31 episodes

What's your life worth? Healthcare in the United States can bankrupt you, demoralize you—or actually kill you. Healthcare economist David Smith grew up in a Mormon community in Utah, and lost his father, sister, and brother to the same deadly epidemic. He’s spent his career exploring whether their deaths were preventable and how we can make health a priority for everyone. On The Cost of Care, David and his guests – patients, medical experts, and policy makers – reveal how the wealthiest nation on earth ended up with one of the most expensive, worst-performing health care systems in the world and provide solutions to fix it, together.

The Cost of Care Lemonada

    • Health & Fitness
    • 4.1 • 379 Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

What's your life worth? Healthcare in the United States can bankrupt you, demoralize you—or actually kill you. Healthcare economist David Smith grew up in a Mormon community in Utah, and lost his father, sister, and brother to the same deadly epidemic. He’s spent his career exploring whether their deaths were preventable and how we can make health a priority for everyone. On The Cost of Care, David and his guests – patients, medical experts, and policy makers – reveal how the wealthiest nation on earth ended up with one of the most expensive, worst-performing health care systems in the world and provide solutions to fix it, together.

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    Listen Now: Archetypes with Meghan

    Listen Now: Archetypes with Meghan

    Introducing Archetypes, a refreshing and dynamic podcast where Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, dives into the labels that try to hold women back. During these intimate and candid conversations with guests from around the world, we discover how these archetypes impact our everyday lives in ways big and small. With experts and historians, Meghan also uncovers how we got here in the first place – unearthing the origin of words such as ‘diva’, ‘slut’, ‘the B word’, ‘hysterical’, and many more, and asks the question: can we change this? 

     

    In this episode, Meghan talks to the one and only Serena Williams about the double standard women face when they are labeled "ambitious" and the ripple effect this has on other aspects of their lives. This groundbreaking premiere episode also features Dr. Laura Kray, a leading expert on gender in the workplace.

    To hear the full season of Archetypes, head to https://lemonada.lnk.to/archetypesfd 
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 58 min
    An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a $4 Trillion Dollars of the Cure

    An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a $4 Trillion Dollars of the Cure

    We’ve all heard about the amazing advances in genetic testing and personalized diagnoses. What’s incredible is that these resources are increasingly accessible to each of us, allowing us to anticipate and plan for the uncertainties that lie at some future date. We talk to someone who literally had their life saved through these personalized, preventive measures along with an expert who unpacks where this exciting field is heading.

     

    Special thanks to our season two sponsor Thorne. Thorne believes personalized, scientific wellness can extend the duration of one's health span, create happier and healthier lives, and feel one’s best at every age and life stage. Visit the Lemonada Media Thorne Storefront at www.thorne.com/u/care for 10% off your first order. 
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 47 min
    Listen Now: The Defenders

    Listen Now: The Defenders

    We’re dropping in your feed today to let you know about another Lemonada Media show that we think you’ll want to tune in for. It’s called The Defenders. On Friday, June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Since then, it's been a barrage of bad news and bleak headlines. But for every restriction, there are many more acts of resistance, and a growing network of activists, clinic workers, faith leaders, and everyday people working to expand access to care. This is the story of the fight for freedom in a post-Roe America, co-hosted by Samantha Bee and Gloria Riviera. 

     

    In this episode of The Defenders, we follow religious leaders. Reproductive rights and religion may not feel like they go hand in hand. But in Atlanta, Black faith leaders are challenging that by talking about abortion…in church.

    To hear more of The Defenders, head to: https://lemonada.lnk.to/thedefenders
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 47 min
    The US Health System Has Forgotten About Alzheimer's Patients

    The US Health System Has Forgotten About Alzheimer's Patients

    Alzheimer's is one of the most insidious and heartbreaking diseases a person can face. To make matters worse, the US healthcare system is simply not incentivized to support patients or their families in adapting to the radical change of circumstances. In this episode, David explores the illness, how the system is currently responding to it, and the very exciting things on the scientific front that could change the game.

     

    Special thanks to our season two sponsor Thorne. Thorne believes personalized, scientific wellness can extend the duration of one's health span, create happier and healthier lives, and feel one’s best at every age and life stage. Visit the Lemonada Media Thorne Storefront at www.thorne.com/u/care for 10% off your first order.

     
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 40 min
    Fan Fave: The Doomsday Clock

    Fan Fave: The Doomsday Clock

    David Smith watched as chronic pain and addiction transformed his loving father into a vengeful man who was unrecognizable. David has spent a lifetime trying to outrun his father’s fate - but now he’s looking for answers. How can we build a better healthcare system and stop the cycle of sickness, trauma and loss? In episode one, we explore his family’s story, covering everything from childhood tragedy and generational trauma to opioid abuse and Mormon excommunication. 

    Keep up with David on twitter @CHIDavidSmith. 

    Have you been hit with a surprise bill or had an infuriating run-in with the health care system? If you want to submit a patient story, email us at costofcare@lemonadamedia.com or leave us a voicemail at 833-453-6662. 

    Support for this episode of The Cost of Care comes from Healthline.com, America’s leading digital health brand. Visit healthline.com/costofcare now, and stay connected by following @healthline on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Healthline: Powering healthy actions and supporting you on your journey to well-being. 

    Support for this podcast comes from The Commonwealth Fund, a health care research foundation working to improve the U.S. health system. Visit commonwealthfund.org/costofcare, and stay connected by following us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Commonwealth Fund: Affordable, quality health care. For everyone.

    You can click this link for a full list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows.

    To follow along with a transcript and/or take notes for friends and family, go to https://www.lemonadamedia.com/show/thecostofcare/ shortly after the air date.

    Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

     
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 41 min
    The Central Crux to American Health: Obesity

    The Central Crux to American Health: Obesity

    Almost half of Americans live with obesity. In this episode we dig into the pain of living with this clinical condition, the social and cultural elements that limit our ability to fully address the obesity epidemic, and thoughts on how the system can be far more responsive to supporting those around us in achieving better health.A special thanks to Pfizer for providing funding support and to HealthyWomen for providing educational guidance on this episode. HealthyWomen is dedicated to educating women so they can make informed health decisions, advocate for themselves and prioritize their health and wellness. Learn more about their work at healthywomen.org.Special thanks to our season two sponsor Thorne. Thorne believes personalized, scientific wellness can extend the duration of one's health span, create happier and healthier lives, and feel one’s best at every age and life stage. Visit the Lemonada Media Thorne Storefront at www.thorne.com/u/care for 10% off your first order.
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 50 min

Customer Reviews

4.1 out of 5
379 Ratings

379 Ratings

WhyBabyJesusWhy ,

Pandering to what is

Having experienced UK (NHS) and decades of for profit American health care for my chronic issues this is my take on this podcast.

Focus on anecdotal experiences and graphic tragic outcomes doesn’t illustrate the everyday mindset and relationship with health care of most Americans.

To illustrate:

There’s a billion dollar industrial complex of over the counter treatments, alternative care and health and wellness that Americans routinely access in lieu of standard western medical care because the health care system is problematic.

Everyday people self diagnose and practice frontier medicine on themselves because of the cost and well known inefficacy of the medical establishment in America.

My own chronic condition routinely gets prescribed a cocktail of drugs that are peer review researched to have about the same effect as a placebo and a slew of cumulative nasty side effects that include suicidal ideation. I opted out of those standard treatments. Go figure.

And mine is an average experience here in America. In general we don’t trust our health system. And the ramifications of millions of people who no longer use the established medical system (unless they absolutely have to) is the unnecessary death toll (Covid for example)and general unmitigated medical maiming of the population that’s not seen in other countries.

When I was living in the UK I was straight up told first day I arrived (apropos of nothing) and like I was a slow child that health care was a human right.

And in practice, observing my UK friends/colleagues receive health care and my own personal experiences with NHS made me realize that my experience with the monetization of American health care impacts me in every aspect in a negative way because humans are not disease widgets that need just in time attentions of a mechanized system of delivery that weaponized profit making over good health outcomes.

Moreover I learned that on all levels my ideas about health care and how I accessed it were grounded and lensed in the for profit model.

And so too is this podcast’s framework and lens intrinsically tied to the for profit model in its unexamined bias and editorial choices that rely on anecdotal evidence of “the cost of human suffering” to drive the narrative.

Until we as Americans examine “what is”... that we see basically everything as a marketplace to our own detriment- we’re gonna just have more of the same. And no matter how groundbreaking the discussion is- it will be rendered moot.

Health care is a commodity in America not a human right. Yes, medical care has a “price” and billions of other humans planet wide have figured out how to provide for each other because they do not see the overarching need to make profit from medicine.

Anastasya M ,

Knowledgeable & informed

This podcast puts in the work, delivering information and insights that help to explain health and healthcare issues. So many podcasts are simply promoting fads and products - this doesn’t.

SKD442 ,

Disappointed in Defenders drop

I am a 20 year BH professional. This podcast started out honest, fair, and reflective of so many challenges to our imperfect healthcare system. I consider myself politically neutral and appreciate the objectivity. Unfortunately, the most recent episode shifted to a political “side” and seemed dismissive and perhaps even discriminatory of those who believe differently. I’ve lost my trust….

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