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. 3d ago

    Doctors vs. Insurance Companies: Why We Must Ban Prior Authorization w/ Emma Freer and Hannah Garden-Monheit, American Economic Liberties Project

    Your doctor said yes - but insurance said no. Why? On this Care Talk, Emma Freer and Hannah Garden-Monheit from the American Economic Liberties Project, authors of the new report “Ban Prior Authorization: Ending Big Medicine’s Strategy to Boost Profits by Denying Medically Necessary Care" join host Laura Packard. We break down how prior authorization went from a narrow cost tool to a “corporate care veto” — where Big Medicine insurance conglomerates require approval, then have their own affiliates (including AI companies they own) deny the care. We cover what it means for patients facing delays, denials, and surprise bills, why doctors are burning out, and why 71% of voters — Democrats and Republicans — support banning it. Also Louise Norris of healthinsurance.org and Diane Archer of Just Care answer your health insurance questions on the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance and more. Questions include what to do if you lose your health insurance before employer insurance kicks in, is Medicare only available for people over 65, is appealing a prior authorization denial worth the effort, and what happens if you're on Medicare and retire abroad. READ THE REPORT: Ban Prior Authorization — American Economic Liberties Project: https://www.economicliberties.us/our-work/ban-prior-auth/ ABOUT THE GUESTS: Emma Freer and Hannah Garden-Monheit are researchers/authors at the American Economic Liberties Project. Their August 6, 2026 brief proposes banning prior authorization where insurers have a financial conflict of interest. LINKS & RESOURCES: • Full Report (PDF): https://www.economicliberties.us/our-work/ban-prior-auth/ • Free or Low Cost Health Care Resources: https://healthcarevoices.org/caretalk SUBSCRIBE to Care Talk for weekly health care policy breakdowns. #PriorAuthorization #CareTalk #HealthCare — Laura Packard is a stage 4 cancer survivor, health care advocate, and host of Care Talk. Founder of Health Care Voices and Voices of Health Care Action.

    Doctors vs. Insurance Companies: Why We Must Ban Prior Authorization w/ Emma Freer and Hannah Garden-Monheit, American Economic Liberties Project

  2. Aug 25

    Trump's Vaccine Order: What It Means for Your Kids w/ Dr. Didi Ray, Doctors for America

    President Trump signed an executive order on August 10th, reshaping federal childhood vaccine recommendations - from limiting the vaccine schedule to splitting the MMR shot into separate visits. Pediatricians and public health experts are pushing back, with the American Academy of Pediatrics calling the measles, mumps, and rubella recommendation "dangerous." Dr. Madhury "Didi" Ray, preventative medicine physician and leader at Doctors for America separates fact from fear in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard at Health Care Voices. Plus Diane Archer at Just Care and Louise Norris at 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 health insurance companies and AI use, what to do when your health insurance company's billing department and credentialing department don't agree, identity theft and health insurance coverage, and how to tell if an incoming call claiming to be from your health insurance company is a scam. 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

    Trump's Vaccine Order: What It Means for Your Kids w/ Dr. Didi Ray, Doctors for America

  3. Aug 18

    What's Safe to Eat? Cyclospora, Salmonella & the Food Safety Crisis w/ Dr. Janet Krommes, Doctors for America

    What's actually safe to eat right now? And what happens when we gut the public health agencies whose job is to catch food borne parasites before they reach your plate? Dr. Janet Krommes of Doctors for America explains two outbreaks hitting America's food supply now - the cyclospora outbreak linked to lettuce, and the salmonella outbreak tied to jalapeños - and the bigger story behind them 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 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 prior authorization, and how insurers deny your needed care. 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

    What's Safe to Eat? Cyclospora, Salmonella & the Food Safety Crisis w/ Dr. Janet Krommes, Doctors for America

  4. Aug 11

    Corporate Health Care Crimes: Wendell Potter on the Real Waste, Fraud & Abuse

    Corporate consolidation didn't just raise your health insurance premiums — it built a system where big insurance companies, hospitals, and PBMs profit from denying you care. Health insurance whistleblower and former Cigna VP Wendell Potter of Center for Health & Democracy joins us to expose what politicians really mean when they say "waste, fraud, and abuse" — and why the biggest offenders aren't patients, they're the corporations running the show in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices. Get "Deadly Spin: An Insurance Company Insider Speaks Out on How Corporate PR Is Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans" by Wendell Potter: https://amzn.to/4i2Cxg9 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 Affordable Care Act open enrollment timing, resources for fighting prior authorization denials of care, and non-MAGI income limits for Medicaid vs Medicare and Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). 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

    Corporate Health Care Crimes: Wendell Potter on the Real Waste, Fraud & Abuse

  5. Aug 4

    How Wellness Influencers Scam Patients w/ Jen Bordenick, Unbiased Science

    While public health faces enormous cuts, the global wellness economy reached a record 6 trillion dollars, and is projected to climb to nearly ten trillion by 2029. That’s serious money. But wellness culture has a dark side - and it's costing people their health, their money, and sometimes their lives. Jen Bordenick of Unbiased Science breaks down the grifters, gurus, and fake "cures" flooding the wellness industry. We're talking about how misinformation spreads, who's profiting off it, and how to spot a scam before it costs you 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 the Trump administration ending Medicare Part D drug premium subsidies, changes to the Affordable Care Act marketplace open enrollment schedule later this year for 2027 coverage, and what to do if you're overwhelmed with a confusing mountain of insurance bills from a hospitalization. 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

    How Wellness Influencers Scam Patients w/ Jen Bordenick, Unbiased Science

  6. Jul 28

    Medicare and Medicaid Anniversary: Can We Protect Both Programs? w/ Margarida Jorge, Health Care for America Now

    Medicare and Medicaid were created 61 years ago to protect Americans’ health and financial security. On their anniversary, we look at the future of both programs, and the growing attacks on Medicaid through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Margarida Jorge of Health Care for America Now discusses what the present and the future of Medicare and Medicaid looks like for patients, families, seniors, people with disabilities, and everyone who depends on affordable 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 Rachel Madley from 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 the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program, what to do when a good faith cost estimate from the hospital is wrong, and does Medicare protect you from financial ruin if you get seriously sick or injured. 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

    Medicare and Medicaid Anniversary: Can We Protect Both Programs? w/ Margarida Jorge, Health Care for America Now

  7. Jul 14

    Big Medicine's Monopoly Problem: Corporate Consolidation Is Costing You Everything w/ Emma Freer, American Economic Liberties Project

    Giant corporate conglomerates may control your health insurance, your hospital, your doctor's office, AND your pharmacy - and it's costing American families $37,824 a year in employer coverage alone. It's time to break up Big Medicine. Emma Freer of the American Economic Liberties Project unpacks the corporate consolidation crisis destroying American healthcare, and the growing bipartisan movement to fix it in this #CareTalk episode with show host, cancer survivor, and health care advocate Laura Packard from Health Care Voices. Find out more about the Break Up Big Medicine coalition: https://www.breakupbigmedicine.com/ 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 how to handle a surprise medical bill if your insurance refuses to cover it, what Medicare does and does not cover, figuring out what insurance plan is right for you, and Medicare and Ozempic 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

    Big Medicine's Monopoly Problem: Corporate Consolidation Is Costing You Everything w/ Emma Freer, American Economic Liberties Project

  8. Jul 7

    Big Pharma Charges the World's Highest Prices - Here's the Public Fix w/ Alejandro Molina, Groundwork Collaborative

    Big Pharma earns a 76% gross profit margin - and three corporate middlemen pocket 41 cents of every dollar Americans spend on prescriptions. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Alejandro Molina at Groundwork Collaborative breaks down their bold new plan, AmericaRx, that could change everything 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 changes to the Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplace next year, Medicaid termination rule coming soon, and what to do if your health insurance plan drops you. 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

    Big Pharma Charges the World's Highest Prices - Here's the Public Fix w/ Alejandro Molina, Groundwork Collaborative
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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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