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Artwork for An Arm and a Leg

An Arm and a Leg

An Arm and a Leg
Health Insurance
Healthcare Costs
Health Care Costs
Medical Debt
Facility Fees
Medical Bills
Charity Care
Medicaid
Prescription Drugs
Obamacare
Affordable Care Act
First Aid Kit
The Pitt
Emergency Medicine
KFF Health News
Insurance
Patient Rights
Healthcare Billing
Dollar For
Medical Billing

An Arm and a Leg is a podcast about why health care costs so freaking much and what we can (maybe) do about it.

If you’ve ever been surprised by a medical bill, you’re in good company. But as our team of seasoned journalists has learned from years of reporting — you’re not always helpless. We don’t have all the answers, but we’ll offer you tools and big picture insights with plenty of humor and h... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes163Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MedicineSociety & CultureDocumentaryHealth & Fitness

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Artwork for An Arm and a Leg

Latest Episodes

We’re always asking: Why do drugs cost so freaking much?

And it’s a complicated question. There are a bunch of reasons — to be sure. But in our reporting over the years, like our stories on insulin and tuberculosis drugs, experts cited one big rea... more

YouTube

This year, the price of health insurance increased dramatically for millions of people. Tens of millions. Obamacare subsidies shrunk, and premiums skyrocketed.

People asked themselves: how on earth am I supposed to make this work?

Two of those ... more

YouTube

Hey, first! We’re looking for your help. Can you take a couple minutes and fill out our Audience Survey?

We’re dying to know more about the community that’s using this show — and about what’s working for you and what you’d like to see. Let us know... more

YouTube

Thirty-six hours before his wife was scheduled for a major surgery, New York Times personal finance columnist Ron Lieber got a letter in the mail that sent him reeling.

Insurance was denying prior authorization for the surgery. The only way forwar... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Al Engelberg
Lawyer who shaped generic drug policy, former patent examiner and advocate
Independent lawyer, later involved with Hatch-Waxman cases
Episode: Why drugs cost so much, 101: Medicine monopolies
Nicole Wipp
LAM patient, former lawyer, and Obamacare subscriber-turned-insurance-critique
Private individual (health story)
Episode: ‘Not workable’: How two Americans picked a plan this year — or didn’t
Noah Hulsman
Skateboard shop owner and insured consumer choosing cheaper coverage
Private individual
Episode: ‘Not workable’: How two Americans picked a plan this year — or didn’t
Jodi Kantor
Journalist known for her reporting that helped expose Harvey Weinstein's misconduct in Hollywood.
The New York Times
Episode: NYT’s Ron Lieber: ‘These people are not going to win.'
Donna Bailey
State Senator from Maine, sponsor of medical debt legislation
Maine State Legislature
Episode: Some more things that didn’t suck in 2025
Anne Wilson
Executive Director of Consumers for Affordable Health Care, a non-profit advocacy organization
Consumers for Affordable Health Care
Episode: Some more things that didn’t suck in 2025
Elliot Bostar
Legislator in Nebraska, representing Legislative District 29
Nebraska Legislature
Episode: Some things that didn’t suck in 2025 (really)
Amanda Gago-Silcox
Education and Resource Manager at Virginia Poverty Law Center
Virginia Poverty Law Center
Episode: Some things that didn’t suck in 2025 (really)
Jay Spear
Executive Director and Consumer Rights Attorney at the Virginia Poverty Law Center
Virginia Poverty Law Center
Episode: Some things that didn’t suck in 2025 (really)

Host

Dan Weissmann
Created, hosted, and produced by Dan Weissmann; long-time host focusing on health care costs, policy, and patient stories.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • Excellent Host & Content re: Navigating Health Care Systems

    A Very Worthy Podcast to: Subscribe, Listen, & Support. Host/Reporter Dan builds each episode on an important theme, interviews knowledgeable persons, examines insightful case studies, explains the significanse of the specificity of fine-print in documents that govern various policies & institutions whose consequences then govern how health care is administered to patients. He delivers such useful information in an entertaining, caring & thoughtful approach. He is curious to understand the minut... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ! ***** !
    United States3 months ago
  • So useful!

    Every episode teaches me something. That’s saying a lot because I’ve worked in healthcare for 40 years.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gogo7575
    United States10 months ago
  • Much needed

    Love this show and the deep dives into our healthcare system

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jackie on FIRE
    United States10 months ago
  • Trump bad

    …. But it’s funny, the democrats have never done anything wrong. I’m so tired of the fear mongering and bias reporting.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    SadieKen
    United Statesa year ago
  • Very politically biased

    These podcasts are one sided so if you listen know that you are being brainwashed

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Apple bottom jeans girl
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

A few critics note strong political framing in some episodes, but many still value the in-depth analysis and real-world guidance.
The host blends thorough reporting with a human-centered approach, making complex health policy accessible and actionable.
Listeners often praise the show for its helpful tips on negotiating bills, understanding subsidies, and advocating for policy change.
Guests are knowledgeable and bring practical, experience-driven insights that help listeners navigate insurance, billing, and debt.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why drugs cost so much, 101: Medicine monopolies
Q: If you were going to set up a bounty hunting operation for challenging weak drug patents, how would you approach it?
Engelberg explains crafting a strategy to identify weak patents, pursue challenges that could yield a six-month market head start for generics, and structure settlements that could be highly profitable, including partnering with a generic sponsor and carefully navigating the legal process to maximize value.
Some more things that didn’t suck in 2025
Q: What were the significant drivers behind the new law in Oregon against corporate ownership of medical practices?
The law aimed to reestablish physician autonomy in decision-making against corporate profitability pushing, ensuring better patient care and ethical practices in medicine.
How to pick health insurance — in the worst year ever
Q: Does it ever make sense just to save the premium money instead of paying for a plan?
Jess reflects that without good coverage, there might be a temptation to save instead, especially given rising premiums.
The great American drug shortage isn't an accident, it's artificial (from Organized Money)
Q: How do you make money?
Tim explains there are multiple ways to earn, including the difference between buying and selling prices, and service fees for wholesalers.
“Your Money or Your Life”: Dr. Luke Messac’s book on the history of medical debt
Q: What did you do after your op-ed was published?
After the piece was published on a small blog, Messac was called into a meeting by hospital administrators who wanted to discuss it, showing that it had some impact.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About An Arm and a Leg

What is An Arm and a Leg about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on the high cost of health care in the United States and how patients navigate insurance, bills, and policy. Across episodes, topics span medical debt, insurance denials, subsidies and open enrollment, patient advocacy, and legislative efforts to curb costs. Guests include journalists, lawmakers, patient advocates, and health policy experts who share practical advice, personal stories, and analysis of the system's economics. A notable strength is its blend of rigorous reporting with accessible, human-centered storytelling, often showcasing grassroots organizing and real-world strategies to reduce costs or improve coverage. This mix makes it a strong fit for listeners who want actionable insights, behind-the-scenes policy co... more

Where can I find podcast stats for An Arm and a Leg?

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How many listeners does An Arm and a Leg get?

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How many subscribers and views does An Arm and a Leg have?

To see how many followers or subscribers An Arm and a Leg has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to An Arm and a Leg?

These podcasts share a similar audience with An Arm and a Leg:

1. Tradeoffs
2. What the Health? From KFF Health News
3. Radiolab
4. The Wirecutter Show
5. This Is Uncomfortable

How many episodes of An Arm and a Leg are there?

An Arm and a Leg launched 8 years ago and published 163 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact An Arm and a Leg?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on An Arm and a Leg?

Recent guests on An Arm and a Leg include:

1. Al Engelberg
2. Nicole Wipp
3. Noah Hulsman
4. Jodi Kantor
5. Donna Bailey
6. Anne Wilson
7. Elliot Bostar
8. Amanda Gago-Silcox

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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