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. Patient Advocacy in Action: Talking to Your Legislators w/ Mollie Montague, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

    APR 7

    Patient Advocacy in Action: Talking to Your Legislators w/ Mollie Montague, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

    Learn how to be a patient advocate in healthcare and take your fight straight to your legislators. Mollie Montague of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network breaks down exactly how everyday people can lobby their legislators for better health care 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 about recent changes to the Medicare Advantage star-rating system, how to handle surprise medical bills from an out of network provider, why can't you switch from Medicare Advantage to traditional Medicare any time you want, and why doesn't dental insurance cover costly procedures. 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

    34 min
  2. Don't Get Billed: Avoiding Surprise Medical Costs & Medical Debt w/ Patricia Kelmar, PIRG

    MAR 31

    Don't Get Billed: Avoiding Surprise Medical Costs & Medical Debt w/ Patricia Kelmar, PIRG

    Every year, millions of Americans are blindsided by surprise medical bills and crushing debt - not because they did anything wrong, but because the system is designed to be confusing. Patricia Kelmar of PIRG explains your rights under the No Surprises Act, how surprise medical billing has changed, and what you can do about it 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 Rachel Madley from the Center for Health & Democracy 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 proposed health care cuts to pay for the war in Iran, overview of 2026 open enrollment numbers for the Affordable Care Act, how to handle out of network medical bills, and the end of Medicare Advantage open enrollment. 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

    32 min
  3. The Affordable Care Act Turns 16: What's at Stake in 2026 w/ Anne Shoup, Protect Our Care

    MAR 24

    The Affordable Care Act Turns 16: What's at Stake in 2026 w/ Anne Shoup, Protect Our Care

    Sixteen years ago, the Affordable Care Act transformed American health care. Anne Shoup of Protect Our Care breaks down the victories, and the relentless assault on Obamacare. What’s happening, who’s responsible, and what you can do to fight back in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices. Plus Diane Archer of 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 adding an out-of-pocket cap to traditional Medicare, surprise medical bills if your insurance has an error in their provider directory, open enrollment for Medicare Advantage ends March 31, and what if your spouse qualifies for Medicare and you don't yet. 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

    33 min
  4. The Problem With Casey Means' Surgeon General Pick w/ Kayla Hancock, Protect Our Care

    MAR 17

    The Problem With Casey Means' Surgeon General Pick w/ Kayla Hancock, Protect Our Care

    Casey Means is a wellness influencer and close ally of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. She was nominated by President Trump for Surgeon General on RFK Jr.'s recommendation. Kayla Hancock of Protect Our Care digs deeper into Casey Means’ background, and why she is dangerously unqualified to be America’s top doctor in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices. Plus Rachel Madley of Center for Health & Democracy 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 explains "Fair Market Pricing" and "Open Access", IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount) for Medicare, what to do when your insurer and provider are fighting about pre-authorization, and Medicare Advantage open enrollment ends March 31st. 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

    31 min
  5. The Dismantling of Public Health in America w/ Dr. Stella Safo, Civic Health Alliance

    MAR 10

    The Dismantling of Public Health in America w/ Dr. Stella Safo, Civic Health Alliance

    Public health infrastructure represents the backbone of our nation's health security, yet decades of chronic underfunding have left the system fragile and increasingly vulnerable. Dr. Stella Safo of Civic Health Alliance discusses the current dismantling of public health institutions and what the healthcare sector can do to defend and strengthen these critical systems 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 about losing COBRA insurance and shopping for a new plan, why no discounts from insurance for a procedure under coverage, and weighing primary versus secondary health insurance coverage. 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

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

    MAR 3

    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

    30 min
  7. 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

    33 min
  8. 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

    32 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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