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Tradeoffs

Tradeoffs
Medicaid
Health Insurance
Affordable Care Act
Mental Health
Medicare
Health Policy
Health Equity
Public Health
Healthcare Costs
Health Care System
Artificial Intelligence
Abortion
Generic Drugs
Trump Administration
Durham, North Carolina
Mental Illness
Opioid Addiction
Healthcare Policy
Preventive Care
Congress

Tradeoffs explores the toughest choices in health care, diving into issues like the cost of care, health equity, insurance, mental health and artificial intelligence. We connect policy to practice, uncovering the data and personal stories that help audiences understand the stakes — and the potential solutions.

Learn more about us, find transcripts for each episode and additional reporting at https... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes387Founded7 years ago
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Artwork for Tradeoffs

Latest Episodes

Two physicians and an ethicist discuss how to make the best decisions in areas like artificial intelligence and gender-affirming care when there is limited evidence in a live conversation recorded at Aspen Ideas: Health.

Guests:

* Ishani Ganguli, ... more

As millions of Americans are expected to lose health insurance coverage following federal cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, states are searching for new ways to prevent medical debt before it starts. 

In this episode of Tradeoffs, econom... more

Washington is one of 19 states that have received federal approval to enroll people in Medicaid before they leave jail or prison — a radical change in Medicaid policy that health care and law enforcement leaders believe will save lives. 

But this ex... more

The No Surprises Act was designed to protect patients from unexpected medical bills, but nearly four years after the law took effect, many experts say parts of its implementation aren't working as intended. Insurers, hospitals, physician groups and f... more

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Recent Guests

Neale Mahoney
Economist at Stanford University, leading researcher on medical debt and consumer protection
Stanford University
Episode: With Millions Expected to Lose Coverage, States Look for New Ways to Prevent Medical Debt
Lindsay Murtagh
Former CMS official, now at Brown University
Brown University (Center for Advancing Health Policy Through Research)
Episode: Where Did the No Surprises Act Go Wrong? And Can It Be Fixed?
Ben Chartock
Assistant Professor of Economics
Bentley University
Episode: Where Did the No Surprises Act Go Wrong? And Can It Be Fixed?
Zack Cooper
Faculty, Yale School of Public Health; runs Healthcare Affordability Lab
Yale University
Episode: Where Did the No Surprises Act Go Wrong? And Can It Be Fixed?
Grace Hauck
Investigative reporter for the Illinois Answers Project
Illinois Answers Project
Episode: Mental Health Courts Offer People Facing Prison an Imperfect Alternative
Josh McGee
Chicago Bureau Chief for Mindsight News
Mindsight News
Episode: Mental Health Courts Offer People Facing Prison an Imperfect Alternative
Debra Pinals
Psychiatrist and professor
University of Michigan
Episode: Mental Health Courts Offer People Facing Prison an Imperfect Alternative
Brian Blase
Policy researcher; former Trump administration official
Paragon Health Institute
Episode: Republicans Want to Change How You Buy Health Care
Sherry Gleed
New York University professor
New York University
Episode: Republicans Want to Change How You Buy Health Care

Host

Dan Gorenstein
Host of Tradeoffs

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 508 ratings
  • Elizabeth Kromm’s kid

    Love how you included my mom

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Slay Joys
    United States5 months ago
  • Timely health policy

    One of my favorite weekly podcasts. They go in-depth on an important health policy issue in every episode. Tradeoffs’ reporting is particularly important in our current time of uncertainty about insurance costs and coverage. They cover federal policy regularly but also go to the state and even local level when needed. The show has a social justice angle too, highlighting underinsured and/or uninsured populations.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Aaron Weidman
    United States7 months ago
  • USAID cuts

    The episode on USAID cuts is superb. Every American with a heart should listen to this first-hand explanation of how the cuts are impacting global health now, with implications for future US health. In surgery, a scalpel is more useful than a buzzsaw.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joe Pozawokiem
    United Statesa year ago
  • Did anybody bother to read the Oregon paper?

    I went back and actually re-reviewed the New England Journal paper. If you see the population that they enrolled using the lottery, this was a healthy population to start with. They did not have hypertension, and they had no diabetes. It would’ve been very unlikely that Medicaid would’ve made them healthier. Also note they were only 10% African-Americans. This is a bio study from a relatively healthy. Population and should not be used to judge whether Medicaid makes people healthy or not. I woul... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Rdswinford
    United Statesa year ago
  • Interesting but biased

    The host is good and the conversations are thought provoking but they are not interested in representing different sides on healthcare issues. They clearly are committed to the liberal/democratic side and not interested in representing alternate viewpoints. They followed an episode on transgendered care which only represented an expert who is pro gender affirming care with an episode with Obama’s former HHS secretary who was highly critical of the new Trump appointees without any pushback. As we... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Joey Ken
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Praise for clear, data-driven explanations of complex health policy topics.
Some criticism about perceived ideological bias in certain episodes, according to a subset of listeners.
Appreciation for coverage of both federal and state/local policy dynamics.
Listeners value deep policy analysis balanced with human stories.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

With Millions Expected to Lose Coverage, States Look for New Ways to Prevent Medical Debt
Q: You've measured what this looks like for average Americans; walk us through what you found when you looked at debt in collections.
Medical debt is widespread, with a sizable share of debt in collections being medical in origin; debt is a leading form people owe in collections, signaling how healthcare costs translate into financial distress.
Republicans Want to Change How You Buy Health Care
Q: What are ICRAs and why have they struggled to gain traction?
ICRAs give workers a fixed amount to purchase insurance; uptake is low, plans vary in quality, and political/policy headwinds along with data gaps hinder widespread adoption.
The U.S. Saved $1 Trillion on Health Care. Why Doesn't It Feel Like It?
Q: Tell us more David about that disconnect.
He explains that while a trillion-dollar headline looks large, the average person may not feel the savings unless they benefit from lower premiums, better wage dynamics, or more affordable out-of-pocket costs; high-deductible plans still place heavy burdens on many families.
The U.S. Saved $1 Trillion on Health Care. Why Doesn't It Feel Like It?
Q: So you have this new analysis here, David, of healthcare spending that will probably take many Americans by surprise, because it's a rare bright spot.
Cutler discusses that the savings reflect a mix of lower volume in some areas and lower prices in others, driven by more judicious use of imaging, new medications that prevent hospitalizations, and overall shifts in care delivery—though the benefits are not evenly distributed across all income groups.
Should People Who Want GLP-1s Have to Work for Them?
Q: What are the main employer strategies to control GLP-1 costs?
Strategies include lifestyle programs that require engagement, set stipends, and outright denial of coverage; some seek to balance access with cost through targeting, while others push toward broader access with more complex vendor options.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Tradeoffs

What is Tradeoffs about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Tradeoffs pools serious health policy with human-centered storytelling to illuminate the tough choices in health care. Episodes commonly unpack costs, coverage, equity, and technology, often pairing data-driven analysis with first-person or on-the-ground perspectives from policymakers, clinicians, and researchers. Listeners likely include policy professionals, health economists, and industry stakeholders who want thoughtful context on how policy shifts translate into real-world outcomes. A standout trait is its clear balance between rigorous research and relatable narratives, which can help sponsors reach a policy-minded audience and potential guests understand the show's rigorous yet accessible approach.

Where can I find podcast stats for Tradeoffs?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Tradeoffs. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Tradeoffs and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

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What are the audience demographics for Tradeoffs?

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How many subscribers and views does Tradeoffs have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Tradeoffs 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 Tradeoffs?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Tradeoffs:

1. What the Health? From KFF Health News
2. An Arm and a Leg
3. Public Health On Call
4. The Daily
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of Tradeoffs are there?

Tradeoffs launched 7 years ago and published 387 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 Tradeoffs?

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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Tradeoffs?

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What guests have appeared on Tradeoffs?

Recent guests on Tradeoffs include:

1. Neale Mahoney
2. Lindsay Murtagh
3. Ben Chartock
4. Zack Cooper
5. Grace Hauck
6. Josh McGee
7. Debra Pinals
8. Brian Blase

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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