Podcasts about first bill and other ways

At the end of this very special empowering episode, you're going to know how to get help paying your medical bills - without paying to get help paying your medical bills! Marshall Allen, journalist and author of Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win joins Dr. Virgie to share a big secret to successfully fight bogus medical bills - for free. You can do this! crushmedicaldebt.com/free-resources dollarfor.org patientadvocate.org singlecare.com

For a full transcript of this episode, click here. This show today is for physicians or other clinicians or providers who are still taking insurance—those who are going about their day being pretty normal ... but at the same time, they're noticing one and/or two things potentially going on. Here's thing one: They may be seeing patients struggling to afford care, especially patients with commercial insurance and huge deductibles. And/Or thing two: They may have patients actually coming in and asking to pay cash. It's definitely becoming known in some circles that about half the time the cash price for something is actually cheaper than the “negotiated” rate with an insurance carrier. And this has really become an actionable insight for patients who haven't yet met their deductible, and some high percentage of patients—maybe upwards of 90% of patients—won't meet their deductible in any given plan year. So, all of this is probably some pretty obvious foreshadowing, but let's run through two maybe quick reasons why a practice might want to contemplate ways to make it easier for patients to pay cash when it is, in fact, cheaper for that patient to pay cash than it is for them to go through their insurance. Now, a clarifying point here: We are not talking here about that patient always paying cash heretofore … like, never using their insurance ever again, even if they get hit by a bus. No. We're talking about the patient coming in for some office visit or service, and today, they want to pay with a wad of money they take out of their wallet and hand you. That is the end of the transaction that we're talking about here. So, here's the first of let's just say two reasons that a practice might want to entertain taking cash from insured (technically, at least) patients. First reason: We have a situation in this country where 48% of insured commercial patients say that they are delaying or forgoing care due to cost or fear of cost. Sometimes I say this 48% number to a clinician, and they will reply, “Well, that's not in my practice or in my hospital; our patients show up.” To which I reply, “Yeah, because the patients abandoning care are not the patients that are coming in. They are abandoning care.” Now, the second reason a “normie” practice might want to be thinking about how to help patients get the best possible price here is maybe less intuitive, but it's a financial motivation for the practice. I just saw Eric Vanderhoef. He wrote on a Listserv recently, and this is what he wrote: Patient no-shows and cancellations cost healthcare providers as much as $7500 per month. That's a loss of $375 per patient. Hmmm … okay. Keep this in mind: The whole cancellations costing providers upwards of $7500 a month would help reduce this. Coincidentally, I was talking to Paula Muto, MD (she's the founder of UBERDOC) about this exact same topic the other day—just the crazy no-show rates that many practices experience—and she made some really good points, which are exactly in line with the Tebra report Eric Vanderhoef referenced above. She said that if a patient knows exactly how much a physician visit is going to cost—because they're paying cash and the price is set between the doctor and the patient, so the price is the price, the end—no-shows will go down, and this is especially true when the appointment is tomorrow and not six months from now when appointments are booking these days. It's kind of not normal for anybody to know what's gonna be happening in lives six months from now, so no wonder patients fail to show. Dr. Muto is recommending maybe having a couple of slots open every day for patients who want to pay cash. Doing this could help improve some—not all, for sure, but some—practice cash flow issues which are caused by the no-show thing or the getting paid by the insurance carrier net whatever months later after a billing fight kind of thing. And it's also a win-win for patients with high-deductible plans, especially those patients who are coming in asking to pay cash. In the conversation today, Marshall Allen, my guest, explains how to, in a simple enough way, operationalize the ability of a practice to take cash. There's a form that you'll need for insured patients. You'll actually need a cash price. It's also a marketing opportunity. For example, you can get listed with entities that connect consumers to practices that take cash, like UBERDOC, but there's also a growing movement of employers, especially in some parts of the country, who are looking around for providers who will do direct contracting or cash prices. In fact, I just saw a study the other day: “New polling conducted by Marist … found that 94 percent of adults agreed that hospitals, insurance companies and doctors should ‘be legally required to disclose all of their prices, including discounted prices, cash prices, and insurance negotiated rates across hospitals and across plans in an easily accessible place online.'” Alright, if I know you, you are thinking right now about all of the reasons why this won't work. So, let me head you off at the pass. My guest today, Marshall Allen, solves for the most common issues that everybody brings up, including the big kahuna issue, the “I am contractually forbidden by a health plan to allow patients to pay cash.” You will need to listen to this podcast for the answer. Now, there are, of course, other hairballs to untangle that we do not address today. As Marshall Allen says, there are layers of dysfunction here. One bit of weirdness is something that David Schreiner, PhD, told me about the other day. David is CEO of Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital in Dixon, Illinois; and he's also the author of a new book entitled Be the Best Part of Their Day: Supercharging Communications With Values-driven Leadership. David said that sometimes hospital payer contracts have the payer reimbursing the hospital for a percentage of overall charges. Yes, you heard that right. The hospital totes up, using their charge master rates, the total amount of billings for the entire year; and the carriers pay a percentage of that total. So, the hospital has a big incentive to keep charge master rates as high as possible. If some patients pay lower cash amounts, then their carrier reimbursement (the hospital's carrier reimbursement) will drop. Probably some math there, I guess, because if it's determined that patients aren't actually showing up for services due to cost, then they might be getting paid a percentage of zero by the carriers; but point taken still. There are, for sure, considerations to be thought through; and, for sure, having contracts like this is one of them. I was talking to Lauren McAteer the other day, and she told me when she worked for a hospital and went to meetings, sometimes she'd bring in a hospital gown and hang it over a chair in the conference room to make it harder to not consider the patient perspective and think about how decisions impacted patients. Good idea, because where there's a will, there's often a way. My guest today, Marshall Allen, probably needs no introduction. But I ask Marshall for the skinny on how he started Allen Health Academy, and you will hear him introduce himself. So, in the interest of eschewing redundancy, let's do this thing. Also mentioned in this episode are Eric Vanderhoef; Paula Muto, MD; David L. Schreiner, PhD; Lauren McAteer, CCXP; Benjamin Jolley, PharmD; David Scheinker, PhD; William Shrank, MD; Jerry Durham; Leon Wisniewski; Cristin Dickerson, MD; and Dutch Rojas. You can learn more by signing up for Marshall's newsletter at marshallallen.substack.com. You can also go to Allen Health Academy or to Marshall's site.     Marshall Allen has spent more than 17 years investigating the healthcare system as a journalist. He is the founder of Allen Health Academy and the author of Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win. His book and his health literacy videos, The Never Pay Pathway, are helping working Americans save hundreds and thousands of dollars—per healthcare encounter. Marshall is a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and winner of the Harvard Kennedy School's Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting and dozens of other journalism awards. For more information, visit allenhealthacademy.com and sign up for his newsletter at marshallallen.substack.com.   07:04 What Allen Health Academy is doing. 11:01 What's the problem with the system now? 14:19 EP363 with David Scheinker, PhD. 14:27 EP413 with Will Shrank, MD. 14:34 What's the hack Marshall Allen shares for insured patients paying cash? 15:06 How can patients cite HIPAA to pay cash instead of using their insurance? 19:00 What's the first recommendation Marshall Allen has when dealing with healthcare billing? 21:26 EP297 with Jerry Durham. 21:48 What are the other benefits of a clinic accepting cash payments? 25:36 Why do we need to have more direct pay happening? 26:36 How should a medical provider set a cash price? 27:12 Research tools for fair pricing: fairhealthconsumer.org, BILLY, colonoscopyassist.com, Jason Health, Green Imaging. 32:36 How do you find the win-win between a patient and a doctor? 32:51 What's the final tier of partners in creating more direct-pay opportunities? 34:30 What's Marshall Allen's opinion on having to pay credit card fees?   You can learn more by signing up for Marshall's newsletter at marshallallen.substack.com. You can also go to Allen Health Academy or to Marshall's site.   @marshallallen discusses operationalizing cash payments for #clinicalpractices on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #pharma #healthcareleadership #healthcaretransformation #healthcareinnovation   Recent past interviews: Click a guest's name for their latest RHV episode! Stacey Richter (INBW39), Peter Hayes, Joey Dizenhouse, Benjamin Jolley, Emily Kagan Trenchard (Encore! EP392), Cora Opsahl (Encore! EP372), Jodilyn Owen, Ge Bai, Andreas Mang, Karen Root (Encore! EP381)  

Marshall Allen is a journalist who investigates why we pay so much for healthcare here in America, while simultaneously we receive so little in return. He is the author of “Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win” and he is also the founder of Allen Health Academy, which produces a curriculum of short on-demand videos to equip and empower employees to navigate the healthcare system. Marshall has been investigating the healthcare industry for 15 years, including over a decade at ProPublica. He also teaches investigative reporting at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York. We highly recommend that you listen to this episode if you're looking for practical ways to reduce how much you're spending on medical costs!   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Knowing your ‘money gear' is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It's fun, free, & practical. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool! Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   During this episode we enjoyed a Fade Away by Cruz Blanca Brewery - thanks to Dennis and our friends at the brewery for donating this one to the podcast! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you're not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our latest episode of Kosher Money features Marshall Allen, author of the thought-provoking book, "Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win."Allen challenges the status quo of healthcare billing and shares powerful insights on how individuals can effectively navigate and challenge medical expenses. With practical tips and alternative approaches, he empowers listeners to take control of their healthcare costs and fight back against a system that often seems overwhelming.You'll hear invaluable advice and actionable steps to help you navigate the healthcare system with confidence. Prepare to be inspired and equipped with the tools you need to fight for fair and reasonable medical expenses. I promise (or hope) this will change the way you approach your next hospital bill and empower you to win in the battle against exorbitant medical costs.HELPFUL LINKS:• Allen's Book on Amazon » https://amzn.to/3nXlQcm• His Free Newsletter » https://marshallallen.substack.com/• His Website » https://www.marshallallen.com/• Allen Health Academy » https://www.allenhealthacademy.com/✬ SPONSORS OF THIS EPISODE ✬► COLEL CHABAD: Please help Israel's neediest! Visit https://www.ColelChabad.org/KosherMoney to make a much-needed donation!► APPROVED FUNDING: Looking to purchase a home? Looking to get involved in real estate? Speak to Shmuel Shayowitz at https://approvedfunding.com/Shmuel/ to make sure you do it right.Our free call-in-to-listen feature is here:• USA: (712) 432-3489• UK: 0333-366-0154• ISRAEL: 079-579-5088Follow Kosher Money on social media:TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@koshermoneypodInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/koshermoneypodFor bonus content on our episodes, visit http://Mishpacha.com or pick up a new Mishpacha magazine weekly!Submit your questions to hi@LivingLchaim.com or WhatsApp us at 1-914-222-5513 - we love feedback, legit!Need financial guidance? Get help from our friends at https://LivingSmarterJewish.org/Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more awesome content! :)More shows here: https://www.livinglchaim.com/#FinancialEmpowerful #MedicalBills #KosherMoney #JewishPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the end of this empowering episode, you're going to know how to get help paying your medical bills - without paying to get help paying your medical bills! Marshall Allen, journalist and author of Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win joins Dr. Virgie to share a big secret to successfully fight bogus medical bills - for free. You can do this! crushmedicaldebt.com/free-resources dollarfor.org patientadvocate.org singlecare.com

At the end of this empowering episode, you're going to know how to get help paying your medical bills - without paying to get help paying your medical bills! Marshall Allen, journalist and author of Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win joins Dr. Virgie to share a big secret to successfully fight bogus medical bills - for free. You can do this! crushmedicaldebt.com/free-resources dollarfor.org patientadvocate.org singlecare.com

At the end of this empowering episode, you're going to know how to get help paying your medical bills - without paying to get help paying your medical bills! Marshall Allen, journalist and author of Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win joins Dr. Virgie to share a big secret to successfully fight bogus medical bills - for free. You can do this! crushmedicaldebt.com/free-resources dollarfor.org patientadvocate.org singlecare.com

Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win (Marshall Allen) Stuck with Nearly $17k in Unfair Medical Debt, What Could He Do? (Peste) Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts Want to support the show? Buy Me a Coffee --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/danielhillmedia/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/danielhillmedia/support

On this episode, Lester Morales interviews Marshall Allen, author of “Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win”. The two discuss healthcare literacy and how the industry continues to take advantage of employers and patients. He also shares several examples on how he's helped Americans fight the ever-rising cost of medical expenses successfully. Finally, Marshall provides both employers and patients with actionable advice on how they can ensure they are receiving fair prices for their healthcare.

Show Summary:In today's WIN, we discuss:Medical Debt ForgivenessThe Ups and Downs of Gas PricesGetting SaltyJoy & Vitality& Surgery Not RequiredUpdate: Peter's sauna has been installed and is running.  He is very excited!  We will revisit this in 3 months to see what physiologic changes have occurred in Peter after sustained sauna usage.Leave A Voice Memo | Review The Show | Follow | Subscribe | NewsletterWhat Is Now:Sarah's W.I.N's:Sarah discusses 8 keys to greater joy and vitality.  We discuss the 8 keys, some of which we currently implement and others we need to work on.  Listen to the show to hear the 8 keys!Peter loves salt!  Sarah gives us some of the many benefits of salt other than its use in food preparation.  Gary and Peter are amazed at what salt can do.Peter's W.I.N's:Peter discusses some recent research that indicates many surgeries are not necessary and that long-term outcomes are actually better without surgery and by using conservative management.  We discuss our own experiences with this as Physical Therapists and give our own recommendations to our listeners.Gary's W.I.N's:The major credit bureaus made an announcement recently changing the way that medical debt will be reported on credit reports.  We discuss these changes and why they are a good thing for the American people.A listener sent us an email asking why gas prices rose so quickly when oil prices went up but have since dropped slowly even though oil prices have dropped significantly.  Gary explains the concept of “rockets and feathers” and gives some reasons why this phenomenon occurs.  Hint: some of it is greed!Fan Feedback:Jackie wrote in to the show giving us some great tips on email cybersecurity.Heather left us a voice memo asking why the medical field in the United States doesn't recommend sauna use more after learning about all of the benefits we discussed in Episode 114.Resources:Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win, Marshall Allen

Health insurance was established to protect us from catastrophic financial loss, but David Contorno, CEO and founder of E-Powered Benefits, says, “medical debt is the number one cause of bankruptcy in the U.S., with the huge majority of them having had health insurance?”David explains how the typical broker and carrier contracts are structured so that they benefit most when costs go up. His firm turns the usual system of incentives around so they're paid on how much they lower costs. Learn about his firm's approach to building benefit plans that are built specifically for a company's culture and workforce … and discover why insurance carriers don't like him much.Connect with David on LinkedInDavid's viral post about Health Expenditure vs. Life ExpectancyGet the e-book Social Determinants of Health: A Springbuk PerspectiveMarshall Allen's book, Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and WinGet the complete 2022 Employee Health Trends reportConnect with our co-hosts Jennifer Jones and Mike Pattengale Subscribe so you don't miss an episode: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other popular podcast players.   Have feedback, questions, or suggestions for show ideas? Send them to us at podcast@springbuk.com.Please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, and share it with your friends and colleagues. We appreciate you and thank you for listening!Produced by David PittmanTheme music: "Overboard" by Stay Outside

Today's show features extensive coverage of Amazon workers voting to go union in New York City. Our focus on Ukraine continues as we explore The EU and Biden courting China. Also Ginni Thomas and recent polling shows that more Americans side with Will Smith over Chris Rock. Topics: Amazon workers celebrate Cesar Chavez Day by saying yes to going union on Staten Island but say no in Bessemer, Alabama; Starbucks goes union; Will Smith was never asked to leave; O.J. Simpson says he understands why Will Smith snapped; The Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union has a lot to learn from Christian Smalls' Amazon Labor Union; Congresswoman Katie Porter exposes the health insurance scam; Jay Z turns his back on Labor; PBS takes health care away for striking workers; New study says Ivermectin doesn't cure Covid Guests With Time Stamps (00:30) Late Breaking News: Amazon Labor Union wins in Staten Island (3:30) Grace Jackson, expert on China, talks about China's summit with the EU and The Biden Doctrine (32:28) David Does The News (1:29:00) Marshall Allen author of "Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win" (2:03:00) The Herschenfelds: Dr. Philip Herschenfeld and Ethan Herschenfeld Dr. Philip Herschenfeld is a Freudian psychoanalyst. Ethan Herschenfeld is a comedian and actor, and his new comedy special "Thug, Thug Jew" is streaming on YouTube. (2:32:37) Emil Guillermo host of the PETA Podcast, and a columnist for The Asian American Legal Defense And Education Fund. How do most Americans poll on the Will Smith slap. The results will depress you. (2:56:00) Ralphie Lane, America's youngest political satirist pops in (3:05:25) "Ain't No Chairs" written and performed by Professor Mike Steinel (3:11:03) The Rev. Barry W. Lynn's Religious Nut of The Week; If the Dems lose the House then Joe Biden will be impeached because of Hunter's laptop The Rev. Barry W. Lynn ran Americans United for Separation of Church and State for nearly a quarter of a century. He is a lawyer, a barrister, a counselor, and attorney, as well as a member of the Supreme Court Bar. He's also an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. (4:09:06) Joe In Norway prepares another mouthwatering dish (4:13:45) The Professors And Mary Anne: Professors Mary Anne Cummings, Ann Li, Jonathan Bick Ginni Thomas belonged to a fat shaming cult; Ukraine and Russia make headway with peace talks in Turkey; (5:21:07) Dave In PA and Chad work on a bowl (5:24:01) Alan Minsky with Meleiza Figueroa. Alan Minsky is executive director of Progressive Democrats of America. He is a lifelong activist, who has worked as a progressive journalist for the past two decades. Meleiza [muh-LIZ-uh] Figueroa is a PhD candidate in the Geography Department at UC Berkeley, a teacher-owner at The Cooperative New School for Urban Studies and Environmental Justice, and has extensive experience in progessive media and activism. Meleiza works trying to secure land management contracts for Indigenous tribes from the Federal, State, and Local governments.  

Topics: Trudeau arrests truckers; California says Tesla is racist; Trump's idiot kids must testify; Ukraine; Covid's new sub variant; Berkeley forgets to house its students;  Guests With Time Stamps: (00:30) "Still Ain't No Chairs In This Bessemer Shop" written and performed by Professor Mike Steinel (4:00) David Does the News (1:36:00) "I'm Traveling Light" written and performed by Professor Mike Steinel (1:41:00)  Marshall Allen (author of "Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win") (2:11:00) The Herschenfelds: Dr. Philip Herschenfeld (Freudian psychoanalyst), and Ethan Herschenfeld (his new comedy special "Thug, Thug Jew" is streaming on YouTube) (2:43:45) Emil Guillermo (host of the PETA Podcast, and columnist for The Asian American Legal Defense And Education Fund) introduces us to PETA's Kathy Guillermo, Senior Vice President, Laboratory Investigations (3:18:19) Dan Frankenberger's Community Billboard (3:30:36) The Rev. Barry W. Lynn (Americans United for Separation of Church and State) (4:02:30) The Professors And Mary Anne: Professors Mary Anne Cummings, Ann Li, Jonathan Bick, Adnan Husain Plus Joe In Norway cooks Tabouli (5:14:00) Professor Harvey J. Kaye ("FDR on Democracy") and Alan Minsky (executive director of Progressive Democrats of America) Plus Dave In PA and his buddy Chad work the lathe (5:54:55) Henry Hakamäki reports from Russia

Ralph welcomes investigative journalist, Marshall Allen, author of “Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win,” your "guerrilla" guidebook full of practical ways to keep your costs lower and your satisfaction higher. Plus, Ralph updates the Congress Club.

In this episode, Dan LaBroad continues his conversation with Marshall Allen on why you should never pay the first healthcare bill and the truth behind healthcare costs. He's spent more than fifteen years investigating the health care industry as a journalist, exposing the insidious ways the system preys on vulnerable Americans: price gouging, sloppy billing, fraud, insurance denials, unnecessary treatment, and more. He is the author of, “Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win”. His stories have been featured by the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, The Today Show, and other outlets. Speaking engagements include AcademyHealth, the Association of Health Care Journalists, the Michigan Hospital Association, the National Patient Safety Foundation, and Stanford's Medicine-X. Useful Links: Marshall Allen https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshallallen/ https://www.marshallallen.com/ This podcast is hosted by Dan LaBroad, CEO of Ovation Health & Life Services. https://ovationlife.com Produced by Work Innovators Network https://www.workinnovatorsstudios.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Healthcare journalist Marshall Allen joins Chris to discuss why you should never pay the first medical bill you receive. He also shares hacks that can help you prevent big medical bills before you get care, remove unreasonable charges, appeal insurance decisions, and lower the amount you pay for prescription drugs. Marshall Allen (@marshall_allen) was a reporter at ProPublica investigating the cost and quality of the U.S. healthcare system for over a decade. His work has been honored with several journalism awards, including the Harvard Kennedy School's Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting. He is also the author of Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win.Full show notes at: https://allthehacks.com/hacking-healthcare-marshall-allen Selected Links From The EpisodeConnect with Marshall Allen: Website | Twitter | LinkedInMarshall's Book: Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and WinMarshall Allen's Insurance Appeal MemosApple Health AppProPublica Surgeon Scorecard ProjectSave on prescription drugs: GoodRX | Good Shepherd Drug price comparison: Consumer Reports on Drug Prices Full Show NotesWho is Marshall Allen? [00:17]Why Marshall Allen dedicated his career to reporting about healthcare. [01:30]When he felt he had to write a book. [03:23]Important statistics about the healthcare crisis in the United States (and what it means to be functionally uninsured). [04:40]What does it mean to win the fight against the health care system? [07:01]A common cost you can probably avoid on your medical bill. [07:58]Should you negotiate your medical bill even if you have a low deductible? [09:13]The main reason the U.S. healthcare system is so broken. [13:26]Easy big wins to save on healthcare. [15:43]Are healthcare prices negotiable? [19:37]Why you should always ask for an itemized medical bill. [22:25]Chris' case studies: same ailment, two facilities, different charges. [23:23]Do hospitals have an obligation to charge a fair price? [29:10]What do you do when you receive unreasonable medical bills (how to sue in small claims court and what the open price term is). [31:56]Getting a medical bill before your insurance company responds to the charge (getting tricked to double pay).[42:46]How to fight your insurance company when they reject the care you need. [44:49]What if your insurance company doesn't cover the latest medical discoveries? [46:47]How do you find the best care (key indicators of medical quality)? [51:09]A question that will help you save money on procedures you don't need. [55:36]How to pick the right healthcare plan (while still saving money) [59:12]Health Savings Account vs. Flexible Savings Account. [1:03:32]Saving money on prescription drugs. [1:05:54]Boosting healthcare literacy in the U.S.  [1:07:48]Reach out to Marshall Allen. [1:11:17] SponsorThis episode is brought to you by BlockFi. BlockFi is the company I use to store all my crypto and I think they provide huge value because. Whether you buy your crypto with them or transfer in what you already have, you can start earning interest on all of it, which is a great way to earn some passive income with almost no effort. And that also includes stable coins based in us dollars where you can earn 9% without having your savings fluctuate with the crypto markets. This is where I store the cash I used to keep at a high yield savings account. Since opening my account, I've already earned thousands of dollars of interest.BlockFi also has a rewards credit card that instead of earning points or miles gives you Bitcoin back on every purchase you make offering 3.5% back in the first three months and 1.5% percent back after that. If you want to check out BlockFi, you can get an exclusive bonus of up to $250 free when you sign at https://allthehacks.com/blockfi. Connect with All the HacksAll the Hacks: Newsletter | Website | Facebook | EmailChris Hutchins: Twitter | Instagram | Website | LinkedIn

In this episode, Dan LaBroad speaks to Marshall Allen about why you should never pay the first healthcare bill and the truth behind healthcare costs. He's spent more than fifteen years investigating the health care industry as a journalist, exposing the insidious ways the system preys on vulnerable Americans: price gouging, sloppy billing, fraud, insurance denials, unnecessary treatment, and more. He is the author of, “Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win”. His stories have been featured by the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, The Today Show, and other outlets. Speaking engagements include AcademyHealth, the Association of Health Care Journalists, the Michigan Hospital Association, the National Patient Safety Foundation, and Stanford's Medicine-X. Useful Links: Marshall Allen https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshallallen/ https://www.marshallallen.com/ This podcast is hosted by Dan LaBroad, CEO of Ovation Health & Life Services. https://ovationlife.com Produced by Work Innovators Network https://www.workinnovatorsstudios.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every year, millions of Americans are overcharged and underserved while the health care industry makes record profits. We know something is wrong, but layers of complexity make it confusing and discouraging to do anything about it - it seems impossible for most. Our guest this week is Marshall Allen, author of Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win. Drawing on 15 years of investigating the health care industry, reporter Marshall Allen reveals the industry's pressure points and how companies and individuals have fought overbilling, price gouging, insurance denials, and more to get the care they deserve and protect against the system's predatory practices. The key message is that we, the consumer, can take back control of our health care. It is up to the American people to equip ourselves to fight back for the sake of our families–and everyone else. Consumers must lead the race to value. Episode Bookmarks:  01:40 An introduction to Marshall Allen and his work investigating the American healthcare system 03:35 The need for a grassroots consumer movement and employer-based disruption to reform a broken system 04:45 How Marshall's work in investigative healthcare journalism was informed by his work in ministry 05:50 Marshall explains how the healthcare system's business design violates the Golden Rule 08:15 “The business of medicine is conducted to maximize the profit for the industry, even at the financial harm of patients.” 08:30 Marshall's new book: “Never Pay the First Bill: and Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win.” 10:00 The victimization of patients that occurs through flawed system design and the “normalized deviance” by those delivering care 11:30 The importance of reframing the health system to eliminate the exploitation of patients for profit 12:15 “Our healthcare system is allows for the exploitation of sickness for profit.” 13:00 Marshall discusses the lack of an ethical position to exploit consumers for non-discretionary choices 13:20 The escalating price of insulin as an example of how inelastic demand is exploited for profit 15:00 Marshall explains how employers and patients can demand better value by no longer tolerating profit maximization 16:30 Referencing the recent JAMA Study on Medical Debt showing that 1 in 5 Americans have medical debt in collections 17:00 Using Marshall's new book as a step-by-step, tactical guerilla guide for patient and employer empowerment 19:30 The approval of non-effective drugs and pricing scams conducted by Big Pharma (e.g. the recent approval of Aduhelm) 20:20 Marshall explains how the specialty drug, Vimovo, is an egregious example of a Big Pharma profiteering scheme combining two common drugs with no additional therapeutic benefit (Marshall's article on Vimovo) 24:00 Motivated to write book to help patients facing financial ruination by healthcare 25:00 185 million Americans in the employer-sponsored insurance market as an opportunity for grassroots reform 25:30 Marshall's explains his family's personal experience of financial exploitation by the healthcare system (the Introduction to his book) 28:30 The need for patients to gather evidence when disputing medical billing errors and upcoding 31:30 The effectiveness of small claims courts in empowering patients who are being financially exploited 34:00 Marshall provides guidance on how patients can avoid unnecessary care 37:00 Comparing the financial incentives between capitated models vs. fee-for-service 38:00 Always ask for the cash price as a patient! (you don't always have to use insurance) 38:30 The massive price variation based on the site of service (e.g. MRIs in hospital vs. freestanding imaging center) 39:45 “You're not getting more for your money when you pay extra for healthcare.” 42:00 Marshall explains his mission to help patients develop financial literacy by developing co...

Marshall Allen is a journalist who investigates why we pay so much for healthcare here in America, while simultaneously we receive so little in return. He is the author of “Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win” and he is also the founder of Allen Health Academy, which produces a curriculum of short on-demand videos to equip and empower employees to navigate the healthcare system. Marshall has been investigating the healthcare industry for 15 years, including over a decade at ProPublica. He also teaches investigative reporting at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York. We highly recommend that you listen to this episode if you're looking for practical ways to reduce how much you're spending on medical costs! During this episode we enjoyed a Fade Away by Cruz Blanca Brewery - thanks to Dennis and our friends at the brewery for donating this one to the podcast! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you're not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money! Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

The author of "Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win" (https://books.google.com/books/about/Never_Pay_the_First_Bill.html?id=jfgLEAAAQBAJ&source=kp_book_description) on the various problems with our health care industry, and how consumers can gain leverage.

Steve Sprovach and Andy Shafer, a Chartered Financial Consultant at Allworth Financial and a regular on Simply Money, discuss the ways local employers are gearing up for another COVID surge. Brian James, a CFP on the Allworth team, joins the show to talk about the human reason why Wall Street stock pickers often can't beat the market, and a wild cryptocurrency scam that involved the actor Steven Seagal. Steve interviews Marshall Allen, author of “Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win” about some actionable ways to lower your medical bills.

Ross Patterson and Dan Hollaway are joined by Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist Marshall Allen to discuss his new book, "Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win". Allen explains how the U.S. healthcare system is set up to screw its customers over and how to beat (and fix) the system.    Go to ghostbed.com/drinkinbros and use code DRINKINBROS for 30% off EVERYTHING (Mattresses, Adjustable Base, and more) -- plus a 101 Night Sleep Trial and Mattresses Made in the USA!   Get better hydration today, go to LiquidIV.com and get 25% off ANYTHING you order when you use promo code DRINKINBROS.   Go to GetRoman.com/DRINKINBROS now, you'll get $15 off your first month.

Ross Patterson and Dan Hollaway are joined by Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist Marshall Allen to discuss his new book, "Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win". Allen explains how the U.S. healthcare system is set up to screw its customers over and how to beat (and fix) the system.    Go to ghostbed.com/drinkinbros and use code DRINKINBROS for 30% off EVERYTHING (Mattresses, Adjustable Base, and more) -- plus a 101 Night Sleep Trial and Mattresses Made in the USA!   Get better hydration today, go to LiquidIV.com and get 25% off ANYTHING you order when you use promo code DRINKINBROS.   Go to GetRoman.com/DRINKINBROS now, you'll get $15 off your first month.

"It's rare for anyone to try and tally the precise cost of unnecessary care. But when they do, the estimates are staggering. The Washington Health Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to making care safe and affordable, analyzed insurance claims from 1.3 million patients who received one of 47 tests or services that are considered overused or unnecessary. What they found should make patients and doctors rethink that next referral. In a single year, more than 600,000 patients underwent a treatment they didn't need, costing an estimated $282 million. More than a third of the money spent on the tests went to unnecessary care, their study found. Unnecessary medical care has 'become so normalized that I don't think people in the system see it,' Dr. Vikas Saini told me. Saini is president of The Lown Institute, a Boston think tank focused on making health care more effective, affordable and just. Lown researchers have shown how overtreatment happens across the spectrum of medical care. Doctors may push for Caesarean sections for their own convenience, not so moms and babies can be healthy. Breast cancer, prostate cancer and thyroid cancer get over-diagnosed, leading to harmful and costly treatment. Around a third of colonoscopies are unnecessary, research has shown. That's not just wasting our money. It's also putting us at risk of harm." Marshall Allen is a journalist and author of Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "How to avoid treatment you don't need." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/06/how-to-avoid-treatment-you-dont-need.html)

Marshall Allen is an investigative journalist that has spent more than fifteen years exposing the ways that the health care industry preys on vulnerable Americans. Marshall currently writes for ProPublica and was part of the team to be a Pulitzer finalist for their work in covering COVID-19. In this episode, Marshall discusses how his time investigating the American healthcare system has led to writing his new book, titled “Never Pay the First Bill: and Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win.” Marshall's career has seen him honoured with multiple journalism awards, such as the Harvard Kennedy School's 2011 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting and coming in as a finalist for the Pulitzer for his work at the Las Vegas Sun, where he worked before writing at ProPublica in 2011. In this episode, you'll hear about real-life victories as employers and employees fight the healthcare industry. From dealing with price gouging, errors in billing, fraud and unnecessary treatments, Marshall has seen it all. Tune in to hear how employers and employees can fight back and protect themselves from being taken advantage of by the healthcare delivery and payment system. Here's a glance at what you'll hear from Marshall in this episode: Why Americans pay so much for healthcare whilst getting so little in return How Marshall's career in investigative journalism led to him writing ‘Never Pay the First Bill' Why the business side of healthcare was designed to exploit both clinicians and patients How hospitals and insurance companies look after each other rather than the employee/employer. The inefficiencies and errors presented in the majority of medical bills and how to fight back Timestamps: 0:20 – Introduction to Marshall Allen 2:20 – Why did Marshall write: ‘Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win' 7:08 – “The business side of healthcare was designed to exploit both clinicians and patients” – How the healthcare system takes advantage of Americans 9:00 – The price variation patients deal with when going to hospital 11:35 – Why aren't hospitals showing transparent pricing and why aren't insurance companies loyal to the employer/employee? 15:15 – Employers are passing costs onto their employees 16:30 – Increasing health literacy for employees and employers 17:20 – How common are errors in medical bills? 19:20 – The medical debt collecting industry 21:30 – How to deal with medical debt 22:18 – Why would you sue a medical provider for an unfair bill 24:20 – The open price contract rule: Don't pay more than Medicare would 26:04 – How a hospital would react to a lawsuit in Small Claims Court 28:00 – Using a referenced based pricing plan and why hospitals don't like it 30:20 – Share your medical finance victories with Marshall 31:10 – Everybody's Guide to Small Claims Court 31:58 – Being aware of medical finance risks and how to avoid them 33:45 – Avoiding unnecessary care 34:10 – Avoiding immediate care 35:20 – Mammograms: An unnecessary care example? 38:05 – Stories of fraud in medical care and finance 40:40 – The David Williams case 44:00 – Who investigates fraud? 46:30 – Standing up to a bully: How to push back 49:45 – How to connect with Marshall Allen Resources: Follow Marshall Allen on ProPublica: https://www.propublica.org/people/marshall-allen (https://www.propublica.org/people/marshall-allen) Follow Marshall Allen on Twitter: https://twitter.com/marshall_allen?lang=en (https://twitter.com/marshall_allen?lang=en) Connect with Marshall Allen via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshallallen/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshallallen/) Never Pay the First Bill on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3tS01ZQ (https://amzn.to/3tS01ZQ) Marshall Allen's website: https://www.marshallallen.com/about-marshall (https://www.marshallallen.com/about-marshall) Fair Health Consumer: https://www.fairhealthconsumer.org/ (https://www.fairhealthconsumer.org/)...

There's no question the healthcare system is broken. Everyone overpays for subpar services compared to other developed nations -- and it's costing both employers and working Americans. What can we do to curtail the high costs of healthcare?  On this episode author and journalist, Marshall Allen joins Jeffrey to talk about his new book. “Never Pay for the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win.” Marshall has spent the last 15 years of his career investigating the healthcare industry and finding out what pitfalls we all fall into and how to take on a heavily bureaucratic system. Connect with Marshall and buy the book: https://www.marshallallen.com/ Join the C-Suite Network: https://c-suitenetwork.com/executive-membership Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Scientists Announce Successful Experiment to Bankrupt Mouse That Can't Afford Cancer Drug.” That's a recent headline from The Onion, which is, by the way, a funny satire newspaper, if you haven't heard of it. You could swap out “Cancer Drug” in that headline with “a Trip to the ER”—or pretty much any aspect of health care in this country. No matter what health care service you stick in there as the potential cause for a mouse's bankruptcy, it's a pretty LOL headline, right? But the reason why it became a headline is because obviously it's based on a truth that resonates with your regular citizens in this country. Think about that. A critical mass of people around here believe that health care will bankrupt you. This is one of those sociological signals that has implications to health care leaders. Here's another signal with implications. In this health care podcast, I'm interviewing the incomparable Marshall Allen. That's not the signal. His book, Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win, a book with that title being on the New York Times best seller list, is the signal. Marshall's book is an instruction manual for patients on how to fight back against unfair and/or egregiously inaccurate bills.  This interview with Marshall Allen is different from others that you may be hearing. Marshall wrote a book to motivate patients, a critical mass of patients, to get empowered relative to their health care bills. Because listeners of this show are health care executives, I wanted this interview to be relevant to you. What does this book mean for you? Doug Aldeen told me one time, unless something has a direct impact on the CEO or leadership team at a health system or insurance company, they're just bored. Let me sum up this interview in one sentence: This is not boring. If you want to skip to the exact examples of “not boring,” you can skip ahead to about the 30-minute mark. We go through the ways that health systems can and probably will be hurt by the financial toxicity that they create. Here's the three-ish ways that Marshall and I talk about: Doctors who no longer trust their employers (ie, the health systems they work for) leave and then you have to recruit new doctors—#problematicandexpensiveonanumberoflevels, but I don't need to tell you that. Reputational damage. When the slogan on the door becomes a joke, that's a problem. Employers and taxpayers reading best-selling books like this one and Marty Makary's (which also is or was just recently on the best seller list) and learning how to not be basically passive suckers anymore.  You can find Marshall's book, Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win, anywhere that books are sold. Marshall Allen investigates why we pay so much for health care in the United States and get so little in return. He is the author of the new book, Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win. He is also the founder of Allen Health Academy, which produces a curriculum of short on-demand videos to equip and empower employees to navigate the health care system. Marshall has investigated the health care industry for 15 years, including a decade at ProPublica. He has also spent a decade as an educator at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at The City University of New York. His work has been honored with many journalism awards, including some of the top business reporting honors, the Harvard Kennedy School's Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting, and twice as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Before he was in journalism, Marshall spent 5 years in full-time ministry, including 3 years in Nairobi, Kenya. He has a master's degree in theology.  03:35 What's the point of view that Marshall is coming from with his investigative reporting? 04:06 “How does this affect the people who are paying for it and the people who are undergoing the care?” 04:58 “There's a lot of good people working within this very messed up system.” 05:12 Why are patients considered outsiders in the health care system? 05:55 “What's happened in health care is that the stakeholders treat each other more as the customer.” 07:54 What is upcoding? 11:27 “These are schemes that have been created within the industry to increase revenue.” 11:56 “This system is not set up for the benefit of the patient.” 12:22 “On the financial side, the industry is actually oppressing the American people.” 12:39 Can a critical mass of patients force health systems to become more accountable? 16:02 “We have been expected to pay whatever aggregate sum is thrown at us.” 17:09 Why have patients been so passive toward this crooked health care system so far? 18:04 “They're violating the trust of the American people when they don't treat us fairly.” 19:28 “It's totally legal to do that, [but] is it ethical?” 20:11 What's the difference between making a profit and profiteering? 21:43 “It's hard to argue against your own paycheck.” 29:57 “The things that matter most to people are their health and their money.” 33:51 What are the first-order and second-order consequences of what's happening in health care right now, and which of these consequences will actually drive change? 34:56 “When you tell the truth about what's going on … they become so ashamed … that they change their behavior.” 36:10 “The patient … is not their most important customer.” 39:03 “The sleeping giant is the employers.” You can find Marshall's book, Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win, anywhere that books are sold. @marshall_allen, author of “Never Pay the First Bill,” discusses #financialtoxicity in the #healthcaresystem on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #healthsystem “How does this affect the people who are paying for it and the people who are undergoing the care?” @marshall_allen, author of “Never Pay the First Bill,” discusses #financialtoxicity in the #healthcaresystem on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #healthsystem “There's a lot of good people working within this very messed up system.” @marshall_allen, author of “Never Pay the First Bill,” discusses #financialtoxicity in the #healthcaresystem on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #healthsystem Why are patients considered outsiders in the health care system? @marshall_allen, author of “Never Pay the First Bill,” discusses #financialtoxicity in the #healthcaresystem on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #healthsystem “These are schemes that have been created within the industry to increase revenue.” @marshall_allen, author of “Never Pay the First Bill,” discusses #financialtoxicity in the #healthcaresystem on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #healthsystem “This system is not set up for the benefit of the patient.” @marshall_allen, author of “Never Pay the First Bill,” discusses #financialtoxicity in the #healthcaresystem on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #healthsystem “On the financial side, the industry is actually oppressing the American people.” @marshall_allen, author of “Never Pay the First Bill,” discusses #financialtoxicity in the #healthcaresystem on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #healthsystem Can a critical mass of patients force health systems to become more accountable? @marshall_allen, author of “Never Pay the First Bill,” discusses #financialtoxicity in the #healthcaresystem on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #healthsystem Why have patients been so passive toward this crooked health care system so far? @marshall_allen, author of “Never Pay the First Bill,” discusses #financialtoxicity in the #healthcaresystem on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #healthsystem “They're violating the trust of the American people when they don't treat us fairly.” @marshall_allen, author of “Never Pay the First Bill,” discusses #financialtoxicity in the #healthcaresystem on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #healthsystem “It's totally legal to do that, [but] is it ethical?” @marshall_allen, author of “Never Pay the First Bill,” discusses #financialtoxicity in the #healthcaresystem on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #healthsystem What's the difference between making a profit and profiteering? @marshall_allen, author of “Never Pay the First Bill,” discusses #financialtoxicity in the #healthcaresystem on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #healthsystem “It's hard to argue against your own paycheck.” @marshall_allen, author of “Never Pay the First Bill,” discusses #financialtoxicity in the #healthcaresystem on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #healthsystem “The things that matter most to people are their health and their money.” @marshall_allen, author of “Never Pay the First Bill,” discusses #financialtoxicity in the #healthcaresystem on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #healthsystem “The sleeping giant is the employers.” @marshall_allen, author of “Never Pay the First Bill,” discusses #financialtoxicity in the #healthcaresystem on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #healthsystem

Rich thought nothing of going to the hospital for a routine colonoscopy—until he got the bill. Even with insurance, Rich is on the hook for nearly $2,000, way more than he ever expected. It's particularly painful because Rich was planning to finally pay off his credit card debt before getting married. So what can he do? Our expert this week has a suggestion—don't pay the bill, at least, not at first. On this episode of How To!, we bring on investigative reporter Marshall Allen, author of Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win, to walk Rich through his options. While most of us pay our hospital bills without thinking twice, Marshall says there are several surprisingly easy steps we can all take to make sure we're not being overcharged. High healthcare costs may be inevitable, but we can still fight back. If you liked this episode, check out How To Give Your Mom a Kidney. Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now at slate.com/howtoplus. Podcast production by Derek John, Rachael Allen, Margaret Kelly and Rosemary Belson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rich thought nothing of going to the hospital for a routine colonoscopy—until he got the bill. Even with insurance, Rich is on the hook for nearly $2,000, way more than he ever expected. It's particularly painful because Rich was planning to finally pay off his credit card debt before getting married. So what can he do? Our expert this week has a suggestion—don't pay the bill, at least, not at first. On this episode of How To!, we bring on investigative reporter Marshall Allen, author of Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win, to walk Rich through his options. While most of us pay our hospital bills without thinking twice, Marshall says there are several surprisingly easy steps we can all take to make sure we're not being overcharged. High healthcare costs may be inevitable, but we can still fight back. If you liked this episode, check out How To Give Your Mom a Kidney. Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen. Podcast production by Derek John, Rachael Allen, Margaret Kelly and Rosemary Belson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Biden administration is moving to undo many of the changes the Trump administration made to the enrollment process for the Affordable Care Act to encourage more people to sign up for health insurance. Meanwhile, Congress is opening investigations into the controversial approval by the Food and Drug Administration of an expensive drug that might (or might not) slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Joanne Kenen of Politico, Kimberly Leonard of Insider and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KHN's Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also, Rovner interviews Marshall Allen of ProPublica about his new book, “Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win.”

We hear people say all the time that they have "great" or "terrible" health insurance -- but what does that really mean?Marshall Allen's new book "Never Pay the First Bill - And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win" argues that insurance companies are simply middle men who do not actually accept a true risk transfer (in most cases).We break down what it really means to "have great insurance" and what to look for in a quality benefit program.Link to purchase Never Pay the First Bill:https://www.amazon.com/Never-Pay-First-Bill-Health/dp/0593190009Intro music is composed by Bensound (bensound.com)

Americans consistently identify the cost of health care as their number one financial concern. That's especially true for the 155 million working Americans and their employers who are paying the highest costs of all. Americans pay about twice as much per person when compared to the citizens of other developed nations -- and yet tens of millions of Americans are still are uninsured or underinsured, and about 1 in 6 has medical debt in collections. The health care industry would like people to believe that there's nothing we can do about these exorbitant health care costs. That's not true. With the right tools, guidance, and support -- savvy consumers and employers can protect themselves from the predatory side of the health care system and achieve better health care at a lower price. In "Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win," award-winning ProPublica reporter Marshall Allen provides a step-by-step guide to show what consumers and employers can

The high cost of healthcare is not something many of us think about--unless we become seriously sick. Olivia was shocked to be diagnosed with cancer at the age of 34. The New York City-based small business owner received over a million dollars in treatment and was left with thousands of dollars in medical bills, despite having health insurance. To help Olivia and others struggling with debt from medical care, host Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez sits down with Marshall Allen, an investigative journalist at ProPublica and author of the new book Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win, to discuss how to best navigate America's costly and complex healthcare system. If, like Olivia, you have a money story or question to share, you can send us an email at money.confidential@realsimple.com. You can also leave us a voicemail at ‪(929) 352-4106‬.

The award-winning ProPublica reporter discusses his new book, "Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win" (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/635536/never-pay-the-first-bill-by-marshall-allen/).

Why are health care costs so much higher in the U.S. compared with other countries? In his new book “Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win,” investigative reporter and author Marshall Allen shares stories from real people dealing with high medical bills and details concrete steps for how individuals and employers can challenge the system.

In the final episode of the season, David highlights pro tips from the experts themselves: patient advocates Linda Michelson and AnnMarie McIlwain. Dr. David Blumenthal of The Commonwealth Fund joins to shine the light on tangible solutions on how to restructure our national health care system. Resources from the episode: Check out Marshall Allen's book, Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win: https://www.marshallallen.com/ Contact Linda Michelson: https://medicalbillproblems.com/ Contact AnnMarie McIlwain and her team: http://www.patientadvocators.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwnueFBhChARIsAPu3YkR5dzaS6o-jIY8ZJUoJZUlRku1bWMVgVYfnn5wQ4F-c1YwmDUbMihIaAnb9EALw_wcB Keep up with the Commonwealth Fund: https://www.commonwealthfund.org/ AdvoConnection’s patient advocates directory: https://profile.advoconnection.com/ AdvoConnection’s comprehensive overview of patient advocacy: https://www.aphadvocates.org/profession-overview/ National Patient Advocate Foundation’s resources on choosing the best health care plan for you: https://www.npaf.org/patients-and-caregivers/how-to-choose-a-plan/ CoPatient’s resources for making sure your bills are fair and accurate: https://www.copatient.com/ Keep up with David on twitter @CHIDavidSmith. Share your feedback! Email us at costofcare@lemonadamedia.com or leave us a voicemail at 833-453-6662. Support for this episode of The Cost of Care comes from Healthline.com, America’s leading digital health brand. Visit healthline.com/costofcare now, and stay connected by following @healthline on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Healthline: Powering healthy actions and supporting you on your journey to well-being. Support for this podcast comes from The Commonwealth Fund, a health care research foundation working to improve the U.S. health system. Visit commonwealthfund.org/costofcare, and stay connected by following us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Commonwealth Fund: Affordable, quality health care. For everyone. You can click this link for a full list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows. To follow along with a transcript and/or take notes for friends and family, go to https://www.lemonadamedia.com/show/thecostofcare/ shortly after the air date. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.