Tag: patient rights

July 20, 2026

By Brenda Gazzar

When Your Health Insurance Says ‘No’ to Your Doctor’s Orders

THIS TIME ON CODE WACK! For many Americans, getting the right medical care isn’t just about what their doctors recommend; it’s also about what their insurance company is willing to cover. So what happens when those two don’t agree? And why can […]

Tags: Lisa Kantor, Corporate Healthcare, underinsurance, Kantor & Kantor LLP, Universal Healthcare, patient rights, eating disorders, Physicians for a National Health Program, National Single Payer, eating disorder treatment, elder care, premature discharge, code wack, insurance appeals, mental health parity, brenda gazzar, COVID lockdowns, network adequacy, Medicare Advantage, people over profit, residential treatment, Healthcare Justice, job lock, Health insurance, behavioral health, Single-Payer Healthcare, public option healthcare, HEAL California, continuity of care, medical debt, profit in healthcare, Medicare for all, insurance denials

July 13, 2026

By Brenda Gazzar

When Insurance Cuts Eating Disorder Care Too Soon

THIS TIME ON CODE WACK! In the United States, as many as 30 million people are affected by eating disorders, including many children and adolescents, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that affect both […]

Tags: eating disorders, Physicians for a National Health Program, National Single Payer, eating disorder treatment, elder care, premature discharge, code wack, insurance appeals, mental health parity, brenda gazzar, COVID lockdowns, network adequacy, Medicare Advantage, people over profit, residential treatment, Healthcare Justice, job lock, Health insurance, behavioral health, Single-Payer Healthcare, public option healthcare, HEAL California, continuity of care, medical debt, profit in healthcare, Medicare for all, insurance denials, Lisa Kantor, Corporate Healthcare, underinsurance, Kantor & Kantor LLP, Universal Healthcare, patient rights

April 27, 2026

By Brenda Gazzar

Why the Same Drug Costs 3x More (And Who Decides)

THIS TIME ON CODE WACK! Imagine two patients … same diagnosis, same medication, same country. Each one needs the same prescription. One gets their care through the Department of Veterans Affairs, the other gets it through Medicare. The price of […]

Tags: administrative burden, Health Equity, care delays, Healthcare Accountability, medical billing transparency, medical debt, insurance appeals, insurance denials, denial rates, public health policy, codewack, Medicare for all, patient rights, Healthcare Costs, healthcare system failures, Healthcare Access, prior authorization, Healthcare Reform, physician burnout, Patient Advocacy, insurance industry practices

April 20, 2026

By Brenda Gazzar

Designed to Fail: How Insurance Denials Really Work

THIS TIME ON CODE WACK! Today, we’re talking about insurance denials, hidden incentives… and why getting care can feel like navigating a system designed to stop you. Our guest is Bob Coleman, a retired healthcare professional who spent more […]

Tags: Health Equity, care delays, Healthcare Accountability, medical billing transparency, medical debt, insurance appeals, insurance denials, denial rates, public health policy, codewack, Medicare for all, patient rights, Healthcare Costs, healthcare system failures, Healthcare Access, prior authorization, Healthcare Reform, physician burnout, Patient Advocacy, insurance industry practices, administrative burden

January 5, 2026

By Brenda Gazzar

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 […]

Tags: Healthcare Access, medical debt, progressive health policy, Healthcare Reform, patient rights, healthcare voters, Healthcare Crisis, bipartisan healthcare support, Healthcare Justice, Health Policy, policy podcast, Healthcare Inequality, economic justice, Single-Payer Healthcare, healthcare advocacy, Health Equity, healthcare affordability, HEAL California, Social Determinants of Health, rising healthcare costs, Affordable Care Act, Public Health, insurance reform, Medicare for all, Code WACK! podcast, ACA limitations, Universal Healthcare, U.S. healthcare system, care over profit

December 29, 2025

By Brenda Gazzar

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 […]

Tags: Medicare for all, Code WACK! podcast, ACA limitations, Universal Healthcare, U.S. healthcare system, care over profit, Healthcare Access, medical debt, progressive health policy, Healthcare Reform, patient rights, healthcare voters, Healthcare Crisis, bipartisan healthcare support, Healthcare Justice, Health Policy, policy podcast, Healthcare Inequality, economic justice, Single-Payer Healthcare, healthcare advocacy, Health Equity, healthcare affordability, HEAL California, Social Determinants of Health, rising healthcare costs, Affordable Care Act, Public Health, insurance reform

December 8, 2025

By Brenda Gazzar

The hidden forces behind skyrocketing health insurance costs

THIS TIME ON CODE WACK! Join us on a deep dive into the hidden forces behind soaring out-of-pocket costs, from rising medical costs to pandemic aftershocks and corporate profit pressures. Our guest, health insurance agent Sherry Davis Johnson, shares eye-opening […]

Tags: Single-Payer Healthcare, doctor-patient relationship, Health Equity, medical ethics, Code WACK! podcast, delayed care, patient rights, Medicare Advantage denials, Health Policy, health insurance appeals, HEAL California, Affordable Healthcare, post-acute care, Medicare for all, Medicaid cuts, Jeremy White InHumana, Patient Advocacy, Center for Health and Democracy, healthcare inequities, chronic illness, brenda gazzar, prior authorization, Elder Care Challenges, physician burnout

December 1, 2025

By Brenda Gazzar

‘Widespread Panic:’ Rising Premiums and Shrinking Subsidies Explained

THIS TIME ON CODE WACK! We’re digging into big questions: Are reduced health insurance subsidies leaving Americans with a bad case of sticker shock? If you’re shopping on the ACA marketplace, what should you watch out for before picking a plan? […]

Tags: Medicare Advantage denials, Health Policy, health insurance appeals, HEAL California, Affordable Healthcare, post-acute care, Medicare for all, Medicaid cuts, Jeremy White InHumana, Patient Advocacy, Center for Health and Democracy, healthcare inequities, chronic illness, brenda gazzar, prior authorization, Elder Care Challenges, physician burnout, Single-Payer Healthcare, doctor-patient relationship, Health Equity, medical ethics, Code WACK! podcast, delayed care, patient rights