Care Talk with Laura Packard: American Health Care Explained

Laura Packard
  • 5.0 (5)
  • MEDICINE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Care Talk is a weekly American healthcare podcast, from a progressive point of view. Hosted by Laura Packard, cancer survivor and health care advocate, health and public policy experts explain health care in the United States and answer your questions on Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, private insurance, and more. We help patients and families navigate America's health insurance and health care industries, and cover in-depth how to deal with medical debt, fight insurance company denials of care, access cheaper prescription drugs and better health care. New episodes every Tuesday. CALL/TEXT IN YOUR QUESTIONS FOR FUTURE EPISODES ‪(202) 838-6837‬.

  1. Your Insurance Said No? Here's How to Win the Appeal w/ Neal Shah, Counterforce Health

    4D AGO

    Your Insurance Said No? Here's How to Win the Appeal w/ Neal Shah, Counterforce Health

    Insurance denied your claim? You don't have to take no for an answer. Free AI tools help patients write professional appeal letters when their insurance company denies care. Whether you're fighting a prior authorization denial, a claim rejection, or being told a treatment isn't "medically necessary" – you can push back. Neal Shah from Counterforce Health talks about their free tools and resources to empower everyday people to challenge insurance denials in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices. Plus Diane Archer from Just Care & Social Security Works and Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more. This episode has more about appeals and Medicare Advantage, the differences between primary care membership programs and health insurance, dual eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid, and preventative versus diagnostic tests. New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows! Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources on our show page: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/care-talk-with-laura-packard/exclusive-content

    30 min
  2. Why Your Prescriptions Cost So Much (PBMs Explained) w/ Dr. Jeoffry Gordon, Doctors for America

    FEB 24

    Why Your Prescriptions Cost So Much (PBMs Explained) w/ Dr. Jeoffry Gordon, Doctors for America

    Pharmacy Benefit Managers, otherwise known as PBMs, are third-party middleman companies that manage prescription drug benefits for insurers, employers, and government programs. They have been blamed for the high cost of prescription meds in America. Dr. Jeoffry Gordon from Doctors for America explains what PBMs are and what they do, and talks about the newest regulations from Congress and how that could affect your drug prices in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices. Plus Diane Archer from Just Care & Social Security Works and Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more. This episode has more about Medicare Advantage open enrollment and whether you can save money through MA, how to find the best plan, and what to do when you have dual coverage from two different insurance companies but they both refuse to pay a bill. New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows! Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources on our show page: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/care-talk-with-laura-packard/exclusive-content

    33 min
  3. TrumpRx Exposed: What It Means for Your Prescriptions w/ Peter Maybarduk, Public Citizen

    FEB 17

    TrumpRx Exposed: What It Means for Your Prescriptions w/ Peter Maybarduk, Public Citizen

    President Trump recently announced TrumpRx, a new direct-to-consumer website that he claims will lower prescription drug costs in the U.S. What is TrumpRx and how does it work? Will it help you access cheaper medicines, or not? Peter Maybarduk from Public Citizen talks about it in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices. Plus Diane Archer from Just Care & Social Security Works and Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more. This episode has more about changes proposed to insurance plans from CMS including a deductible of over 15,000 dollars for catastrophic health insurance, and as Medicare Advantage open enrollment continues what are the differences between traditional Medicare and MA. New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows! Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources on our show page: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/care-talk-with-laura-packard/exclusive-content

    32 min
  4. RFK Jr's First Year: The Damage Report w/ Rebecca Parks, Protect Our Care

    FEB 10

    RFK Jr's First Year: The Damage Report w/ Rebecca Parks, Protect Our Care

    One year later, how has Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. affected our public health? Rebecca Parks from Protect Our Care talks about it in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices. Plus Diane Archer from Just Care & Social Security Works and Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more. This episode has an update on Affordable Care Act marketplace subsidies, what to do if you can't afford Medicare, and how/whether birth control is covered by insurance. New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/care-talk-with-laura-packard/exclusive-content

    28 min
  5. Inside Trump’s Health Care Plan w/ Charles Gaba, ACASignups.net

    FEB 3

    Inside Trump’s Health Care Plan w/ Charles Gaba, ACASignups.net

    After over a decade of promises, President Trump finally released a health care plan. What’s in it and how will it affect you? Charles Gaba from ACASignups.net talks about it in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices. Plus Diane Archer from Just Care & Social Security Works and Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more. This episode has more on Medicare Advantage open enrollment, Affordable Care Act open enrollment, and what to do if you can't afford health insurance. New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/care-talk-with-laura-packard/exclusive-content

    31 min
  6. Examining the New Food Guidelines w/ Dr. Rebecca Fujimura, Doctors for America

    JAN 20

    Examining the New Food Guidelines w/ Dr. Rebecca Fujimura, Doctors for America

    New U.S. dietary guidelines released earlier this month emphasize "real food" with more protein, full-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats, while significantly reducing highly processed foods, added sugars, and refined carbs. Dr. Rebecca Fujimura of Doctors for America explores the new food pyramid, and what they got right and wrong in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices. Plus Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org answers your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more. This episode has more on President Trump's new health care plan, what's happening with the Affordable Care Act tax credits in Congress, and open enrollment updates for the Affordable Care Act and Medicare Advantage. New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/care-talk-with-laura-packard/exclusive-content

    30 min
  7. What’s Going On With the Affordable Care Act? w/ Charles Gaba, ACASignups.net

    JAN 13

    What’s Going On With the Affordable Care Act? w/ Charles Gaba, ACASignups.net

    The U.S. House just passed a bill extending Affordable Care Act tax credits for three years, making health insurance plans more affordable to middle class voters. But the Senate already voted down this bill last year. Charles Gaba from ACASignups.net explains what’s happening and how it will affect your health insurance cost in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices. Plus Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org and Diane Archer from Just Care answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more. This episode has more on Medicare Advantage open enrollment which runs from now until March 31, Affordable Care Act marketplace open enrollment which runs until January 15th in most states, what to do if you need dental care and don't have dental insurance, and what if your health insurance company provider network list is inaccurate. New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/care-talk-with-laura-packard/exclusive-content

    32 min
  8. War On Public Health in America? w/ Rebecca Parks, Protect Our Care

    JAN 6

    War On Public Health in America? w/ Rebecca Parks, Protect Our Care

    2025 was a year of unprecedented attacks on public health in America, from the appointment of antivax conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to run the Department of Health & Human Services, to devastating cuts to funding and medical research. Diseases like measles and whooping cough are making a comeback, and Americans are unprotected. Rebecca Parks from Protect Our Care explains what’s happened to public health over the past year, the newly announced children’s vaccine schedule changes, and how it affects our health in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices. Plus Louise Norris from healthinsurance.org and Diane Archer from Just Care answer your American health insurance and health care questions on Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, private insurance and more. This episode has more on what's happening with tax credits to make Affordable Care Act health insurance plans cheaper, Medicare Advantage open enrollment which runs now through March 31, and Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare marketplace open enrollment which runs until January 15th in most states. New episodes of Care Talk every Tuesday, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Text or call in your health insurance and health care questions in to (202) 838-6837 to get answers in future shows! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/care-talk-with-laura-packard/exclusive-content

    31 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Care Talk is a weekly American healthcare podcast, from a progressive point of view. Hosted by Laura Packard, cancer survivor and health care advocate, health and public policy experts explain health care in the United States and answer your questions on Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, private insurance, and more. We help patients and families navigate America's health insurance and health care industries, and cover in-depth how to deal with medical debt, fight insurance company denials of care, access cheaper prescription drugs and better health care. New episodes every Tuesday. CALL/TEXT IN YOUR QUESTIONS FOR FUTURE EPISODES ‪(202) 838-6837‬.

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