Podcasts about medicare for all

This week on CodeWACK! Medicare for All is back in the spotlight! With two new bills recently introduced in Congress, what makes these proposals different from earlier versions— and why are some advocates feeling hopeful, even in the current political climate? What would a truly public, universal health care system look like, and how could it help curb the soaring costs, corporate greed, and bureaucracy plaguing our current system? To unpack this, we spoke with Rachel Madley, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Center for Health and Democracy. A former health policy advisor to Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal — lead sponsor of the House Medicare for All bill — Rachel helped shape and reintroduce the landmark legislation in 2023. She's also a former FDA staffer and holds a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from Columbia University, where she was active in both Physicians for a National Health Program and Students for a National Health Program. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more! And please keep Code WACK! on the air with a tax-deductible donation at heal-ca.org/donate.

This week on CodeWACK! Single payer is back in the spotlight with Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Pramila Jayapal  submitting new Medicare for All bills for 2025-26! How will the upcoming National Day of Action on May 31st keep the need for healthcare reform in the spotlight? And how do physicians feel about single payer today, 60 years after the American Medical Association's infamous ‘stealth campaign' against socialized medicine (featuring none other than Ronald Reagan)?  To find out, we recently talked to Dr. Ana Malinow, who spent three decades working as a pediatrician with immigrant, refugee and underserved children before retiring as clinical professor of Pediatrics from UC San Francisco School of Medicine. The past president of Physicians for a National Health Program, she is on the steering committee of National Single Payer. She's also a lead organizer for The Movement to End Privatization of Medicare. This is the second episode in a two-part series. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more! And please keep Code WACK! on the air with a tax-deductible donation at heal-ca.org/donate.   

This week on CodeWACK!   Why is National Single Payer organizing a National Day of Action on May 31 amid cuts and freezes to public health programs? How has an incremental approach to universal health care in America made comprehensive healthcare reform more difficult?  To find out, we recently talked to Dr. Ana Malinow, who spent three decades working as a pediatrician with immigrant, refugee and underserved children before retiring as clinical professor of Pediatrics from UC San Francisco School of Medicine. The past president of Physicians for a National Health Program, she is on the steering committee of National Single Payer. She's also a lead organizer for The Movement to End Privatization of Medicare. This is the first episode in a two-part series. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more! And please keep Code WACK! on the air with a tax-deductible donation at heal-ca.org/donate.   

This time on CodeWACK!... What's it like operating an abortion clinic in Wyoming, one of the most anti-abortion states in the nation? Meet Julie Burkhart — longtime reproductive rights advocate, founder and CEO of Trust Women Foundation, which works to expand access to abortion care in underserved communities, and protégé of Dr. George Tiller, who was murdered for providing abortion care. Hear how Dr. Tiller's legacy lives on through her work.  Why are patients traveling hundreds of miles for abortion care, post-Roe? What's it been like to offer care in as state where arson, litigation, and political threats against reproductive care providers are part of daily life.   Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!  And please keep Code WACK! on the air with a tax-deductible donation at heal-ca.org/donate.

This time on Code WACK!  Can our local health departments counteract the mixed messages given by RFK, Jr. the secretary of Health and Human Services, about vaccine safety and efficacy? What about us? How can we combat disinformation and highlight the benefits of vaccinating our children and ourselves? To find out, we spoke with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed—physician, epidemiologist, author, and county health commissioner. He is formerly the health director for the city of Detroit.  As the host of the award-winning America Dissected podcast, he breaks down the forces shaping public health for tens of thousands of listeners each week. This is the second of two episodes with Dr. El-Sayed.  Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more! And please keep Code WACK! on the air with a tax-deductible donation at heal-ca.org/donate.

This time on Code WACK!  What could Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services mean for the public health of everyday Americans, given his history of vaccine misinformation? With measles already on the rise and deadly, and the looming threat of future pandemics, how might his leadership shape the nation's response to infectious diseases? To find out, we spoke with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed—physician, epidemiologist, author, and county health commissioner. He is formerly the health director for the city of Detroit.  As the host of the award-winning America Dissected podcast, he breaks down the forces shaping public health for tens of thousands of listeners each week. This is the first of two episodes with Dr. El-Sayed.    Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!  And please keep Code WACK! on the air with a tax-deductible donation at heal-ca.org/donate.

Morning Joe guest Steven Rattner: "Do we really want to go back to #MedicareForAll?" Trump goes on world's most pathetic rant about a painting of him that he thinks is unflattering. David Pakman on TYT to discuss his new book. Turkey detains more than 1,000 in protests since Istanbul mayor's arrest. Hosts: Cenk Uygur SUBSCRIBE on YOUTUBE ☞ https://www.youtube.com/@TheYoungTurks FOLLOW US ON: FACEBOOK ☞ https://www.facebook.com/theyoungturks TWITTER ☞ https://twitter.com/TheYoungTurks INSTAGRAM ☞ https://www.instagram.com/theyoungturks TIKTOK ☞ https://www.tiktok.com/@theyoungturks

THIS TIME ON CODE WACK!   How is Ireland's plan for single-tier, universal health care, known as Sláintecare, funded? Is it sustainable long term? What improvements has the nation's healthcare system seen so far – and what can America learn from this? To find out, we spoke to Dr. Sara Burke, associate professor and director of the Centre for Health Policy and Management in Trinity College Dublin's School of Medicine.  She is the Principal Investigator of a research project entitled 'Health system foundations for Sláintecare implementation in 2020 and beyond …' and Co-Director of  SPHeRE, Ireland's national research training program for population health, policy and health services research. Her research interests include health policy, inequities in health, healthcare access and the politics of health reform. This is the second of two episodes with Dr. Burke. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more! And please keep Code WACK! on the air with a tax-deductible donation at heal-ca.org/donate.

This time on Code WACK!  How did desegregation impact Black patients in America? What hasn't changed? What does racism in medicine look like today? And what should we do when we see it?  To break it down, we spoke to Dr. Barbara Berney, project creator and producer of the documentary “Power to Heal: Medicare and the Civil Rights Revolution.” She's also an emeritus professor at City University of New York School of Public Health and a distinguished scholar in public health, environmental justice, and the U.S. healthcare system. This is the second of two episodes with Dr. Berney. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!  Keep Code WACK! on the air with a tax-deductible donation at heal-ca.org/donate.

This time on Code WACK!  What did segregation look like in hospitals and medical facilities in America, and did it only extend to the South? What finally brought an end to the deadly practice that cost countless Black and Brown lives?  To break it down, we spoke to Dr. Barbara Berney, project creator and producer of the documentary “Power to Heal: Medicare and the Civil Rights Revolution.” She's also an emeritus professor at City University of New York School of Public Health and a distinguished scholar in public health, environmental justice, and the U.S. healthcare system. This is the first of two episodes with Dr. Berney. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!

This time on Code WACK!    What's at stake for Medicaid—the lifeline for millions of low-income Americans—under President Donald Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress determined to slash spending? How would cutting Medicaid affect the more than 72 million people who rely on it for health care? And is Social Security next on the chopping block?  To break it down, we spoke with Alex Lawson, executive director of Social Security Works, an organization fighting to protect and expand Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid; lower drug prices; and ensure health care as a human right. This is part one of a two-part series.   Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!

Max and 99 are back for Show Notes! They catch up with some movie talk and dive deep into the Non-Negotiables and hives. Enjoy! Chapters Intro: 00:00:20 Housekeeping: 00:19:47 Emails: 00:32:20 Memberships: 01:23:32 Outro: 01:24:59 Resources Join us on Bluesky and Discord Ken Lefkowitz: Medicare For All: An Economic Rationale Abdul El-Sayed and Micah Johnson: Medicare For All: A Citizen’s Guide Unf*cker Recommendations Michael Bazzell: Extreme Privacy: What It Takes to Disappear Electronic Frontier Foundation Kevin Mitnick: The Art of Invisibility + The Art of Deception The Guardian: US immigration is gaming Google to create a mirage of mass deportations UNFTR Episode Resources Housing First. A Civilian Labor Corps. Medicare For All. -- If you like #UNFTR, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify: unftr.com/rate and follow us on Facebook, Bluesky, TikTok and Instagram at @UNFTRpod. Visit us online at unftr.com. Buy yourself some Unf*cking Coffee at shop.unftr.com. Check out the UNFTR Pod Love playlist on Spotify: spoti.fi/3yzIlUP. Visit our bookshop.org page at bookshop.org/shop/UNFTRpod to find the full UNFTR book list, and find book recommendations from our Unf*ckers at bookshop.org/lists/unf-cker-book-recommendations. Access the UNFTR Musicless feed by following the instructions at unftr.com/accessibility. Unf*cking the Republic is produced by 99 and engineered by Manny Faces Media (mannyfacesmedia.com). Original music is by Tom McGovern (tommcgovern.com). The show is hosted by Max and distributed by 99. Podcast art description: Image of the US Constitution ripped in the middle revealing white text on a blue background that says, "Unf*cking the Republic."Support the show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unftrSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This time on Code WACK!    Why are some 200,000 Americans dying each year due to issues with their health insurance and access to care? Would a single payer healthcare system put a stop to this?  To find out, we interviewed Dr. James G. Kahn, an expert in health policy and economics, and advisor to Code WACK! and editor and primary blogger of Health Justice Monitor.      Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!

This time on Code WACK!    The strong reactions to the tragic murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson by alleged killer Luigi Mangione are bringing renewed attention to the abuses of for-profit health insurance. How does our complex, costly, and callous for-profit healthcare system contribute to America's high mortality rate and how many people are believed to die each year as a result? To find out, we interviewed Dr. James G. Khan, an expert in health policy and economics, and advisor to Code WACK! and editor and primary blogger of Health Justice Monitor, a health policy blog.    Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!

This time on Code WACK!    For the second episode in our two-part series on racism in medicine, in honor of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr, we're asking the question: What is racially concordant care and how does it help save lives? What else can be done to reduce deadly disparities in medicine?    To find out, we spoke to Dr. Uché Blackstock. Blackstock, author of the New York Times best-selling book “Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine,” which is now available in paperback.  She's also the founder and CEO of Advancing Health Equity, an organization that aims to dismantle racism in healthcare and narrow racial health inequities. Blackstock was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in Global Health and one of the Top 13 Innovators Shaping the Future of Health by Fortune Magazine.   Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!

This time on Code WACK!    Why have U.S. administrations from both sides of the aisle chosen to privatize Medicare and how has that complicated health care for patients? How do mega insurance companies benefit as a result? How much is all this costing us, anyway? And what can we do about it? To find out, we spoke with Wendell Potter, a former health insurance industry executive turned whistleblower, the New York Times bestselling author of Deadly Spin and the president of the Center for Health and Democracy. He's also the author of the Substack newsletter HEALTH CARE un-covered which chronicles out-of-control profiteering in U.S. health care, its impact on everyday Americans, and potential policy solutions.  Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!

THIS TIME ON CODE WACK! In the wake of the recent presidential election, we're revisiting one of our favorite podcast episodes from 2023 about the hurdles America's Indigenous peoples face in accessing health care.  What's being done to help elder Native Americans receive culturally competent long term care? Would it surprise you to learn that relying on the Indian Health Service may not be enough to meet their needs? Why are some members of this highly vulnerable population buying health insurance too?  To find out, we spoke to Elder Billie Tohee, acting executive director of the Albuquerque-based National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA) and former chair of the board. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!

This time on Code WACK!    Why are seniors between a rock and a hard place when choosing between various Medicare options? How do private Medicare plans, known as Medicare Advantage, limit patients' options and why are they considered riskier than traditional Medicare? And what's the ‘Medigap Trap?' To find out, we spoke to Dr. Diljeet Singh, an integrative gynecologic oncologist and the incoming president of Physicians for a National Health Program [PNHP]. With more than 25,000 members across the United States, PNHP advocates for a universal, comprehensive, single-payer national health program. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!  

SummaryThe conversation between progressive commentators discusses Luigi Mangione's actions and the systemic failures of the U.S. healthcare system, tying his story to broader issues of class inequity, corporate greed, and media bias. Highlighting the human cost of a profit-driven healthcare model, the speakers emphasize the need for systemic reform and the role of independent media in addressing these injustices.Key Takeaways* Healthcare Inequities: Tens of thousands die annually due to healthcare denials, exposing the U.S. system's failures.* Legislative Action: A bipartisan bill addresses monopolistic practices by separating pharmacy benefit managers from health insurers.* Media Bias: The media disproportionately condemns Mangione's actions while neglecting the systemic violence of healthcare injustices.* Class Struggle: The healthcare crisis transcends political divides, highlighting corporate exploitation of marginalized communities.* Independent Media's Role: Platforms like Decolonized Journalism, The Journeyman, Egberto Off The Record, Thom Hartmann, John Pavlovitz, and Politics Done Right are critical in exposing these inequities and pushing for systemic change.Progressive PerspectiveLuigi Mangione's story is a symptom of a more extensive, unjust system prioritizing profit over people. The conversation underscores how corporate control over healthcare perpetuates suffering while the media silences marginalized voices. Backed by grassroots action and independent journalism, progressive reform is essential to dismantle these structures and ensure healthcare as a human right.Luigi Mangione's case has amplified a critical conversation about the systemic failures of the U.S. healthcare industry. Arturo Dominguez, a progressive journalist and advocate, has unpacked the complexities surrounding this controversial figure, arguing that Mangione's actions and the subsequent public discourse underline how corporate greed perpetuates life-altering injustices. While no one condones violence, the incident reveals a deeply rooted frustration with a profit-driven healthcare system that has left countless Americans to suffer and die unnecessarily.A Broken System: The Human Cost of Profit Over CareThe United States remains the only industrialized nation without universal healthcare, a stark reality that claims tens of thousands of lives annually. People die because they are denied coverage, face insurmountable medical bills, or cannot afford life-saving prescriptions. Dominguez poignantly shares his struggles as a stroke survivor saddled with overwhelming medical debt. This lived experience echoes the stories of millions nationwide who are one medical emergency away from financial ruin.The healthcare system operates as an oligopoly where a handful of corporations dictate policies, control drug prices, and prioritize profits over patients. Mangione's actions, however extreme, have ignited widespread outrage, forcing both the public and legislators to confront these inequities. The bipartisan introduction of a bill by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Josh Hawley—requiring companies to separate their roles as pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) or health insurers—illustrates the growing recognition of the need for systemic reform. This legislation directly targets the monopolistic practices that enable corporations to exploit patients under the guise of providing care.Media Narratives: Whose Lives Matter?Dominguez critiques the media's selective outrage, contrasting the coverage of Mangione's actions with its apathy toward the healthcare system's ongoing violence. Just as the press disproportionately values certain lives in international conflicts—highlighting Israeli deaths while minimizing the tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties—it mirrors this bias domestically by neglecting the plight of those who die due to healthcare inaccessibility.The mainstream media's portrayal of Mangione as either a folk hero or a villain fails to address the systemic failures that fueled his actions. This is not about idolizing Mangione but about recognizing the broader implications of his story. Even far-right figures like Ben Shapiro, typically opposed to progressive reforms, faced backlash from their audiences for dismissing Mangione's actions. This cross-ideological frustration underscores that healthcare inequities transcend political divides, resonating as a universal issue of class oppression.Class Struggles and Corporate PowerDominguez frames the healthcare crisis as a class issue rather than a partisan one. The poor and marginalized—regardless of race, ethnicity, or political affiliation—bear the brunt of the system's failures. This resonates with the broader struggle against corporate dominance, where companies profit by denying care and silencing dissent. The healthcare industry's unchecked power reflects a pattern of systemic oppression seen in other institutions, from law enforcement to labor markets.There are parallels between Mangione's case and the broader suppression of marginalized voices. For instance, law enforcement's heavy-handed response to Mangione, including deploying nearly two dozen officers for his arrest, highlights a misuse of public resources. This over-policing mirrors tactics used to stifle dissent in marginalized communities, perpetuating cycles of inequality and injustice.Independent Media: Filling the VoidThe host and Dominguez stressed the responsibility of independent media to challenge mainstream narratives. Outlets like Decolonized Journalism and grassroots platforms amplify stories that corporate media often ignore or distort. By highlighting the intersectionality of healthcare inequities, corporate greed, and systemic racism, independent journalists ensure that these conversations remain part of the public consciousness.The Mangione case is a stark reminder of the necessity for independent voices to hold institutions accountable. Mainstream outlets often avoid critiquing the healthcare industry due to its financial influence on advertising and political campaigns. Free from these constraints, independent media serves as a crucial counterbalance, advocating for systemic change.Toward a Just Healthcare SystemThe outrage sparked by Mangione's actions must translate into substantive reforms. The Warren-Hawley bill is a step in the right direction, but it addresses only one facet of a deeply flawed system. The ultimate goal must be a healthcare model prioritizing human dignity over corporate profit—one that guarantees access to care as a fundamental right, not a privilege reserved for the wealthy.Dominguez's analysis illuminates how Mangione's case reflects a broader societal reckoning. It is not just about one man's actions but the collective demand for justice in a system that has failed its people for far too long. By centering this conversation on class struggles, systemic failures, and the role of independent media, Dominguez reminds us that change is not only possible but essential. Medicare For All is the answer to our failed healthcare system.Join me for my next live video in the app. To hear more, visit egberto.substack.com

This time on Code WACK!  What can be done to protect health care for the most vulnerable in the aftermath of Trump's victory? What does another Trump administration mean for single payer both nationally and in the states? How do many union leaders feel about single payer, and why? If we had Medicare for All, what other benefits could unions bargain for? To find out, we recently interviewed Ada Briceño, chair of Orange County Democrats and co-chair of Unite Here Local 11, which represents tens of thousands of workers in hotels, restaurants, airports, and sports arenas in Southern California and Arizona. This is the second episode in a two-part series. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!  

This time on Code WACK!  What could a Trump White House mean for your health care and your family's? What might it mean for public health at a time when the nation is still reeling from the devastating COVID-19 pandemic? And which populations stand to lose the most?  To find out, we spoke to Ada Briceño, chair of Orange County Democrats and co-chair of Unite Here Local 11, which represents tens of thousands of workers in hotels, restaurants, airports, and sports arenas in Southern California and Arizona. Ada is also a former National Steering Committee Member for the Labor Campaign for Single-Payer. This is the first episode in a two-part series. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!  

This time on Code WACK!  Why have healthcare giants like United Health and Cigna been purging some of their commercial accounts and pivoting to government-funded programs like Medicare Advantage and Medicaid? How is this affecting patients? And what is the government doing about it?  To find out, we spoke with Wendell Potter, a former health insurance industry executive turned whistleblower, the New York Times bestselling author of Deadly Spin and the president of the Center for Health and Democracy. He's also the author of the Substack newsletter HEALTH CARE un-covered which chronicles out-of-control profiteering in U.S. health care, its impact on everyday Americans, and potential policy solutions.  Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!

This time on Code WACK! How do some Australians, who have single-payer health care they call Medicare, view the American healthcare system? What do they think about the many people in America who need to have a job to get health insurance? Who set their wedding day with their health insurance in mind? Or who have health insurance but go bankrupt anyway, because it doesn't cover all their medical bills? To find out, we spoke to Australian Anna Candler, founder and CEO of The Circular Water Company. Through frequent visits to family in the U.S., Anna has gained firsthand insight into the stark differences between the Australian and American healthcare models. This is the second episode in a two-part series. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!  

Harvard Chan School of Public Health's Dr. Troy Brennan argues in sum that because government Medicare, Medicaid and ACA marketplaces have grown and evolved, meaning the feds have improved their ability to competently regulate the healthcare market, employer-sponsored commercial plan coverage has become both comparatively unaffordable and increasingly irrelevant. Primarily for these reasons Dr. Brennan argues the US is headed toward or on the path to federally-sponsored and regulated healthcare administered by private or commercial payers. That is it appears increasingly likely the US will finally realize universal, socialized, single payer healthcare insurance or what he defines as Medicare For All, or more specifically Medicare Advantage for All in which commercial insurance plans serve a strictly administrative role.   Dr. Brennan's book can be found at: https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/53759/transformation-american-health-insurance. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thehealthcarepolicypodcast.com

Andy Schoonover is the CEO of Crowd Health, an alternative to the traditional health insurance system. In this episode, we discuss the litany of problems plaguing both government and corporate healthcare, why Medicare For All is a disastrous model, and how opting out of traditional health insurance makes going to the doctor infinitely more affordable. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/alex-strenger/support

Given voters' concerns over rising food and housing costs, Kamala Harris has pledged to combat price gouging if elected president, though she has yet to clearly lay out the hallmarks of the rest of her economic policy. In part 2, Bob Pollin, economist and advisor to U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Pramila Jayapal on Medicare For All, explains the meaning of price gouging and delves into the causes of inflation during the COVID pandemic. 

This time on Code WACK!  The fight for affordable, accessible health care in the U.S. has gone on for decades. Who's in the fight to win solutions that improve health care for everyone? What policies are they working on?  Today we're featuring the Washington DC-based Families USA, a leading national nonpartisan voice for healthcare consumers.  We welcome their new executive director, Anthony Wright, who previously served for 22 years as executive director of Health Access California. This is the first episode in a two-part series with Anthony Wright.  Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!  

This time on Code WACK!  What are lawmakers and the Federal Trade Commission doing about Pharmacy Benefit Managers and their undue influence over drug prices and access? Who is watching out for consumers when the pharmaceutical industry pursues self-serving arrangements? And what's the impact on independent pharmacies and their patients? To find out, we recently interviewed Hannah Garden-Monheit, the FTC's director of the Office of Policy Planning. Prior to joining the FTC, Garden-Monheit worked at the National Economic Council (NEC), where she served as Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director for Competition Council Policy. At the NEC, she was extensively involved in shaping the President's Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy, and much more. This is the second episode in a two part series. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!  

9-6-24 Driving With Dave Featuring Allie Phillips - Running For Office After Being Denied An Abortion - A Painful & Inspiring Story If you'd like to donate to Allie's campaign, you can do so here: https://www.allie4tn.com/go to patreon.com/daveneal for more bonus content!

This time on Code WACK! So you might have heard the term pharmacy benefit managers – or PBMs – in the news. But what are they? How did these middlemen get to be so powerful? How are they causing drug prices to skyrocket? And what's the Federal Trade Commission doing about it?  To find out, we recently interviewed Hannah Garden-Monheit, the FTC's director of the Office of Policy Planning. Prior to joining the FTC, Garden-Monheit worked at the National Economic Council (NEC), where she served as Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director for Competition Council Policy. At the NEC, she was extensively involved in shaping the President's Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy, and much more. This is the first episode in a two part series. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!  

Join me as we delve into night 3 of the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

A Chat About Improving Our Broken Health Care System with Kimberly Soenen Read about Kimberly Soenen on her substack here: https://substack.com/@somepeopleeverybodygo to patreon.com/daveneal for more bonus content!

This time on Code WACK! Imagine having to fight with your HMO insurer about compensating your surgeon who doesn't belong to your provider network, but happens to be a specialist in a particular procedure that you want because it has fewer side effects. Could you afford to cough up a few thousand dollars to pay the surgeon while hassling with your HMO? But the story doesn't end there. What if you then needed a followup procedure that is relatively new but has a 98% chance of a positive outcome? But the surgeon you want - who invented it - is not in your state, never mind your network? We recently spoke to Rand, a commercial property manager, writer and father of three in Southern California who shared the formidable health and insurance challenges that he's faced with us. Rand asked that we not use his last name for this interview.  This is the first of a two-part series with Rand. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!  

This time on Code WACK! Why did California's latest single payer bill fail and what can we do about it? How can the public learn the truth about how much they could save with unified financing when deep-pocketed corporations keep lobbying legislators against it? What will it take to make Medicare for All a reality once and for all?  To find out, we asked Jodi Reid,  executive director of California Alliance for Retired Americans or CARA, California's largest grassroots senior advocacy organization. Jodi represents her organization on the board of Healthy California Now, a single-payer advocacy coalition. This is the second of a two-part series with Jodi. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!  

This time on Code WACK! Why is long term care, including in-home health care, in crisis? How are skyrocketing costs affecting patients? How come two-thirds of people in California who are getting in-home health care get it from family members who are often unpaid?  Would universal long term care - or a single-payer system with unified financing - help?    To find out, we spoke to Jodi Reid, executive director of California Alliance for Retired Americans, California's largest grassroots senior advocacy organization. She has more than four decades of organizing experience on issues ranging from health care to housing. Jodi represents her organization on the board of Healthy California Now, a single-payer advocacy coalition. This is the first of a two-part series with Jodi about long-term care. Check out the Show Notes and Transcript for more!  

This time on Code WACK! How do insurance companies put up barriers to addiction treatments? How does this affect treatment programs and their clients? And how would it be if we had Medicare for All? To find out, we spoke to Arlene Stanich-Prince, executive director of Ohlhoff Recovery Programs in San Francisco, one of the longest standing treatment programs in the area. This is the first of two episodes with Stanich-Prince. Check out the Show Notes and Transcript for more!  

This time on Code WACK! What are some of the most common misconceptions about people who are addicted to substances like opioids? What medicines are revolutionizing the way people are being treated today – and how accessible are they?  To find out, we spoke to Arlene Stanich-Prince, executive director of Ohlhoff Recovery Programs in San Francisco, one of the longest standing treatment programs in the area. This is the first of two episodes with Stanich-Prince. Check out the Show Notes and Transcript for more!  

This time on Code WACK! How did a single mom in Kentucky, in the 1970s, become a physician, then a health insurance medical reviewer and eventually a whistleblower? To find out, we recently interviewed Dr. Linda Peeno, a physician and ethicist who has spent nearly four decades working to protect patients from harm and death by corporate healthcare systems.  Dr. Peeno was played by actor Laura Dern in the 2002 docudrama “Damaged Care,” and she was also featured in Michael Moore's 2007 documentary “Sicko.” She has assisted in more than 150 legal cases to expose for-profit systems that have corrupted medicine and health care. Check out the Show Notes and Transcript for more!  

This time on Code WACK! In honor of PRIDE Month, we're revisiting a popular episode about the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s and 1990s. What were the health policy failures that spurred so many Americans to militant activism? How did the LGBTQ+ community win the struggle to get government funding to address the deadly virus? Fortunately today, with appropriate medical intervention, more and more people are living, instead of dying, with HIV/AIDS. But the U.S. still trails many developed countries in life expectancy, a result of health policy failures that continue to cause unnecessary death and suffering.  What can today's Medicare-for-All movement learn from AIDS activists?  To find out, we spoke with Michael Lighty, president of the Healthy California Now Coalition, and former constituency director for Bernie 2020. Check out the Show Notes and Transcript for more!

This time on Code WACK! At least seven states are grappling with budget shortfalls in 2024. What goes on behind the scenes when a state needs to cut costs? Who stands to lose the most as programs are trimmed or eliminated? Today we're looking at California's multi-billion dollar budget deficit – and what's being done to protect the state's most vulnerable residents.  To find out, we spoke to Jodi Reid, executive director of California Alliance for Retired Americans, California's largest grassroots senior advocacy organization. She has more than four decades of organizing experience on issues ranging from health care to housing. Jodi represents her organization on the board of Healthy California Now, a single-payer advocacy coalition. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!  

This time on Code WACK! What's the impact of health insurance denial-of-care tactics? Who “wins” when new employees have to wait three months before their health insurance kicks in? What devastating physical, financial and emotional consequences did one young woman face after she was seriously injured during such a waiting period?  To find out, we spoke to Kimberly Soenen, the Minnesota-based founder of “Some People,” a not-for-profit organization and multiverse channel that examines the people, processes and systems that constitute the maintenance of and barriers to health.  This is the first episode in a two-part series with Kimberly. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!  

This time on Code WACK! Why do lawmakers continue to ignore the toll our broken healthcare system takes on us?  And what can we do, ourselves, to bring about change? What inspired single-payer advocate and mother Rebecca Wood to put much of her activism on hold to “sharpen her swords”?  To find out, we interviewed Rebecca, a first-year law student and public interest fellow at the University of Massachusetts. She's a 2024 Rappaport Fellow in Law and Public Policy and the president of the University of Massachusetts Law National Lawyers Guild chapter. This is the second episode in a two-part series with Rebecca. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!  

Sarah Hansen, Morningstar Inc markets reporter, discusses how today's market volatility could benefit investors who are focused on long-term investing. Mark Miller, Retirement Reboot author, calls the Medicare changes in 2024 at the pharmacy counter “the best news that few people seem to know about.”   Apple's Weak 2024 but Optimism for 2025Amazon's Impressive First QuarterEli Lilly's Better-Than-Expected Q1Medicare's Falling Prescription Costs Why Are Medicare Prescription Costs Dropping?How Spending Caps Affect SeniorsExpanded Access to Federal Assistance for Low-Income SeniorsWill Interest Rates Stay Higher for Longer?How Have Interest Rates Weighed on Stocks?How Fewer Interest Rate Cuts Could Benefit InvestorsKey Takeaway Read about topics from this episode.  Apple Earnings: A Weak 2024, but Optimism for 2025Amazon Earnings: AWS Growth Accelerates and Profit Margins ImproveEli Lilly Earnings: Strong Weight-Loss Drug Sales Expand MarginsI'm 65 and Still Working. Should I Enroll in Medicare?What Hot Inflation and Delayed Rate Cuts Mean for Investors  What to watch from Morningstar.Magnificent Seven Stocks: What's Going on With Apple, Tesla, and Alphabet?Covered Call and Buffer ETFs: Do the Pros Outweigh the Cons?Make These Investing Moves Now for a Better Tax Day in 20253 Cheap Stocks to Watch in the Fight Over Sports Streaming Read what our team is writing:Ivanna HamptonMark MillerSarah Hansen Follow us on social media.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MorningstarInc/Twitter: https://twitter.com/MorningstarIncInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningstar... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/5161/ 

On this episode of the podcast, Amanda Head is joined by former New York Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle to discuss the impact of the Biden Administration's recent slashing in funding that supports Medicare Advantage (MA), a program more than 33 million senior citizens rely on. Despite a 90% satisfaction among MA users, these cuts could hike out-of-pocket costs by at least $30 per month, adding financial strain on fixed income seniors amid rising inflation. This move aligns with previous increases in deductibles and premiums. Critics are questioning why the Biden Administration is undermining a program that has never been financially cut before. The former New York republican further suggests that seniors left unable to make a choice in their own healthcare plans is just one additional step toward the Democrats' highly favored end goal of “Medicare For All”. Additionally, this episode also features a segment with former New York Congressman George Santos' Communications Director. Naysa Woomer, resigned her post and has been publicly critical of Santos' lackluster communications plan while in Congress and after his expulsion. Woomer is a seasoned communications professional, having served stints as Communications Director for the Massachusetts State Republican Party and as a Spokeswoman for the Commonwealth's Department of Revenue before heading to the House of Representatives. But it's not just George Santos who has problems with publicity these days, newly indicted Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and former GOP vice presidential contender and current Governor of South Dakota Kristi Noem are both under public scrutiny. One thing that is certain is that neither career politician has prepared or executed adequate crises communications plans. Woomer joins Amanda to talk about these latest political scandals and offers her communications advice free of charge. Be sure to “follow” or “subscribe” to the podcast on your preferred podcast platform to ensure you don't miss future episodes. Furthermore, you can follow Amanda Head on all social media platforms by searching for @AmandaHead. This podcast also has an account exclusively on ‘X' using the handle of @FurthermorePod.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Donald Trump accidentally told the truth in 2017 when he pointed out that Australia, a country with a Medicare For All healthcare system, is much better than ours. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/politicsdoneright/message

In this episode, Tudor and Kyle Olson discuss a clip of Tom Bratton, a representative for Elissa Slotkin in Northern Michigan, making derogatory comments about Republicans. They analyze the significance of his statements in a traditionally Republican area and how it contradicts Slotkin's image as a bipartisan candidate. They also highlight the use of trackers in political campaigns and the story of Slotkin threatening a tracker who asked her about joining the Medicare for All caucus. The conversation concludes with a discussion about Slotkin signing an NDA to keep information about a Chinese company secret from Michigan taxpayers. The Tudor Dixon Podcast is part of the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network. For more visit TudorDixonPodcast.comFollow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Tudor and Kyle Olson discuss a clip of Tom Bratton, a representative for Elissa Slotkin in Northern Michigan, making derogatory comments about Republicans. They analyze the significance of his statements in a traditionally Republican area and how it contradicts Slotkin's image as a bipartisan candidate. They also highlight the use of trackers in political campaigns and the story of Slotkin threatening a tracker who asked her about joining the Medicare for All caucus. The conversation concludes with a discussion about Slotkin signing an NDA to keep information about a Chinese company secret from Michigan taxpayers. The Tudor Dixon Podcast is part of the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network. For more visit TudorDixonPodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Tudor and Kyle Olson discuss a clip of Tom Bratton, a representative for Elissa Slotkin in Northern Michigan, making derogatory comments about Republicans. They analyze the significance of his statements in a traditionally Republican area and how it contradicts Slotkin's image as a bipartisan candidate. They also highlight the use of trackers in political campaigns and the story of Slotkin threatening a tracker who asked her about joining the Medicare for All caucus. The conversation concludes with a discussion about Slotkin signing an NDA to keep information about a Chinese company secret from Michigan taxpayers. The Tudor Dixon Podcast is part of the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network. For more visit TudorDixonPodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ady Barkan was a lion for healthcare justice. After his diagnosis with ALS, he spent his final years fighting for Medicare for All. Ady passed away this month at 39. We go back into the AD archives to 2019, when Abdul sat down with Ady to learn about his activism and his hopes for the America he'd leave his kids.

Dialysis is a medical miracle — vastly extending the lives of people with kidney disease. When it was first discovered, Congress rushed to assure that it was covered by Medicare. And then big business got involved. Abdul reflects on the way that American capitalism disembodies healthcare. Then he speaks with Tom Mueller, author of “How to Make a Killing,” about the excesses of dialysis corporations in America.