Author: Brenda Gazzar

Why Insured Americans Still Need Charity Clinics

        THIS TIME ON CODE WACK!   Why are people in America resorting to receiving medical care in animal stalls – even if they have health insurance? What would it take to make volunteer stopgap clinics unnecessary – and who stands in […]

The Real Cost of Health Insurance Nobody Talks About

          THIS TIME ON CODE WACK!   Healthcare premiums aren’t the only costs going up. Your pocketbook is also getting hit with higher out-of-pocket costs – like deductibles, co-pays, and coinsurance – often under the radar. How is this hidden cost […]

Medicare Advantage Is Breaking America’s Promise to Seniors

        THIS TIME ON CODE WACK!   Privatized Medicare now covers more than half of older adults nationwide. But how do Medicare Advantage plans’ lower star ratings, narrow networks, and “paper benefits” hit seniors of color hardest-and why are hospitals dropping these […]

‘No real choice.’ How Medicare Advantage fails seniors

      THIS TIME ON CODE WACK!   How does Medicare Advantage – also known as privatized Medicare – fail seniors … especially seniors of color?  Why do many seniors find they actually have no other choice than an Advantage plan? What’s the consequence […]

Is racism in health care still a problem in 2026? Absolutely.

        THIS TIME ON CODE WACK!   This time on Code WACK! In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we’re rebroadcasting this episode examining how desegregation shaped the experiences of Black patients in America – and what still hasn’t changed. […]

Revisiting America’s racist – and deadly – legacy

        THIS TIME ON CODE WACK!   In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we’re rebroadcasting our Anthem Award–winning episode on one of the most overlooked civil rights battles in American history: the desegregation of hospitals. The episode features Dr. […]

Inside California’s Push for Guaranteed Healthcare

          THIS TIME ON CODE WACK!   As healthcare costs skyrocket and Americans face new coverage threats, California advocates are pushing for something bigger than simple fixes around the edges. We’re joined by longtime healthcare organizer Michael Lighty, who breaks down […]

Why More Americans Want Medicare for All

          THIS TIME ON CODE WACK!   Today, we’re talking about rising healthcare costs and the renewed momentum behind Medicare for All. Recent polling shows majority support for the idea across Democrats, independents, and even a notable share of Republicans, even […]