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“It’s not that you have to follow in my footsteps and do medical tourism or get your second citizenship or do these concierge services. My one recommendation is to know your options.” —Lani Gonzales, Hypnotherapist
Had It With the Health Insurance
Racket? Know Your Options!
Featuring
Lani Gonzales, Esq.
Find us on Apple podcasts, our website or your favorite podcast platform.
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Breaking News in Healthcare Reform
“Amid the challenges of adulthood, one rite of passage is unique to the United States: the need to find your own health insurance by the time you turn 26.”
Why Young Americans Dread Turning 26: Health Insurance Chaos
KFF | Elisabeth Rosenthal & Hannah Normal | August 11, 2025
“…companies conducting the review process will be incentivized to deny coverage because they receive payments when they lower costs.”
Medicare Will Start Using AI to Help Make Coverage Decisions Next Year
Newsweek | Suzanne Blake | August 8, 2025
“Insurers plan to keep sacrificing MA growth for profitability next year.”
The Great Medicare Advantage Contraction Appears Set to Continue
Healthcare Dive | Rebecca Pifer | August 6, 2025
“Meanwhile, 17% of Americans say they’re using buy now, pay later services for medical or dental care.”
‘Gouging’: US Health Insurance Giants Raked in Over $71 Billion in Profits Last Year
Common Dreams | Jessica Corbett | August 6, 2025
“If Congress takes no action, premiums for subsidized enrollees are projected to increase by over 75 percent starting in January 2026….”
ACA Premiums Set to Spike
The Hill | Nathaniel Weixel, Joseph Choi, Alejandra O’Connell-Domenech | August 6, 2025
“Drug companies have said the industry is bracing for chaos in case Trump follows through on his threats. Tariffs would disrupt international supply chains, forcing companies to decide whether to pass on increased costs to patients and exacerbate existing drug shortages.”
Trump Threatens Pharma Tariffs of Up To 250 Percent
The Hill | Nathaniel Weixel | August 5, 2025
“If the federal funding disappears, the consequences likely won’t be limited to Medi-Cal recipients. … Rural hospitals, clinics and safety net providers — many of which already operate on thin margins — could be forced to reduce services, lay off staff or shut down altogether. That would threaten access to care for entire communities, regardless of insurance status.”
Cutting Off the Base: How Trump’s Budget Hits His Own Voters
The Intersection | Julia Mayer | August 5, 2025
“Last week Covered California announced it was working to notify all DACA recipients that their last day of coverage will be Aug. 31 and that it will help them explore other insurance options.”
2,300 California ‘Dreamers’ Are About to Lose Their Health Care Coverage
CalMatters | Ana B. Ibarra | August 4, 2025
“Hundreds of urban hospitals have taken advantage of a 2016 policy change that allows them to be simultaneously classified by Medicare as rural and urban facilities for payment purposes … [including] … UCSF Medical Center ($6.1 billion) and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center ($4.3 billion).”
Hundreds of Urban Hospitals Could Be Double-Dipping into Rural Medicare Funds, Study Finds
Fierce Healthcare | Dave Muoio | August 4, 2025
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Shining a light on ongoing inequities in health care
and the impact they have on vulnerable individuals and communities.
Our podcast Code WACK! brings to life the failures of America’s healthcare system with stories, commentary and analysis.
Our Weekly News Roundup shares news and views about health policy, health equity and healthcare reform (from non-paywalled news sources)
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