An Arm and a Leg
An Arm and a Leg
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About This Podcast
An Arm and a Leg is a podcast about why health care costs so freaking much and what we can (maybe) do about it.
If you’ve ever been surprised by a medical bill, you’re in good company. But as our team of seasoned journalists has learned from years of reporting — you’re not always helpless. We don’t have all the answers, but we’ll offer you tools and big picture insights with plenty of humor and heart.
An Arm and a Leg is co-produced with KFF Health News and distributed in partnership with KUOW.
You can support An Arm and a Leg by donating at armandalegshow.com/support/
Show Credits: Created, hosted, and produced by Dan Weissmann with senior producer Emily Pisacreta and engagement producer Claire Davenport, edited by Ellen Weiss. Audio wizard: Adam Raymonda. Music is by Dave Weiner and Blue Dot Sessions. Bea Bosco is our consulting director of operations. Lynne Johnson is our operations manager.
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Recent Episodes
S15E7 The Chatbot Will See You Now: Big Tech In Therapy (from Organized Money)
One place you might assume is safe from prying ears is your therapy session. But as more therapists struggle to negotiate with insurers, they’re turning to tech middlemen like BetterHelp and Headway…
S15E6 The Supreme Court case that could slow generic drugs
It’s a case you’ve (probably) never heard of: This week, the Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in Hikma v. Amarin — a legal battle that could impact how much you ultimately pay for prescription…
S15E5 Why drugs cost so much, 101: Medicine monopolies
We’re always asking: Why do drugs cost so freaking much? And it’s a complicated question. There are a bunch of reasons — to be sure. But in our reporting over the years, like our stories on insulin…
S15E4 ‘Not workable’: How two Americans picked a plan this year — or didn’t
This year, the price of health insurance increased dramatically for millions of people. Tens of millions. Obamacare subsidies shrunk, and premiums skyrocketed. People asked themselves: how on earth…
S15E3 The EpiPen and Food Allergies (from Drug Story)
Hey, first! We’re looking for your help. Can you take a couple minutes and fill out our Audience Survey? We’re dying to know more about the community that’s using this show — and about what’s…
S15E2 NYT’s Ron Lieber: ‘These people are not going to win.'
Thirty-six hours before his wife was scheduled for a major surgery, New York Times personal finance columnist Ron Lieber got a letter in the mail that sent him reeling. Insurance was denying prior…
S15E1 'Sh**’s wild': Scaling up, doubling down, and buckling in
For five years, we’ve been following the work of Dollar For and its founder Jared Walker, watching them quickly scale up their efforts to help people crush medical debt by tapping into “charity care”…
S14E7 Our favorite project of 2025 levels up – and you can help
Hey, first! If you value what we do, we need your support to keep it going in 2026. We have SO much work ahead, and we can’t do it without you. Every little bit counts. Here’s where you can chip…
S14E6 Some more things that didn’t suck in 2025
Hey, first! If you value what we do, this is the best-ever time to support our work. We have SO much work ahead in 2026. Donate here. We’re back for another look at things that – believe it or not…
S14E5 How to pick health insurance — in the worst year ever
Hey, first! If you value what we do, this is the best-ever time to support our work: This month, every donation gets matched two-for-one. We have SO much work ahead in 2026. Donate here — and get…
S14E4 Some things that didn’t suck in 2025 (really)
Hey, first! If you value what we do, this is the best-ever time to support our work: This month, every donation gets matched two-for-one. We have SO much work ahead in 2026. Head to…
S14E3 This health economist wants your medical bills
Economist Vivian Ho has been researching the US health care system for four decades. These days she focuses on what she describes as the biggest burden on the average American: runaway hospital…
S14E2 We love this listener’s project — and your response
A listener named Thomas Sanford wrote to us earlier this year, asking for help with a little DIY project. And it’s turned into the most encouraging thing we’ve seen all year. With input from the Arm…
S14E1 Will we be able to afford insurance in 2026?
For the first time, our senior producer, Emily, has to sign up for Obamacare. And it turns out, it’s one heck of a year to do that. A recent headline from KFF Health News reads: “Insurers and…
S13E13 The Insurance Warrior battles a $61 billion company (from 2021)
Hey first! We need your help: Financial help. Donations from listeners power this show, and we’ve got a goal: 100 people making their first-ever gift, this week. If you haven’t chipped in before,…
S13E12 A wild health insurance hustle
When a New York couple purchased a health insurance plan from a telemarketer, everything sounded legit. Meds, doctors, tests? All covered. But it didn't take long for them to realize they'd been…
S13E11 The great American drug shortage isn't an accident, it's artificial (from Organized Money)
As a follow-up to our series The Prescription Drug Playbook — all about how you can get the meds you need at a price you can (maybe) afford — we’re stepping back to look at the big picture. From the…
S13E10 The Prescription Drug Playbook, Part Two
In February, we asked you, our listeners, to share the tips, tricks, and tactics you’ve learned for getting the medicine you need at prices you can manage. And of course some of you work in health…
Trailer: The Prescription Drug Playbook
Too many of us get sticker shock when we go to pick up our meds. We asked our listeners how they get by in this situation, and we learned dozens of tips. And in this two-part series, we’re sharing…
S13E9 The Prescription Drug Playbook, Part One
In surveys, one in four Americans report having to skip their medications due to cost. We asked our listeners: what strategies have you used when you’ve been hit with pharmacy sticker shock? We…
Frequently Asked Questions
An Arm and a Leg has published 165 episodes since October 2018, covering topics in Documentary, Health & Fitness.
An Arm and a Leg is currently highly active with new episodes monthly. Average episode length is 23m.
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