emilypisacreta.bsky.social RSVP! www.i-mak.org/survey/

What you need to know about Obamacare rate increases, cuts to the federally-funded navigator program, and what Congress could do to avert the premium price hikes all in last week’s “First Aid Kit” newsletter:

2026 insurance nightmare update and tips • An Arm And a Leg

Hey there, Like we said last month, Obamacare will get a lot more expensive next year — and since then, we’ve learned that workers with employer

armandalegshow.com

Our senior producer prepares to sign up for Obamacare in 2026 — a year millions are being hit with what @kffhealthnews.org calls a “double whammy” of rate increases and the expiration of federal subsidies. armandalegshow.com/episode/insu...

Will we be able to afford insurance in 2026? • An Arm And a Leg

An Arm and a Leg's senior producer has to sign up for Obamacare. And it turns out, it’s one heck of a year to do that. An Arm and a Leg's senior producer has to sign up for Obamacare. And it turns out...

armandalegshow.com

Loacker Quadratinis slowly taking over every aisle of my local grocery store

This undersells what insurance exchange policyholders will feel if Congress doesn't act. The 18 percent increase is on the raw cost of insurance. But many will also lose enhanced subsidies that expire at the end of December. Those people will feel an average increase of *more than 75%.*

Countdown Clock Begins for Giant Health Insurance Premium Increases

In around 90 days, millions of Americans will learn about out-of-pocket cost hikes of more than 75 percent on average.

prospect.org

You need a little hope in your day? Right here. The "one man" in the headline is @johngreensbluesky.bsky.social — who will be the first to tell you he didn't fight alone. Give a listen. (Disclosure: I co-reported this w/ @emilypisacreta.bsky.social.) www.organizedmoney.fm/p/how-one-ma...

How One Man Fought A Pharmaceutical Monopoly

Welcome to the podcast Organized Money.

organizedmoney.fm

We're all wary of em dashes now but we need to talk about ChatGPT laying waste to the rule of three

When a couple needed to buy health insurance, they found an affordable plan through a telemarketer. Soon, they realized they'd been hustled. They weren't the only ones.

One in four Americans say they've skipped taking meds in the past 12 months because of cost. We'd like to put a dent in that. With help from listeners and experts, we've been putting together the best collection of hacks, patches and workarounds we can. Now we're sharing it. armandalegshow.com

Soda bread a very difficult insulin calculation

We're collecting stories for An Arm and a Leg about your bespoke strategies for getting the medicine you need in a society that makes it really hard. Gimme your worst here and check out Dan's post for a list of some tried and (often) true existing options: armandalegshow.com/drugs/

Dan Weissmann@danweissmann.bsky.social · 2y ago

We’ve summarized the (main, inaqdequate) ways to get prescription drugs for cheaper — with help from @benro.me. One of ‘em might work for you. And: you might know something we don’t. We’d love you to chime in. As always, paywall-free. firstaidkit.substack.com/p/how-to-may...

Seeing lots of confusion about this in the diabetes-verse. The $35 copay cap on insulin for people with Medicare is still in effect (fwiw and all).

Larry Levitt@larrylevitt.bsky.social · 2y ago

Just to be clear: The Inflation Reduction Act is still in effect. It requires government negotiation of drug prices, a $35 insulin cap, and a $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap (all in Medicare). Trump has not taken a public position on the IRA's drug policies yet.

Been hard at work on this for months. The Maine Public team has been incredible to work with. current.org/2024/12/main...

Maine Public, ‘Frontline’ team up for three-pronged project about Lewiston shooting

"Breakdown" explores whether the incident that took 18 lives in 2023 could have been prevented.

current.org