Examining Healthcare Costs

Allie provides a quick update on The Hidden Costs of Health.

Thank You for Season 1!

In this episode, Allie Sandler explores the often-overlooked financial burdens of pregnancy and childbirth, featuring personal insights from chiropractic physician and mother, Rebecca Deyo. Later she is joined by Yuliya Labko, policy director for March for Moms, discussing the pressing need for affordable maternity care and the ethical dilemmas surrounding healthcare expenses. The episode sheds light on rising costs, insurance intricacies, and advocacy efforts, offering practical tips for expectant families navigating this crucial life event.

What to Financially Expect When You’re Expecting

In this episode, Allie explores the surge in medical tourism, a trend driven by factors like limited access to healthcare and soaring costs in the U.S. Renowned experts Elizabeth Ziemba and David Vequist shed light on the risks and benefits, stressing the need for informed decisions and comprehensive travel insurance. Kurt Schaefer shares his firsthand experience, underscoring the potential advantages of seeking care abroad. Stay tuned for crucial insights and practical tips on navigating this evolving landscape.

Beyond Borders: The World of Medical Tourism

In this episode, Allie explores the complexities of accessing vital Social Security and disability benefits. In conversations with Social Security Disability attorney, Jacklyn Steinberg, they shed light on the critical distinctions between SSDI and SSI and highlight the significance of prompt filing and collecting robust medical evidence for your case. She also speaks with disability advocate Emilie Poteat, about her company Advocate, an innovative solution revolutionizing the disability benefits application process, ensuring timely support for individuals facing health challenges and income barriers.

Navigating Social Security Benefits

Allie explores the revolutionary role of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, featuring insights from Ethan Davidoff, CEO of Atlas Health, and Stephen Forney, CFO of Covenant Health. They discuss how AI is revolutionizing patient access to financial aid programs. This episode explores the potential of AI in streamlining healthcare logistics, reducing medical errors, and its impact on job roles in the healthcare sector, shedding light on the transformative future of healthcare systems.

How AI is Changing Healthcare Economics

Allie dives deep into the pressing issue of mental health care affordability in the US. Melanie Lockert and Alex Grobstein share about the barriers they have faced seeking therapy during times of financial strain. Greg Keilin explains the challenges therapists encounter in accepting insurance, emphasizing the delicate balance between affordability and sustainability. Tune in for solutions to find affordable&nbsp;mental health care options.

Balancing Your Budget and Mind

In this episode, Allie dives into the intricacies of the No Surprises Act, enacted in 2022, which was designed to shield patients from unexpected and high medical bills. Allie shares her own personal experiences and highlights the importance of understanding the act's finer details to make informed health decisions. The episode features Dane Christensen, a health policy expert discussing the implications of the No Surprises Act. Additionally, patient advocate Nicki Pogue shares her own harrowing experience with surprise billing, underscoring the need for continued advocacy and awareness surrounding healthcare costs. While the No Surprises Act represents a major step forward in addressing gaps in the system, this episode highlights the work that still needs to be done.

The Surprises of the No Surprises Act

Allie sheds light on the often-overlooked financial challenges confronting family caregivers in the U.S. and reveals the unexpected expenses that arise when balancing caregiving responsibilities with a career. Patti LaFleur (@misspatticake) shares about her own experience juggling caregiving and work. Allie also speaks with Neal Shah, CEO and founder of CareYaya, an innovative and cost-effective solution that connects families with student healthcare professionals to help them better manage their caregiving responsibilities.

The Crossroads of Caregiving and Career

In this episode, the Empowered Us team discuss surprise bills for seemingly trivial items in emergency rooms. The team speaks with Tracie Ennis, who&nbsp;recounts her experience following a broken ankle, after a pillow but not administered IV were billed to her. The team also speaks with Jared Walker, the founder and Executive Director of Dollar For, an organization that helps people fight hospital bills. Together, they dive into the underlying reasons behind exorbitant hospital costs and explore&nbsp;steps patients can take to reduce their hospital bills.

Hidden Charges: Small Items with Big Costs

The Hidden Costs of Health series examines how our financially toxic healthcare system impacts American lives. Each episode combines producer commentary with expert and patient insights to cover a wide range of topics and perspectives. Together we explore our system’s inefficiencies and inequalities in pursuit of potential solutions and resources.Find us on social media! Follow @empoweredusnetwork on Instagram and @empowereduspod on Twitter for more.&nbsp;