Episodes 322
Avg. Duration 13m
Activity Highly Active
Since Sep 2019
Latest Episode Apr 2026

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Publishing Details

Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
98%
Hosting
rss.libsyn.com

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About This Podcast

Code WACK! shines a light on our callous healthcare system and what we can do about it. It reveals the healthcare hassles that - far from being just annoying - threaten our peace of mind, our financial security and at times, our very lives. Join us each week as we chat about the challenges that patients and healthcare providers face, amplifying their voices and examining a range of possible solutions, including Medicare for All. Powered by HEAL California, a project of the California OneCare Education Fund, Code WACK! informs the vital discussion of healthcare reform.

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Recent Episodes

The Health Insurance Black Box: Why Employer Healthcare Costs Keep Rising

Apr 06, 2026 16m

This time on CodeWACK! What challenges do employers face when providing health coverage to their employees? And what role do health insurers and Pharmacy Benefit Managers - prescription drug…

States Push Back Against Medicaid Managed Care

Mar 30, 2026 18m

This time on CodeWACK! Today, most people on Medicaid get their care through private insurers called Managed Care Organizations, or MCOs—like Aetna and UnitedHealthcare. Critics say these companies…

The Middlemen Making Money Off Medicaid

Mar 23, 2026 16m

This time on CodeWACK! Why are there middlemen in Medicaid—and what are they doing to our most vulnerable patients and physicians? How and why are private insurance intermediaries permitted to put…

The Hidden Cost of Private Equity Hospital Buyouts

Mar 16, 2026 15m

This time on Code WACK! We're taking a closer look at what happens when private equity buys hospitals. Our guest is Dr. Renee Hsia (pronounced "Shaw"). An emergency physician at Zuckerberg San…

Is private equity in health care killing us?

Mar 09, 2026 18m

This time on Code WACK! What happens to staff and patients when private investors buy hospitals to make them more profitable? And why should this concern us all? To break it down, we spoke to Dr.…

Insured But Still Can't Afford Care? The Underinsured Crisis

Mar 02, 2026 16m

This time on Code WACK! Millions of Americans have health insurance, but still can't afford to use it. So what happens when high deductibles and corporate profit pressures shape the care patients…

The Deadly Design of U.S. Health Care

Feb 23, 2026 17m

This time on Code WACK! Why do Americans live about four years less, on average, than people in similar European countries, despite spending far more on health care? And why are so many dying from…

Why Insured Americans Still Need Charity Clinics

Feb 16, 2026 17m

This time on Code WACK! Why are people in America resorting to receiving medical care in animal stalls - even if they have health insurance? What would it take to make volunteer stopgap clinics…

The Real Cost of Health Insurance Nobody Talks About

Feb 08, 2026 13m

This time on Code WACK! Healthcare premiums aren't the only costs going up. Your pocketbook is also getting hit with higher out-of-pocket costs - like deductibles, co-pays, and coinsurance - often…

Medicare Advantage Is Breaking America's Promise to Seniors

Feb 02, 2026 18m

This time on Code WACK! Privatized Medicare now covers more than half of older adults nationwide. But how do Medicare Advantage plans' lower star ratings, narrow networks, and "paper benefits" hit…

No real choice.' How Medicare Advantage fails seniors

Jan 26, 2026 17m

This time on Code WACK! How does Medicare Advantage - also known as privatized Medicare - fail seniors … especially seniors of color? Why do many seniors find they actually have no other choice than…

Is racism in health care still a problem in 2026? Absolutely.

Jan 19, 2026 12m

This time on Code WACK! This time on Code WACK! In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we're rebroadcasting this episode examining how desegregation shaped the experiences of Black…

Revisiting America's racist - and deadly - legacy

Jan 12, 2026 16m

This time on Code WACK! In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we're rebroadcasting our Anthem Award–winning episode on one of the most overlooked civil rights battles in American history:…

Inside California's Push for Guaranteed Healthcare

Jan 05, 2026 14m

This time on Code WACK! As healthcare costs skyrocket and Americans face new coverage threats, California advocates are pushing for something bigger than simple fixes around the edges. We're joined…

Why More Americans Want Medicare for All

Dec 29, 2025 15m

This time on Code WACK! Today we're talking about rising healthcare costs and the renewed momentum behind Medicare for All. Recent polling shows majority support for the idea across Democrats,…

Aging in place is hard. Could neighbors be an answer?

Dec 22, 2025 13m

This time on Code WACK! America is facing a looming crisis in caregiving with an aging population and scarce in-home care resources. Could neighborhood-based care networks offer answers? What becomes…

The Caregiving Crisis Is Here - and America Isn't Ready

Dec 15, 2025 18m

This time on Code WACK! Suddenly, with little notice, you may find yourself having to step into a caregiving role for a friend or family member. Maybe you already have. It could be an aging parent,…

The hidden forces behind skyrocketing health insurance costs

Dec 08, 2025 18m

This time on Code WACK! Join us on a deep dive into the hidden forces behind soaring out-of-pocket costs, from rising medical costs to pandemic aftershocks and corporate profit pressures. Our guest,…

'Widespread Panic:' Rising Premiums and Shrinking Subsidies Explained

Dec 01, 2025 16m

This time on Code WACK! We're digging into big questions: Are reduced health insurance subsidies leaving Americans with a bad case of sticker shock? If you're shopping on the ACA marketplace, what…

Love your Medicare Advantage plan? It does NOT love you back

Nov 24, 2025 18m

This time on Code WACK! Will Humana and UnitedHealth Group be found by the courts to have prematurely denied or cut off physician-ordered post-acute care for Medicare Advantage members using AI…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Code WACK! have?

Code WACK! has published 322 episodes since September 2019, covering topics in Documentary, News.

Is Code WACK! still active?

Code WACK! is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 13m.

How do I contact Code WACK! for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Code WACK!, including email and social media links.

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