Get Savvy...Demystifying Healthcare

Sandy Kibling

Are you tired of the high cost of healthcare? Overwhelmed trying to navigate a complicated system? Welcome to Get Savvy…Demystifying Healthcare, the weekly podcast that takes complicated healthcare topics and makes them simple. Imagine trading FEAR and FRUSTRATION for feeling EMPOWERED to make smart healthcare decisions for yourself and your family. Each week we cover the topics that matter most: navigating the healthcare maze, preventive health, mental health, new healthcare trends and options, and real consumer stories. It’s all designed to help you understand the healthcare system and navigate it on your terms. Wherever you are on your healthcare journey, that’s okay. We meet you where you are, so you can take the next step toward living your best life. Get Savvy with your host, Sandy Kibling, a healthcare professional who is changing how healthcare knowledge is shared. Want to be a guest on Get Savvy...Demystifying Healthcare? Send Sandy Kibling a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/getsavvydemystifyinghealthcare

  1. 6d ago ·  Video

    Episode 149: Your Doctors, Your Prescriptions, Your Budget: Choosing Health Coverage

    Send us Fan Mail Does shopping for health insurance leave you wondering whether you’re paying more and getting less? A monthly premium tells only part of the story.  In this episode of Get Savvy…Demystifying Healthcare, Sandy Kibling sits down with Tom Crennen from Colorado Health to explore the questions individuals and families can ask before choosing coverage—from keeping a trusted doctor to understanding prescription costs and potential out-of-pocket expenses. Drawing on his experience serving Colorado consumers, Tom discusses buying coverage on and off the exchange, questions about tax credits, and how a knowledgeable local broker can help you compare your options.  The conversation also explores individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements for employers and the limits of relying on AI for personalized insurance answers.  Listen for practical ways to prepare for a coverage conversation and make your next enrollment decision with greater clarity. 3 Key Takeaways Look beyond the monthly premium. Consider deductibles, prescription coverage, provider networks, and potential out-of-pocket costs together.Bring your priorities to the conversation. Knowing which doctors you want to keep and which medications you take helps focus your plan comparison.Ask for help with the details. The episode explores how a local broker can help explain coverage choices and questions about tax credits.Resources:  Colorado Health Playbook AI Partners Playbook AI Partners - Podcast Want to be a guest on Get Savvy...Demystifying Healthcare? Send Sandy Kibling a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/getsavvydemystifyinghealthcare Support the show

  2. Oct 16 ·  Video

    Episode 148: When Life Falls Apart: Finding Hope After a Stage 4 Cancer Diagnosis

    Send us Fan Mail How do you find your footing when a life-changing diagnosis and the end of a relationship arrive just days apart? Emma Victoria Johnson joins Sandy Kibling to share her experience of being diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, navigating deeply personal losses, and searching for a path forward. It’s an honest conversation about uncertainty, resilience, and finding hope while the journey is still unfolding. Emma discusses her decision to seek care outside Australia, the financial sacrifices she describes making for treatment, and the role faith and gratitude now play in her daily life.  She also shares how supporting others has given her a renewed sense of purpose, including her plans for a book and a possible podcast.  This episode shares one person’s experience and perspectives; her treatment descriptions and reported results are personal accounts, not medical advice or independently verified evidence of effectiveness. Key Takeaways: A diagnosis can reshape more than your health. Emma’s experience also changed her relationships, finances, priorities, and plans for the future. Having a voice in your care matters. The conversation highlights the desire to understand your choices and participate in decisions about your health. Purpose can develop during uncertainty. Emma describes finding meaning in supporting others while continuing her own treatment. Resources: Oasis of Hope Emma IG Playbook AI Partners Join our FB Community:  AI Quick Win Club Join Us In The Huddle - Live training and AI Tools You Can Use Support the show

  3. Oct 8 ·  Video

    Episode 147: Breast Implants: What I Wish I’d Known Before Surgery with Dr. Kayte

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when your health changes, but answers remain hard to find?  Sandy Kibling welcomes Dr. Kayte, a chiropractor, educator, entrepreneur, and author of Beyond Beauty, to share her experience with chronic illness following breast implant surgery. She describes the symptoms that disrupted her life, her search for explanations, and why informed choices and self-advocacy matter. Their conversation reaches beyond surgery into childhood adversity, identity, faith, and the complicated role of community during illness.  Dr. Kayte reflects on why the support she needed changed over time and how her experiences shaped her memoir. Listen for a candid personal story about asking questions, finding connection, and making room for life beyond a diagnosis. 3 Key Takeaways Make informed choices. It is important to understand your options and ask questions before making healthcare decisions.Support needs can change. Dr. Kayte found connection in illness communities, then later chose different boundaries as her needs evolved.Identity is a central theme in her story. She reflects on the difference between the roles that helped her survive and the values that supported her next chapter.Resources: Dr. Kayte’s Website Beyond Beauty - Book Playbook AI Partners FB Community  - AI Quick Win Club Support the show

  4. Oct 1 ·  Video

    Episode 146: Stretch n’ Release: The Brain Hack for Chronic Pain with Butch Phelps

    Send us Fan Mail Does stretching feel like a tug-of-war with your own body?  Sandy Kibling welcomes functional massage therapist and Stretch and Release creator Butch Phelps to explore his approach to muscle tension, movement, and everyday aches.  Butch shares how his experience with severe back pain led him to study massage, stretching, and aging—and why he encourages people to pay attention to their daily habits. Their conversation covers Butch’s emphasis on relaxation rather than force, the sitting habits he asks clients to examine, and his approach to making home practice manageable.  Sandy also shares her experience with physical therapy and how understanding the purpose of a stretch helped it make sense.  Hear about Butch’s instructional videos, his book Stretch and Release, and a recurring theme throughout the episode: small steps taken consistently over time. 3 Key Takeaways Notice your daily patterns. Butch encourages listeners to consider how sitting, working, and other routines relate to the tension they experience.Relaxation is central to his approach. Stretch and Release emphasizes breathing and gentle practice rather than pulling harder.Keep the habit manageable. Butch recommends learning gradually and practicing consistently instead of trying to master everything in one day.Resources: Butch Phelps - Website Stretch and Release: The Missing Piece to a More Pain Free Life Playbook AI Partners Free Webinar 10/14/2026 From To-Do To Done: 3 AI Plays to Take Busywork Off Your Plate The Huddle: October Sessions: Finding The Right Tool and Build Your Digital Business Navigator Join us in the AI Quick Club - FB Community - Get your daily AI Quick Win **If you missed any of the sessions check the website for new sessions posted regularly. Want to be a guest on Get Savvy...Demystifying Healthcare? Send Sandy Kibling a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/getsavvydemystifyinghealthcare #podmatch Support the show

  5. Sep 23 ·  Video

    Episode 145: Stop and Compare: Don't 'Just Keep' Your Medicare Plan Without Doing This First

    Send us Fan Mail Thinking of keeping your Medicare plan for another year? That may be the right choice, but it’s worth checking whether the plan still fits.  During open enrollment, changes to costs, covered medications, provider networks, and your own healthcare needs can affect the answer. Sandy Kibling talks with Medicare Broker Krista Hugenberg about how to look past the commercials and focus on what matters to you. Krista explains what to look for in your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), why a current medication and provider list helps, and which questions to bring to a plan review. They also discuss how an independent broker works with clients and caregivers.  Listen for a practical way to prepare before you decide to stay with your plan or explore another option. 3 Key Takeaways Review before you renew. Check your plan’s costs, drug coverage, provider network, and benefits against your current needs.Start with the Annual Notice of Change. It helps you spot plan changes that deserve a closer look.Bring a medication and provider list. Those details make a conversation with a broker more useful.Resources: H5Healthcare Consulting Playbook AI Partners Playbook AI Partners - The Huddle - October Sessions Join us in the AI Quick Club - FB Community - Get your daily AI Quick Win Want to be a guest on Get Savvy...Demystifying Healthcare? Send Sandy Kibling a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/getsavvydemystifyinghealthcare #podmatch Support the show

  6. Sep 17 ·  Video

    Episode 144: Both Sides of The Bed: The Nurse Who Tells Caregivers What the Healthcare System Won’t

    Send us Fan Mail Becoming a caregiver can feel like accepting a full-time job for which you never applied—and never received any training. Suddenly, you’re expected to manage medications, appointments, insurance requirements and life-changing decisions while also coping with fear, exhaustion and grief.  In this episode, Sandy speaks with registered nurse, functional medicine health coach, caregiver coach and author Tiffany Auvil about what she learned while caring for her husband, Dave, during his experience with two different cancers. Tiffany shares how she uncovered a coding error that nearly delayed his immunotherapy, why caregivers need organized medical information and how to ask questions when something doesn’t make sense.  She also offers practical guidance for tracking medications, communicating with providers, investigating insurance denials and giving yourself grace during an incredibly difficult season.  It’s a compassionate, candid conversation about becoming an informed partner in someone’s care—without expecting yourself to handle everything perfectly. 3 Key Takeaways A denial deserves another question. Ask why something was denied, contact the insurance company and verify that the correct diagnosis and procedure or medication information was submitted.Keep essential information in one place. Maintain current medication lists, medical orders, provider information, test results and insurance details in whatever system works for you.Caregivers need grace and support, too. You’re learning a demanding role under stressful circumstances, and anticipatory grief, mistakes and emotional exhaustion can all be part of the experience.Resources: Tiffany Auvil’s Website No BS Guide for Caregivers: How to Survive the Healthcare Maze Playbook AI Partners Playbook AI Partners - Podcast Join us in the AI Quick Club - FB Community - Get your daily AI Quick Win #Podmatch Support the show

  7. Sep 11 ·  Video

    Episode 143: Speak Up at the Doctor’s Office: What Matters Most

    Send us Fan Mail What happens in the exam room can shape much more than a diagnosis or treatment plan. The questions patients ask, the concerns they share, and the trust they build with their providers can all influence their healthcare decisions. In this episode,  Sandy speaks with Dr. Emily Boss, a pediatric ENT surgeon and researcher at Johns Hopkins, about how communication affects the care patients and families receive. Dr. Boss explains how patients can prepare for an appointment, organize their medical history, communicate their biggest concern, and distinguish between medical evidence, clinical guidelines, and a provider’s professional opinion. She also discusses how patient portals and emerging AI tools can support—not replace—the human relationship at the center of healthcare.  You’ll leave with practical ways to speak up, ask better questions, and become a more confident partner in your care. Key Takeaways: Lead with what matters most. Tell your provider what brought you to the appointment, what worries you most, and what answer you hope to leave with. Organize the important details. A concise timeline, medication list, test results, and relevant records can help your provider understand the situation more quickly. Technology should support human care. Patient portals, AI-powered information tools, and medical scribes can improve access and create more room for meaningful conversation—but human judgment and connection remain essential. Resources: Emily Boss Website Playbook AI Partners Playbook AI Partners - Podcast Join Us September 23rd 2026 for  - "AI, That’s Not What I Meant!" - Free Webinar Want to be a guest on Get Savvy...Demystifying Healthcare? Send Sandy Kibling a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/getsavvydemystifyinghealthcare #podmatch Support the show

  8. Sep 3 ·  Video

    Episode 142: The Prepared Patient: Your Guide to Navigating Healthcare

    Send us Fan Mail Is the American healthcare system truly broken—or has it simply become too complex for patients and physicians to navigate? In this episode, Sandy Kibling talks with Dr. Terry Adirim, a board-certified pediatric emergency physician, physician executive, healthcare advisor, and author of The Prepared Patient: Your Guide to Surviving the Healthcare System. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience, Dr. Adirim explains why patients face long waits, rushed appointments, confusing insurance rules, denied care, and mounting costs. You’ll learn how to prepare for medical appointments, find the right provider, understand the difference between an explanation of benefits and an actual bill, and advocate for yourself when a claim or charge doesn’t look right.  Dr. Adirim also discusses the growth of concierge and direct-pay medicine, the pressures facing physicians, and why technology alone cannot repair the healthcare system.  Her message is reassuring and direct: It’s not you—it’s the system. But becoming an informed and prepared patient can help you make better decisions for yourself and your family. 3 Key Takeaways: Preparation changes the patient experience. Decide what you need from an appointment, write down your questions, and bring an advocate when you’re receiving complicated or difficult information.Learn the language of health insurance. Understanding premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, networks, bills, and explanations of benefits helps you compare plans and avoid costly misunderstandings.You have the right to ask questions and challenge decisions. Request itemized bills, question incorrect charges, appeal denied claims, and speak up when you believe your care is urgent.Resources: Dr. Terry Adirim - Website The Prepared Patient - Book Playbook AI Partners Playbook AI Partners - Podcast Join Us September 23rd 2026 for  - "AI, That’s Not What I Meant!" - Free Webinar Want to be a guest on Get Savvy...Demystifying Healthcare? Send Sandy Kibling a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/getsavvydemystifyinghealthcare #podmatch Support the show

See All (149)

4.8
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

Are you tired of the high cost of healthcare? Overwhelmed trying to navigate a complicated system? Welcome to Get Savvy…Demystifying Healthcare, the weekly podcast that takes complicated healthcare topics and makes them simple. Imagine trading FEAR and FRUSTRATION for feeling EMPOWERED to make smart healthcare decisions for yourself and your family. Each week we cover the topics that matter most: navigating the healthcare maze, preventive health, mental health, new healthcare trends and options, and real consumer stories. It’s all designed to help you understand the healthcare system and navigate it on your terms. Wherever you are on your healthcare journey, that’s okay. We meet you where you are, so you can take the next step toward living your best life. Get Savvy with your host, Sandy Kibling, a healthcare professional who is changing how healthcare knowledge is shared. Want to be a guest on Get Savvy...Demystifying Healthcare? Send Sandy Kibling a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/getsavvydemystifyinghealthcare

Information